As we get closer to the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, the teams are starting to intensify their play in hopes of clinching a playoff spot.
As the standings suggest, with about 15 games remaining, the Boston Bruins, the Florida Panthers, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New York Rangers, the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Tampa Bay Lightning are securing their playoff spots for this year.
The second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference is up for grabs, as there are seven teams in the hunt. The Washington Capitals, the Detroit Red Wings, the New York Islanders, the Buffalo Sabres, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the New Jersey Devils are all teams fighting for that last playoff spot. They are also one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the third Metropolitan position.
After last night’s win over Calgary, Washington has taken that second wild card spot, leading New Jersey by 7 points, Pittsburgh by 6, Buffalo by 4, the Islanders by 2, and the Detroit Red Wings by 1 point.
The question is, who is going to win this tight race for the final playoff position in the Eastern Conference?
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are heating up on their Western Canadian road trip as they defeated the Seattle Kraken, the Vancouver Canucks, and the Calgary Flames, winning their third in a row. With 15 games remaining, can the Capitals hold on to that last wild card spot?
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings won a crucial game on Saturday against the Buffalo Sabres, snapping their seven-game losing streak. Unfortunately, the next night, they lost another important game to the Pittsburgh Penguins, 6-3. With 14 games remaining, can Detroit overtake the Capitals and make the playoffs for the first time since 2016?
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are currently on a four-game losing streak, only scoring five goals in the span of those four games. They are only two points behind Washington for the last wild card position, so they are not out completely. Can the New York Islanders bounce back and break this losing skid to pass Washington and make the playoffs?
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011, trying to break the longest streak of not making the playoffs currently in sports. They’re only four points behind Washington for the last Wild Card position, and with 13 games remaining, could we see the Buffalo Sabres finally make the playoffs?
Pittsburgh Penguins
After acquiring Erik Karlsson during last year’s free agency via trade, no one could have predicted the Pens fighting for a wild card position. It has been a rough go for the Pittsburgh Penguins this year, as their power play has not been able to click all year, but they are still in the hunt for the last playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Will Sidney Crosby miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year in a row for the first time in his career?
New Jersey Devils
The final team left in this hunt is the New Jersey Devils, who had very high expectations this year after what we saw last year. Injuries have been fighting them all year, including losing Dougie Hamilton in November, which just brought the team in a downward trend. With Travis Green now behind the bench, can the New Jersey Devils rally after a poor start and make the playoffs again?
These next two to three weeks are going to be very intense for all the teams involved in this wildcard race. With all of these teams in the hunt, which one will prevail and make the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs?
