While the Rangers can’t seem to do anything right, the Golden Knights can’t seem to do anything wrong. New York has been one of the season’s stories so far, with their sudden fall from grace over the past two months. Vegas continues their winning ways and has resided at, or near, the top of the NHL standings thanks largely to arguably the most well-balanced lineup in the entire league.
These are two teams that are fighting to stay in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. Tampa recently ended a four-game losing streak, while the Penguins were written off by most as having no real chance at grabbing a post-season spot. It’ll likely have to be a wildcard for the Pens and probably the Lightning, so tonight’s two points matter.
Could we yet again see an Oilers-Kings first-round playoff matchup this spring? Los Angeles hasn’t fared well over the past few years in that scenario, but hope springs eternal, and the Kings have been a pleasant surprise this season in the Pacific Division. They are almost unbeatable at home, though tonight they’re in Edmonton. After another slow start, the Oilers have once again righted the ship and are one of the best teams in the league.
Toronto is battling for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and maybe even the entire league, while the Stars have been sitting in a Western wildcard slot for a while now. That speaks more to the competitiveness of the Central Division, where one has to tussle with the Jets, Wild, and resurgent Avalanche. The Maple Leafs are battling with the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers for the top spot in the Atlantic Division.
While the Oilers were expected to have another good season this time around (and they are), what was expected of the Minnesota Wild? Well, they’ve been good enough to keep pace with the Winnipeg Jets, who exploded out of the season starting blocks at a record-setting pace. And now, with the Avalanche back in the picture and the Stars not far behind, every two points gained matters, even in mid-January.
As mentioned, the Jets took off to begin the regular season and haven’t looked back since. They must keep playing at a high pace, as the Wild are snapping at their heels. Winnipeg plays host to a Kraken team tonight amid the Western Conference traffic jam for one of the two wildcard spots up for grabs.
This would make for a great Stanley Cup Final, though there are still five long months to go before we get to that. While the Golden Knights have been one of the best, if not the best, teams in the league up to the halfway mark of the regular season, the Hurricanes aren’t too shabby themselves. They’re locked in a tight three-way race for top spot in the Metropolitan Division with the Washington Capitals and the New Jersey Devils.
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