Only 2 Playoff Spots Still Up For Grabs?

[bpower]

Are the playoff races going to be a little uneventful this season? It appears that the North and East are pretty much set;

North: Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Montreal
East: Washington, Pittsburgh, Islanders, Boston

Anyone think any of those will change? (Order will obviously change)

The top 3 in the West are set: Colorado, Vegas, Minnesota

That leaves just a race for the 4th spot, where Arizona already has a 5 point lead (one extra game played). If they stay hot, that race could be all but settled well before the end of the season as well.

The top 3 in the Central are set too: Florida, Carolina, Tampa, leaving the only real race I see left weeks out from the end of the season.

Will the Chicago/Nashville/Dallas .... maybe Columbus, race for 4th in the Central be the only interesting thing to follow down the stretch?

Click to read more...

 

[gtrower]

Right now it seems clear, but think you’d need to dig into schedules to be sure. There are likely some weird lopsided SOSs remaining due to the format we’re using this year.

 

[ViD]

Columbus will trade the assets at the deadline then go on a 10 game winning streak to capture the last play off spot.

 

[maxbme]

Right now it seems clear, but think you’d need to dig into schedules to be sure. There are likely some weird lopsided SOSs remaining due to the format we’re using this year.

I know the Bruins still have 6 games left against the Sabres. Should, god willing, be a pretty solid boost for them.

 

[MadLuke]

One could have expected that because a team winning 3 in a row during regular time versus the current 4th place could have mean thing can shift fast that we would have had many exciting 3 game series to determine the playoffs spot at the end but it seem you are right, little parity this year.

 

[MattMartin]

The Islanders haven't beaten any of the good teams in the East yet, they are by no means a lock. They feasted on Buffalo and Jersey thus far.

 

[Mikeshane]

Not all that excited to see more Arizona vs Colorado so hopefully that changes.

 

[Chips]

Not looking forward to a Yotes-Isles final

 

[IWantSakicAsMyGM]

Right now it seems clear, but think you’d need to dig into schedules to be sure. There are likely some weird lopsided SOSs remaining due to the format we’re using this year.

St Louis has a rough schedule remaining, with 14 of 18 games being against one of Colorado, Vegas, and Minnesota. Arizona's is "easier" with 8 games (4 each) against LA and San Jose. Not expecting the West to change much.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Flyers and Rangers seeing the Coyotes in a playoff spot

 

[Mez]

Flyers and Rangers seeing the Coyotes in a playoff spot

lol so true

 

[Pyrophorus]

I know the Bruins still have 6 games left against the Sabres. Should, god willing, be a pretty solid boost for them.

Without Hall, they're rolling.

 

[Porkleaker]

I only some positional changes in the North, East and West all look pretty sealed up
Central there's still an opportunity for Chicago, other than that one of those
teams is going to be skating around with a cup.

 

[MattMartin]

Not looking forward to a Yotes-Isles final

Want to bet on that? Will give you 500-1 odds for your buck.

 

[Demandedace]

The Islanders haven't beaten any of the good teams in the East yet, they are by no means a lock. They feasted on Buffalo and Jersey thus far.

The islanders play a strong team game though and they’ve played the Capitals super well. I definitely am not counting them out haha

 

[Riseonfire]

Idk if the last spot in the East is locked just yet, Rangers are still alive.

 

[bpower]

Idk if the last spot in the East is locked just yet, Rangers are still alive.

Depends on how many games they have left against the Flyers...

 

[Flash20]

Buffalo can do it

 

[MattMartin]

The islanders play a strong team game though and they’ve played the Capitals super well. I definitely am not counting them out haha

2-3 VS Caps
2-4-2 VS Pitts
5-0 VS Bruins

So 9-9 VS the other 3 current playoff teams.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

Not all that excited to see more Arizona vs Colorado so hopefully that changes.

Exciting for me :^)

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Columbus will trade the assets at the deadline then go on a 10 game winning streak to capture the last play off spot.

And then upset the top seed in the division in the first round.

 

[JianYang]

Are the playoff races going to be a little uneventful this season? It appears that the North and East are pretty much set;

North: Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Montreal
East: Washington, Pittsburgh, Islanders, Boston

Anyone think any of those will change? (Order will obviously change)

The top 3 in the West are set: Colorado, Vegas, Minnesota

That leaves just a race for the 4th spot, where Arizona already has a 5 point lead (one extra game played). If they stay hot, that race could be all but settled well before the end of the season as well.

The top 3 in the Central are set too: Florida, Carolina, Tampa, leaving the only real race I see left weeks out from the end of the season.

Will the Chicago/Nashville/Dallas .... maybe Columbus, race for 4th in the Central be the only interesting thing to follow down the stretch?

In the north, you have to wonder if one of the top 4 teams gets hit with covid with magnitude similar to Vancouver. What happens then?

 

[notDatsyuk]

The Islanders haven't beaten any of the good teams in the East yet, they are by no means a lock. They feasted on Buffalo and Jersey thus far.

Washington isn't a good team? Isles beat them twice this past week, even without their #1 LW.

 

[zar]

I know the Bruins still have 6 games left against the Sabres. Should, god willing, be a pretty solid boost for them.

Dare you say “free space on a Bingo card”?

 

[jetsforever]

Flyers and Rangers seeing the Coyotes in a playoff spot

People hate on the North division but I'm not so sure it's the worst.