Record: 42-31-7 (91 points)
Odds of making playoffs*: 66.6% to 78.7%
Remaining opponents: Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina Hurricanes
On January 1st, we weren’t giving much of the Panthers’ skin. Eight points separated them from the last place giving access to the playoffs, with more games behind. However, the Floridians were one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference in 2023. In his first season under the sun, Matthew Tkachuk revealed himself as the great offensive leader of the club. We’ll have to think of him for the Hart Trophy if the Panthers play spring hockey. To achieve this, however, it will be necessary to beat two opponents of very high quality.
Record: 41-30-9 (91 points)
Playoff Odds: 76.7-81.5%
Remaining opponents: Washington Capitals, Montreal Canadiens
The Islanders have been steady from start to finish of the season, walking the thin line between making the playoffs and having a hasty vacation. A typical General Manager Lou Lamoriello team: few goals scored, even fewer goals against. However, their situation can be summarized quite easily. If it wasn’t for goaltender Ilya Sorokin, the Islanders wouldn’t be in the game. The Russian would be guaranteed to win the Vezina Trophy if the statistics of Linus Ullmark, in Boston, did not resemble those of Dominik Hasek in 1999. The Islanders also have the advantage of facing two clubs eliminated at the end of the course.
Record: 40-30-10 (90 points)
Playoff Odds: 42.9-52.3%
Remaining Opponents: Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets
Already the target of ire from Penguins fans, especially for the bizarre acquisitions he made at the trade deadline, general manager Ron Hextall will be in serious trouble if his team misses the playoffs. The Pens have boasted a stellar 9-9-1 record since March 3, and it’s hard to think of them as anything other than an aging club whose goalies seem incapable of stopping pucks with any consistency. However, who will dare to bet against Sidney Crosby, at the dawn of duels against the two worst teams in the NHL? Nothing is played in the city of steel.
Record: 39-32-7 (85 points)
Odds of making playoffs: 0.4-1.6%
Remaining Opponents: New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets
The Sabers only have one card left in their game: their number of games to go. That’s the only reason they end up in this tally, as the six-point gap that separates them from the New York Islanders seems insurmountable. However, the Sabers have finally come out of a long hibernation by winning six of their last eight games. It’s not complicated, they still have to win all those who remain and pray for the collapse of two teams in front of them. The chances of that happening are slim, but the feat isn’t impossible either.
Record: 44-32-3 (91 points)
Playoff Odds: 78.7-82.2%
Remaining Opponents: San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche
The Jets could have settled this matter weeks ago. The Manitobans, however, had a pitiful month from mid-February to mid-March, posting a 4-9-2 record. A recent loss to the Calgary Flames slowed them down, but their next win against the Nashville Predators, another team in the race, calmed the game relatively. since a few weeks. Now would be a good time to start thundering.
Record: 37-27-16 (90 points)
Playoff odds: 12.5-18.9%
Remaining opponents: Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks
You won’t hear anyone in Calgary grumbling about the standings point awarded after an overtime or shootout loss. Without this regulation, we would not talk about the Flames for a long time. Almost nothing has gone to plan since the start of the season, except for probably the explosion of Tyler Toffoli, who is enjoying the best offensive crop of his career at 30 years old. With hefty contracts going into effect next season, the Flames’ payroll will quickly become unwieldy. If there was ever a time to win, it’s now. A victory this Monday night against the Nashville Predators would remove a thorn from their side, without guaranteeing them anything.
Record: 40-31-8 (88 points)
Odds of making playoffs: 2.5-5.3%
Remaining Opponents: Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche
The Predators players will not be satisfied with this, but their mere presence in this playoff race is in itself a victory. As the trade deadline approached, they traded Nino Niederreiter, Tanner Jeannot, Mattias Ekholm and Mikael Granlund, a sure sign of a team looking to the future. However, the future may have to wait, since the chances of accessing the playoffs, although low, do exist. In the event of a victory Monday against the Flames, the Preds would see their fate be linked to that of the Jets, since they will face the same two opponents to conclude the schedule. If the plan works, goaltender Juuse Saros, the heart and soul of this team, will receive votes for his team’s most valuable player.
