The NHL resumed play Saturday following an exciting 4 Nations Face-Off match and a two-week break.
With just below a 3rd of the season left to go, there are many hot-button questions the groups will face as a heated playoff race continues. Let’s check out the ten hottest points heading into the final a part of the season.
1. The Jap Convention wild-card race
The Jap Convention wild-card race is as shut as ever, with eight groups inside seven factors of each other. As of Tuesday, Detroit and Ottawa maintain the primary and second wild-card spots with 64 and 62 factors, respectively; Columbus (62 factors), Boston (61 factors) and the New York Rangers (60 factors) are sizzling on their path.
Coming down the stretch, it will likely be an extremely tight race to see who can get into the playoffs, and it’ll definitely be thrilling to look at.
2. Huge names out there on the commerce deadline
The NHL’s March 7 commerce deadline is approaching, and though some large names have already been moved, there are nonetheless loads of impression gamers out there.
New York Islanders heart Brock Nelson shall be one of many high targets, particularly for groups wanting so as to add down the center. Different pending free brokers embrace Seattle heart Yanni Gourde, Columbus defenseman Ivan Provorov and Boston ahead Trent Frederic; groups trying to enhance their playoff hopes may need to shell out some belongings to safe a high participant.
3. Gamers with time period: will they be moved?
Though the commerce deadline normally options pending free brokers on the transfer, there are a handful of gamers with a number of years left on their contracts who may additionally see some curiosity.
Buffalo heart Dylan Cozens has been the hypothesis of commerce rumors for a lot of the season. The 24-year-old former first-round pick had a career-high 68 factors in 81 video games throughout the 2022-23 season however has struggled to duplicate these numbers and will use a change of surroundings. Different names to keep watch over are goaltender John Gibson, winger Rickard Rakell and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen.
4. The Atlantic Division race
The Atlantic Division appears to be the perfect within the NHL, with 5 groups at the moment on tempo to make the playoffs. On the high of the division, the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs will probably duke it out for the division crown.
As of Tuesday, the 2 groups are separated by one level (Toronto with 72 and Florida with 71). A primary-place end means a extra favorable playoff matchup in opposition to a wild-card workforce as a substitute of doubtless dealing with off in opposition to the present third-place workforce, the Tampa Bay Lightning. It needs to be a detailed race because the season concludes and is a significant story to look at.
5. The Pacific Division race
Just like the Atlantic, the Pacific Division can be extremely tight, with Vegas, Edmonton and Los Angeles separated by 5 factors. If the present standings maintain that approach, Edmonton and Los Angeles can be set to face off within the first spherical for the fourth year in a row.
With Edmonton getting the perfect of Los Angeles in all three earlier matchups, the Kings will do their finest to keep away from their first-round foes.
6. Calgary or Vancouver: who will declare the final wild-card spot?
Pacific Division rivals Calgary and Vancouver are battling for the final wild-card spot within the Western Convention. As of Tuesday, only one level separates the 2 groups.
Vancouver has handled many accidents this season, together with beginning goaltender Thatcher Demko and star defenseman Quinn Hughes. Calgary, then again, is a shock playoff contender. With practically similar information, it ought to come all the way down to the wire for the final spot.
7. Who will safe the perfect draft odds?
Though many followers are watching their workforce’s playoff race, there are a handful of followers who shall be cheering for his or her squad to complete final. The workforce that finishes with the worst file can have a 25.5 percent chance on the first total decide, which is a big bounce from the second-best odds (13.5 %).
San Jose, Chicago and Nashville at the moment have the three worst information and followers of these groups will most likely be rooting for some losses down the stretch.
8. The NHL’s scoring race
The Artwork Ross Trophy shall be handed out to the participant who finishes with probably the most factors within the league. Just like final season, Nathan MacKinnon (87 factors) and Nikita Kucherov (83) are atop the pack, together with Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl (86).
With simply 4 factors separating the three superstars, the Artwork Ross race might come all the way down to the final recreation of the season.
9. The President’s Trophy duel
The President’s Trophy is awarded to the workforce that finishes with the perfect file within the league. In a shock flip of occasions, the Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals appear to be the 2 groups who will duel it out for that honor.
In 58 video games performed, Winnipeg has 85 factors, whereas Washington has 84 factors in 57 video games. Washington does have the 29th-easiest schedule remaining in comparison with Winnipeg’s thirteenth, so it could be the Capitals’ to lose.
10. Ovechkin’s chase for greatness
At 39 years previous, Alex Ovechkin’s incredible season has been historic. With 29 objectives in 41 video games, Ovechkin sits simply 13 objectives away from passing Wayne Gretzky in all-time NHL objectives scored.
