We’ve got formally reached the midway level of the 2023-24 NHL season, and the playoff races are solely getting extra intense each day. There are a minimum of 14 groups teetering on the postseason bubble proper now, however which of them will stay within the hunt and which of them will fade away within the coming weeks and months?

With roughly 41 video games of information on each NHL group, we have now a reasonably good thought of who these groups are and whether or not they’re an actual playoff risk. For a number of choose groups on the prime, there isn’t any query that the postseason is almost a assure. For a number of unlucky groups on the backside, their playoff hopes have already been extinguished.

For this train, we’ll ignore the groups which might be digital locks to achieve the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, in addition to the groups that can nearly actually be watching them from dwelling. By my rely, that leaves round 14 groups battling for a number of choose playoff spots.

Immediately, we’ll attempt to determine which of these squads have a authentic shot of constructing a playoff push and which of them will fall by the wayside when March and April roll round. Let’s type by way of the playoff contenders with a view to weed out the playoff pretenders.

Japanese Convention

Philadelphia Flyers | 20-14-6 | 46 factors

The truth that the Flyers are even within the playoff dialog this season is fairly unbelievable. That could be a large testomony to John Tortorella, the group’s younger core, and a rejuvenated Sean Couturier. Now, can Philadelphia preserve this up for the second half of the season? For a lot of the season, the Flyers have been a powerful five-on-five group, indicating their success may be sustainable. Nonetheless, the group’s play has slipped during the last month, and the document displays that. Given how a lot Philadelphia has overachieved so far, I will not rely them out, however the Flyers must scratch and claw to work their approach into the postseason. Verdict — Contender

New York Islanders | 18-12-10 | 46 factors

The NHL may take one other take a look at handing out an additional level for a regulation win within the coming years, however the Islanders will in all probability push again on that. The Isles have misplaced 4 extra video games than they’ve received, however they continue to be within the first wild card spot for now as a result of 10 of their 22 defeats have are available in further time. New York has been a beneath common group, a minimum of so far as the underlying numbers are involved, nevertheless it has actually struggled defensively. The Islanders are giving up 2.88 xGA/60 at five-on-five, which ranks twenty eighth. Their offense simply is not ok to make up for these points. Verdict — Pretender

Tampa Bay Lightning | 20-17-5 | 45 factors

It is a troublesome one as a result of betting in opposition to the Lightning appears like a silly endeavor. That mentioned, the Bolts haven’t regarded practically as imposing as they’ve up to now. Nikita Kucherov continues to be a machine, and Brayden Level continues to be enjoying like a No. 1 middle, however there have been some notable drop-offs round them. The brightest crimson flag may be Andrei Vasilevskiy’s points in his return from again surgical procedure. He hasn’t regarded sharp, however that’s in all probability to be anticipated contemplating he had again surgical procedure. That is type of an necessary a part of the physique. Tampa may be underwhelming in comparison with what we anticipate out of this group, however they nonetheless have the starpower to get above that playoff line by the tip of the common season. Verdict — Contender

New Jersey Devils | 21-15-2 | 44 factors

The coaching room has been awfully full in New Jersey this season, and the Devils have not actually been capable of get out of second gear because of this. Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Dougie Hamilton have all missed time. Timo Meier has additionally been battling damage, and he hasn’t been terribly efficient even when he’s on the ice. Because the accidents have piled up, the goaltending hasn’t helped bail water out of the boat. Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid have been properly beneath common this yr. Even with all that occurring, I nonetheless imagine on this group as a contender as a result of the highest six is totally loaded with everybody there. Get wholesome. Improve in purpose. The Devils shall be advantageous. Verdict — Contender

Washington Capitals | 19-13-6 | 44 factors

A scorching scorching begin from netminder Charlie Lindgren stored the Capitals afloat for some time, however the group has backslid following his damage. The Caps are controlling a whopping 45.3% of the anticipated targets at five-on-five, per Pure Stat Trick. Alex Ovechkin is on tempo for a profession low in goal-scoring. It seems as if Evgeny Kuznetsov has entered the twilight of his profession. Even with Lindgren’s return coming quickly, this Washington group would not stack up when in comparison with different groups on this race. Verdict — Pretender

Pittsburgh Penguins | 20-15-4 | 44 factors

The Penguins are vulnerable to lacking the playoffs for the second consecutive season, however there’s nonetheless loads of hope for this group. Pittsburgh is 9-3-1 within the final month, and its greatest gamers have lived as much as that billing this season. Jake Guentzel is lighting it up in a contract yr, Sidney Crosby continues to be an elite participant, and Evgeni Malkin continues to bully his opponents. Though the dearth of depth may put a ceiling on how a lot the Penguins can do as soon as they attain the postseason, they’ve greater than sufficient firepower to safe one of many wild card spots over the subsequent few months. Verdict — Contender

