It’s been a while since the Red Wings have been in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (April 2016), and while they most likely won’t be participating this time around, the Wings are getting closer and closer to getting back to the big tournament. As for the Maple Leafs, they can score goals in bushels, but they’ve been concerned their overall defensive game has slipped a bit as of late.
While it’s been a season (so far) of inspiring hockey resurrection in Manitoba, it’s been a season (so far) of frustration in British Columbia. The Jets are back with a vengeance and are in the mix for first place in the Central Division. The Canucks are confusing, and apparently confused, as they sink in the standings in the Western Conference.
A rematch of last spring’s playoff series (Oilers took it in seven), eight months later, it’s the Kings who are closer to punching their ticket to the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. While it appears that Vegas will end up on top of the Pacific Division (so far), Los Angeles has survived some inconsistent hockey and are in the battle for the second seed. They face an Oilers team that has two of the game’s top players, they have secondary scoring, but Edmonton’s team defence remains insufficient, which may explain why they’re struggling to move up in the Pacific.
After a surprisingly blistering start by the young Devils, they’ve come back to Earth lately, and tonight are in Raleigh to tangle with a Canes squad that is amongst the best in the entire National Hockey League.
Alex Ovechkin keeps piling up the goals, and the Capitals have raised themselves from the lower depths of the Eastern Conference, even without Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson in the lineup. As for the Flyers,…more balls in the lottery machine for Connor Bedard.
It’s a rare moment when the Bruins surrender two points on home ice, and tonight they face a second-year Kraken team that are seriously in the mix for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. And the Kraken can put up the goals, even without a seemingly bona fide scoring star (so far).
The resurgent Jets will provide a good test to a Penguins team that many continue to count out in the tough Metropolitan Division, not that the Pens are apparently paying any heed to that call. Pittsburgh are in the middle of a pitched battle for a playoff spot in the Met, along with the Devils, Capitals, Rangers, and Islanders. With Carolina seemingly having the top spot to themselves, one of those teams won’t be making the April cut.
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