Who makes the playoffs from the Metropolitan Division?

[Sidney the Kidney]

What? It's not as good as it was early as teams have fallen off but it has one two of the best teams in the league, the Penguins who are always good, and an up and coming team in the Rangers that currently has the second best point % in the NHL.

That poster's team plays in a division that gets to beat up on Buffalo, Montreal, and Ottawa all season. They'd know a thing or two about weak divisions.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

That poster's team plays in a division that gets to beat up on Buffalo, Montreal, and Ottawa all season. They'd know a thing or two about weak divisions.

Last year it was cool to say that the East was bad after it wasn't as good as originally thought. Still had the best top 4 in the league. The Rangers had a better record than Montreal who made the playoffs in the North.

 

[KoozNetsOff 92]

Lol they have lost half their team and have no rhythm. Its not the same for every team. Hockey keyboard warriors that have never been there just dont understand injuries or what its like when half your team is out and there is no consistency.

Caps have been playing 7 rookies and had Backstrom, Oshie, Mantha, Eller, Sheary and Schultz all out at the same time. That's more than half of the top 9 forwards. Other players have been in and out of the lineup all year. Pens at one point were missing their top 3 Cs in Crosby, Malkin and Carter (among others). Every team has injuries. Get over it.

 

[rangersfansince08]

Caps have been playing 7 rookies and had Backstrom, Oshie, Mantha, Eller, Sheary and Schultz all out at the same time. That's more than half of the top 9 forwards. Other players have been in and out of the lineup all year. Pens at one point were missing their top 3 Cs in Crosby, Malkin and Carter (among others). Every team has injuries. Get over it.

And they had Barzal, Beau, Pageau, Palimeri, Wahlstrom, Parisie, and their entire 4th line against the Rangers. So they had 9 out of their 12 forwards even though their defense was hit hard.

And they just got Bailey, Lee, Chara, Doboson, Pelech, Greene, Bellows and are still losing and playing uninspired hockey.

And neither Varlamov or Sorokin was able to steal a game for them either.

 

[rangersfansince08]

2 of those are clearly not like the others if you ask me.

Yes 6/8 of those teams don't play in Florida.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Honestly still think the Isles get hot and turn their season around at some point. Rangers falter a bit and the two NY teams battle it out for 3rd metro slot/WC slot. Canes and Caps a top the division in some order, too early to tell.

The Rangers are 20 points ahead of the Islander, idk how realistic it is to expect the Rangers to tank hard enough for an Islanders surge to catch them up to each other.

Maybe the Hurricanes they could catch, they're only 18 points up on the Islanders and haven't been playing great lately so they're probably a more realistic target for the Islanders to catch.


Being serious, making up 20 points in today's NHL is extremely difficult. Of course anything can happen but it doesn't really seem like a realistic possibility. The Islanders can hope to go on a run and catch the WC teams, the Penguins are 12 points up on the Islanders, but even that seems like it might be too much to make up.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Last year it was cool to say that the East was bad after it wasn't as good as originally thought. Still had the best top 4 in the league. The Rangers had a better record than Montreal who made the playoffs in the North.

Last year was hard to call a division good or bad based on regular season because they only played within the division. If you put the best eight teams in one division and the worst eight in another, each division would have the same number of total wins.

Only in the playoffs was it evident which were the best teams (and that doesn't necessarily extrapolate to the divisions).

About the most you can say is that Tampa and Isles were the best teams to come out of their respective divisions.

 

[majormajor]

I think the Blue Jackets have a realistic shot. Have scored the 2nd most goals so far behind the Caps(in the Metro).

Have some underrated forwards on that team for sure.

I'm a Jackets fan, and yes thanks for recognizing the number of underrated players. The team is deep with good young talent.

But the wheels are starting to fall off, they've been badly outplayed in the last 6 games, even when they win. I expect a big drop off in the standings.

This team is just way too green, wet behind the ears, etc...

 

[Platano King]

At this point in the season, the Canes/Caps/Rangers would have to collapse to miss the playoffs with the cushion they've built in the standings. Considering their talent and coaching, it's not likely.

Likewise, the Islanders could theoretically compete for the last playoff spot and have the roster/coaching to do so...but suck ass. Half the team also has COVID. I can't imagine them being this bad for the entire season but it would take a 2019 Blues-style turnaround to dig them out of the hole they're in. The Flyers, Devils, and Blue Jackets simply suck.

That leaves the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have the tenacity of roaches. Those bastards have been projected to fall off for the last 3 years and have refused to so even when Crosby and Malkin have been injured. This year won't be any different especially with their expected competition for the last spot (Isles/Flyers) continuing to disappoint.

 

[The Moose is Loose]

Carolina, Washington definitely make it imo. Rangers, Pittsburgh take the last spot and a wildcard.

My prediction is one of Boston/Toronto take the other wildcard.