With solely about 30 video games left within the NHL season, playoff races are actually beginning to warmth up. Each sport turns into a battle, and each level received or misplaced will get extra valuable. It is probably the greatest instances to be a hockey fan.

As we encounter the house stretch, there are a variety of key playoff races, and never only for the wild card spots. Underneath the brand new playoff format, wherein the No. 2 and No. 3 groups from every division meet within the first spherical, authentic Stanley Cup contenders shall be despatched dwelling. That makes profitable the division much more vital, and there are some good battles shaping up there.

After all, the push simply to make the playoffs in these wild card spots will create loads of drama over these subsequent couple months. That is very true within the Jap Convention, the place a number of groups who entered the season hoping to compete for a Stanley Cup are simply combating to remain above the minimize line proper now.

There’s a lot nonetheless to be determined within the 2023-24 NHL standings, so let’s take our greatest shot at predicting which groups will wind up profitable every of those key playoff races.

Atlantic Division

Contenders: Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers

Far be it from me to rely out the Tampa Bay Lightning, however this has been a two-team race for some time. The Bruins and Panthers have been the category of this division, and now it is only a matter of figuring out which group will wind up in first place on the finish of 82 video games.

Boston has fared higher than anticipated this season, particularly given the losses of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci within the offseason. The Bruins are nonetheless a robust defensive group, and their goaltending tandem of Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark solely makes it that a lot more durable to attain on them. That mentioned, the Bruins’ five-on-five numbers have slipped in 2023-24, and it has opened the door for the Panthers to move them.

Florida has been an elite five-on-five group, and it has actually turn into a juggernaut after finding out the facility play. The Panthers acquired off to considerably of a sluggish begin on the person benefit, however they’re now sixth within the NHL at 25.1%. Equally, 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs hero Matthew Tkachuk wasn’t working at full steam for a part of the season, however now he’s pink sizzling too. The Panthers are the most effective group within the Atlantic, and the standings will quickly mirror that. Prediction: Florida Panthers

Metro Division

Contenders: New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Philadelphia Flyers

That is an attention-grabbing divisional race as a result of all three groups have proven lots of causes for optimism, however additionally they have their flaws. The Rangers have a six-point lead over the Hurricanes, which makes them the favourite right here, however issues can change shortly within the Metro.

New York is a considerably middling five-on-five group, not less than relating to anticipated objectives, however that does not matter with this group. Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider are all terrific finishers, and the Rangers’ energy play is among the many finest within the league. Oddly sufficient, one of many weak spots has been goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who has been uncharacteristically leaking in 2023-24.

The Hurricanes are a robust possession group, they usually can overwhelm groups at their finest. Nevertheless, they lack some elite offensive expertise, they usually’ve had goaltending problems with their very own. The Flyers have been an unimaginable story this season, and younger gamers like Owen Tippett, Joel Farabee and Morgan Frost have taken steps ahead. Nonetheless, they could not have the horses to push for a division crown.

The Rangers have already got a lead, they usually have sufficient expertise to guard it down the stretch — plus, I count on Shesterkin to search out his groove sooner or later. His observe report is simply too good. The blueshirts hold on and keep away from a first-round slugfest within the postseason. Prediction: Rangers

East Wild Card

Contenders: Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Crimson Wings, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins

The Jap Convention wild card race is fascinating as a result of there are a couple of groups with authentic Stanley Cup hopes, and there is a first rate likelihood not less than one in every of them misses the playoffs. Amongst these groups are the Lightning, who do not look practically as imposing because the 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup groups, however Nikita Kucherov remains to be a machine, and Andrei Vasilevskiy is able to turning it on at any level.

Past Tampa, probably the most attention-grabbing golf equipment are the Maple Leafs and Devils. If both of these groups misses the playoffs, there shall be a fan meltdown. Toronto has some really elite gamers on the roster, however depth is a priority, and there are goaltending questions. Inconsistency has plagued the Leafs, they usually might waste a 12 months with Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner of their primes.

Talking of inconsistencies, the Devils find out about that every one too nicely. In equity, New Jersey has been dealt some poor damage luck, however the roster remains to be there to do some actual harm. As has been the case for a pair seasons now, the Devils want to take a look at upgrading in objective, however I might count on normal supervisor Tom Fitzgerald to be aggressive in doing simply that.

The Crimson Wings are an x-factor right here as a result of they’ve some attention-grabbing items, like the mixture of Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin on the high of the lineup. Nevertheless, Detroit nonetheless has some work to do on its blue line, and the group’s underlying numbers depart lots to be desired.

As for the opposite two groups on this listing, the Islanders and Penguins, together with them on this listing was fairly optimistic. The Isles are saved afloat by loser factors, and the Pens are shortly circling the drain with three straight regulation losses.

I do assume the Leafs will wind up passing the Lightning for third within the Atlantic, however the Bolts get in for yet another playoff run, and the Devils will turn into a really scary wild card matchup for somebody. Prediction: Lightning (WC1), Devils (WC2)

Central Division

Contenders: Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets

That is probably the most enjoyable divisional race due to how shut all three groups are within the standings. I anticipated the Stars and Avalanche to be right here at this level within the season, however the Jets have compelled themselves into this dialogue with an distinctive season.

