With just a few weeks left in the regular season, the run for the Stanley Cup is set to begin on Saturday, April 19. While some teams have already secured their place in the playoffs, others will have to fight until the very last game to earn a spot.
The Washington Capitals were the first team in the NHL to secure a playoff spot, which was the complete opposite of last season, where they were the last team to clinch one. Captain Alex Ovechkin talked about the importance of securing points early on in the season to AP News, “It’s hard. Every game, it’s hard, especially at the end because every team is fighting. That’s why in the beginning of the year and the middle of the year it’s very important to (be) collecting the points and feel comfortable at the end. Last year it took us 82 games to clinch it and since 20 games left last year, it was playoffs for us already. We take it and move on.”
Along with the Capitals, the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars are the other two teams who have earned a chance at the Stanley Cup so far. The Jets are also on track to win the Presidents Trophy as they are currently first in the league.
In the Metropolitan Division, the Washington Capitals currently sit in first place with 103 points. In second place are the Carolina Hurricanes with 94 points, and right behind them are the New Jersey Devils with 85 points. The Atlantic Division is a close race as the Toronto Maple Leafs currently hold the top spot with 94 points, with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers right behind them, each with 91 points. At this time in the season, each point is crucial, so looking ahead at their schedules, the Lightning and Panthers are two teams to watch out for as they will be fighting for each win.
In the Central Division, the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars have already earned a spot in the playoffs and the Colorado Avalanche look to be the third and final team in the division to earn their own. The team currently has 93 points, with the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues behind them each with 87 points. Looking towards the Pacific Division, the Vegas Golden Knights are likely to make the playoffs as they have 98 points. The Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers are currently in a close race for second place, with the Kings having earned 91 points so far and the Oilers right behind with 89 points.
Currently in the two spots for the Eastern Conference wild card are the Ottawa Senators with 84 points and the Montreal Canadiens with 77 points. However, the New York Rangers also have 77, and the Columbus Blue Jackets are just two points shy with 75. All three teams need to watch out for one another and take each remaining game seriously to try and secure their place in the playoffs.
In the Western Conference, the Wild and Blues are tied for points in the wild card race (87) with the Vancouver Canucks close behind with 81 points.
Looking ahead, the Blues are currently on a nine-game winning streak and will try to keep this momentum going to attempt to earn the top spot in their wildcard race. The Capitals are sitting in a good position having already earned a spot in the playoffs, but Ovechkin is someone to look out for as the captain will look to score just five more goals to beat out Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals in the NHL record.
Each team has about seven games left in their regular seasons so fans can expect the standings to change after each night. It may come down to the very last games of the regular season for some teams to know their fate in the playoffs.
Upcoming NHL games can be watched on ESPN+, TNT and NHL.com, just to name a few places.
© Copyright – The Daily Campus
THE DAILY CAMPUS
1266 STORRS ROAD
STORRS, CT
06269, USA
The Daily Campus is UConn’s independent, student-run newspaper. We strive to provide the UConn community with fair, accurate, relevant and editorially independent content, to take on student interests as our own interests, and to provide the best possible environment for students to learn, experience and develop skills related to news media.
ADVERTISE WITH US
View our content policy
Weekly Newsletter sign-up
Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.
Continue reading
Hockey News