Detroit Pink Wings | 20-16-4 | 44 factors

Hockeytown was fired up within the early portion of the season, however issues have cooled off fairly a bit during the last six weeks. The Pink Wings are 6-8 of their final 14 video games, even with a three-game win streak included in that document. Their play at five-on-five has been much more discouraging in that stretch. The truth that they personal a forty five.2% anticipated targets share and a 40.8% high-danger scoring probability share at five-on-five solely provides to the proof that this is not a postseason group. There’s some talent on the rooster, nevertheless it’s not sufficient to get the Wings over the hump. Verdict — Pretender

Western Convention

Nashville Predators | 22-18-1 | 45 factors

The Predators have been on this place for a handful of years now, however in contrast to in previous years, it hasn’t been pushed solely by Juuse Saros standing on his head each night time. Actually, Saros is within the midst of what may be the worst season of his profession. He has allowed 3.67 targets above common and owns an .889 save share. Despite these struggles, the Preds have performed pretty properly at five-on-five and stored their playoff hopes alive due to the efforts of Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly. If Saros can regain his elite kind, Nashville might very properly wind up within the playoffs. Verdict — Contender

Edmonton Oilers | 21-15-1 | 43 factors

The Oilers are a prime 5 group in the case of producing anticipated targets and stopping anticipated targets. That is been the case all season, however the outcomes have lastly began to match that course of below new head coach Kris Knoblauch. Edmonton is 18-6-0 in that point, and Connor McDavid has determined to go nuclear on everybody. He has 12 targets and 32 assists in his final 24 video games, and McDavid is climbing the Hart Trophy race relatively shortly. Every part is firing on all cylinders for the Oilers proper now, and so they aren’t only a playoff contender. They’re an actual Stanley Cup contender as properly. Verdict — Contender

Seattle Kraken | 17-14-9 | 43 factors

Only a few brief weeks in the past, the Kraken had been 10-14-9, and it regarded like their playoff probabilities had been toast. Then, they rattled off seven wins in a row, and right here they’re. That is how shortly issues can change within the NHL, however now we have to decide whether or not Seattle can stay on this race all through the common season. Joey Daccord has discovered his groove in purpose, and he’s now second within the NHL with 14.5 targets saved above common, in accordance with Pure Stat Trick. Seattle’s five-on-five metrics have improved, however they nonetheless aren’t eye-popping. Meaning the Kraken want Daccord to maintain enjoying at a Vezina stage to achieve the playoffs, and I am not shopping for that but. Verdict — Pretender

Arizona Coyotes | 20-17-2 | 42 factors

It is a powerful one as a result of I like watching this Coyotes group, and I believe it will be loads of enjoyable to see them within the playoffs. There are additionally causes to imagine they might get there. Connor Ingram has been nice between the pipes. Clayton Keller is a star. Matias Maccelli and Lawson Crouse have given Arizona dependable depth scoring. In fact, this group nonetheless has its flaws. The blue line nonetheless wants some work, and the Yotes nonetheless want somewhat extra high-end firepower up entrance. All of this has been filibustering till I can decide, and I’m selecting to imagine on this group as an actual playoff hopeful. Verdict — Contender

St. Louis Blues | 20-18-1 | 41 factors

The Blues are the Capitals of the Western Convention. Stretches of nice goaltending from Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer, plus a powerful season from Robert Thomas, has given St. Louis a preventing probability within the playoff race. Nonetheless, the Blues look like a powerful candidate to fade down the stretch. Their five-on-five metrics are depressing, particularly on protection, and there is not sufficient pop up entrance to compensate for that. Verdict — Pretenders

Calgary Flames | 18-18-5 | 41 factors

Calgary is caught in no man’s land at this level, and this .500 document is well-earned. The Flames have been completely in the midst of the street on offense and protection, which supplies them an opportunity to stay aggressive, however it’s arduous to see them occurring a lot of a run this yr. Complicating issues even additional is the truth that Calgary has to make selections on a number of unrestricted free brokers, so the roster might be notably worse within the coming months. Verdict — Pretender

Minnesota Wild | 17-18-4 | 38 factors

Within the rapid aftermath of the teaching change, it regarded just like the Wild may be surging again into the Central Division’s prime three spots. They’ve run out of steam not too long ago and nonetheless have loads of work to do with a view to sneak right into a wild card spot. That is what occurs when Jared Spurgeon, Filip Gustavsson, Kirill Kaprizov and Jonas Brodin are all on IR in some capability. The sluggish begin left Minnesota with little room for error, and that’s coming again to chew the group with so many stars on the shelf. Verdict — Pretender