When looking on the three rosters, the Stars are in all probability probably the most full group of the bunch. Dallas has the deepest ahead group within the NHL, and it might end with eight 20-goal scorers at this price. Behind them, Miro Heiskanen is robust No. 1 defenseman, and Thomas Harley has emerged as a possible star. If all else fails, Jake Oettinger could be counted on to erase some errors.

The Avalanche have been attention-grabbing to observe this season as a result of they appear to be extraordinarily high heavy, and Nathan MacKinnon has been carrying them at instances. The Avs are two utterly totally different groups with MacKinnon on the ice and MacKinnon on the bench. Cale Makar is enjoying at a Norris Trophy degree, and Mikko Rantanen stays an offensive pressure. Exterior of that trio, Colorado has struggled to search out consistency, and it would not assist that Alexandar Georgiev has regressed between the pipes.

Winnipeg is simply rising from a little bit of a hunch, but it surely has been one of many league’s finest groups all 12 months. Gabriel Vilardi, a key participant within the return for Pierre-Luc Dubois, has been a game-changer with 20 factors in 31 video games and powerful on-ice impacts. The Jets have additionally gotten significantly better within the defensive finish general, and Connor Hellebuyck has thrived once more. If there’s a knock on this group it is {that a} lack of really elite offensive expertise places a ceiling on Winnipeg.

The Stars are simply too good to guess in opposition to, so I’ve them simply getting previous the Avs and Jets for a Central Division title in what may be a photograph end. Prediction: Stars

Pacific Division

Contenders: Vancouver Canucks, Vegas Golden Knights, Edmonton Oilers

The Canucks do have a 10-point lead over the second-place Golden Knights, so this one may be fairly temporary. Vancouver has piled up factors at an unimaginable tempo this season, and it has left some actually gifted groups in its mud. That mentioned, there’s a likelihood one in every of these groups might catch them.

The Canucks have been rolling beneath Rick Tocchet this season, with stars like Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson and Thatcher Demko main the way in which. They rank first in objectives scored and fourth in objectives in opposition to. Vancouver has been working sizzling for a very long time now, and a cooldown may be coming, but it surely has already banked a cushty lead over its division opponents.

The defending champion Golden Knights have handled accidents to Jack Eichel and Adin Hill, however they’ve managed to maintain rolling, nonetheless. Vegas remains to be a digital lock to make the postseason, however profitable the division just isn’t essentially this group’s focus. The Golden Knights have confirmed they’ll endure some common season swoons earlier than flipping a change within the postseason. The distinction this 12 months is that the first-round matchup may be lots scarier.

Sadly for whoever finishes second or third on this division, probably Vegas, the Oilers acquired off to a disastrously poor begin. In any other case, they may be atop the division and vying for a Presidents’ Trophy. They may end atop the Pacific anyway as a result of they’ve been profitable at a torrid tempo since new head coach Kris Knoblauch took over in November. Connor McDavid just isn’t of this world, Leon Draisaitl is an unimaginable expertise and Edmonton is lastly getting good goaltending from Stuart Skinner. I do not assume the Oilers will win the division, however they could get shut.

The Canucks will survive a late-season push from the Oilers and safe a division title, leaving the Golden Knights to cope with Connor McDavid and Co. in probably the most anticipated first-round matchup in latest reminiscence. Prediction: Canucks

West Wild Card

Contenders: Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Calgary Flames, Seattle Kraken, Minnesota Wild

For a very long time, it seemed like 5 groups may be battling for one wild card spot within the West. Now, it appears to be like like six may be battling for 2 because the Los Angeles Kings have utterly collapsed over the past six weeks.

Out of this group, the Kings are nonetheless simply the most secure guess to make the postseason. The roster is robust, the five-on-five numbers are good, they usually have the best level share. Nonetheless, Los Angeles has seemed damaged for some time, Cam Talbot has struggled after a robust begin, and the vibes have been in sharp decline. The Kings might nonetheless pull it collectively and make a run on the Stanley Cup, however proper now they simply must give attention to merely making the playoffs.

The race between the Blues and Predators shall be one to look at down the stretch as nicely. The 2 Central Division foes are, in some methods, reverse sides of the identical coin. St. Louis has dreadful underlying numbers, however well timed offense and powerful goaltending have the group in a playoff spot. Nashville has surprisingly good five-on-five metrics, however offense and goaltending have let the group down. It is potential the outcomes begin to match the method, and the Predators soar the Blues within the final 30 video games or so.

The Flames deserve a paragraph of their very own as a result of they’ve really been enjoying high quality hockey because the New 12 months, and because of this, they’re only a few factors out of the playoffs. The issue is that this roster has already began to get picked aside by contenders in search of upgrades. Elias Lindholm was already traded to the Canucks, and Jacob Markstrom is likely one of the finest goalies on the commerce market. Then, Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin might get moved out. It is onerous to see Calgary sticking round because it continues to promote.

At this level, the Kraken and Wild are longshots. Perhaps the Kraken put collectively one other lengthy profitable streak, however I doubt it. Perhaps Filip Gustavsson returns to his 2022-23 kind and backstops the Wild on an unimaginable playoff push, however based mostly on what I’ve seen up to now this season, I doubt it.

The Kings handle to regular the ship a bit and declare the highest wild card spot, the Predators just do sufficient to outlast the Blues in an in depth battle for the West’s remaining playoff berth. Prediction: Kings (WC1), Predators (WC2)