Coming into the NHL’s 4 Nations Match break, the Jap Convention wild-card race is as shut as ever, as six groups are at present inside 5 factors of one another.
With a decent race shaping up, let’s check out which groups are contenders and that are pretenders.
Ottawa Senators: Contenders
The Senators have surged not too long ago, going 8-5-2 within the month of January after a six-game win streak throughout December. A lot of their success is because of the play of goaltender Linus Ullmark, who has the seventh highest save share within the league (.915).
They at present sit in third place within the Atlantic division and are simply 4 factors behind the Maple Leafs for second place. With one of many best records since Dec. 1, the Senators’ consistency has them as actual playoff contenders.
Boston Bruins: Pretenders
Boston has floated round a wild-card spot for many of the season and it at present sits simply on the skin with 60 factors in 55 video games. There’s loads of cause, nonetheless, to consider the Bruins might be out of the playoff image for the primary time since 2016.
The Bruins have struggled to attain this season, with a 25th-ranked 2.76 targets for per recreation. Their particular groups have not fared properly both, with a 30th-ranked energy play (12 %) and a 25th-ranked penalty kill (75.6 %). On prime of all that, star goaltender Jeremy Swayman has struggled, sporting only a .898 save share. With these numbers, Boston might be on the skin trying in.
Detroit Crimson Wings: Contenders
The Crimson Wings have been the best team within the league since Todd McLellan took over, going 15-4-1 with two separate seven recreation win streaks. They at present sit within the first wild-card spot and are only one level behind Ottawa for third place within the Atlantic.
Detroit has additionally gotten some elite play from their stars throughout their latest run. Lucas Raymond (25 factors in 20 video games), Dylan Larkin (24 factors in 20 video games) and Moritz Seider (15 factors in 20 video games) have all been wonderful. In the event that they sustain their play, they need to be within the postseason for the primary time since 2016-17.
New York Islanders: Pretenders
The Islanders not too long ago had a seven-game win streak, vaulting them again into wild-card rivalry. Nonetheless, regardless of being simply three factors behind Tampa Bay for the second wild card, New York has a tricky highway forward.
It was not too long ago introduced that star ahead Mat Barzal is out indefinitely with an harm, an enormous hit to the group’s ahead core. For a group that already struggles to attain targets and has the third hardest remaining schedule, it could be an excessive amount of to beat.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Contenders
Regardless of shedding captain Steven Stamkos to free company, the Lightning have not missed a beat. Nikita Kucherov has as soon as once more been taking part in at an MVP stage with 77 factors in 50 video games and free agent signee Jake Guentzel has paired properly with Kucherov on the highest line with 51 factors in 51 video games.
With goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy again to type (.918 save share), search for Tampa Bay to keep up its present wild-card place.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Pretenders
Columbus has been a shock story this season because it sits only one level out of the wild card. The Blue Jackets might be due for a slide, although, as their prime ahead Kirill Marchenko was simply sidelined for six to eight weeks with a damaged jaw.
Though the Blue Jackets are a top 10 scoring group within the league (3.24 targets per recreation), they wrestle to keep the puck out of their web (3.30 targets in opposition to). With out Marchenko, they could not have the ability to outscore their defensive issues.
