The Detroit Red Wings cold streak has teams in the Eastern Conference smelling blood in the water. They were a playoff team all season but now, other teams can close in on them. In the Western Conference, the final wild card spot is up for grabs with a handful of teams fighting for that one spot.
Related: Senators: Looking Ahead
There are only a few weeks left in the regular season. That said, it’s enough for a team to get hot and make a late-season playoff push, and a few are in great position to do so.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are hot on the heels of the other wild card teams in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Boston Bruins by one point and the Red Wings by two. It makes them an easy answer to sneak into the playoffs. The core and how they’ve played make them a more convincing team to make it.
Zach Werenski is a top-of-the-league defenseman, someone who might win the Norris Trophy at the end of the season. Adam Fantilli is a top scorer in the NHL and arguably one of the best young centers in the game. Pair that with plenty of depth, and the Blue Jackets can go on a run.
The Blue Jackets are also the team that’s already made up plenty of ground. They’ve been a different team since the Rick Bowness hire, and it shows in their play. It wouldn’t shock anyone if they not only make it as a wild card but leap past the Pittsburgh Penguins or the New York Islanders in the Metropolitan Division as well.
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are another team with the star power to sneak in. With elite talent on their forward unit and defense, it’s easy to shrug off their early season struggled. It’s why many talent evaluators have expressed minimal concern over their play and see them within striking distance of making the playoffs.
It speaks to their goaltending and the poor play at the position this season. They’ve been let down by Linus Ullmark, who is usually dominant in the net but has -11.3 goals saved above average (GSAA), plus the lack of a reliable backup has cost them. The Senators have received strong play in the net recently, and it’s why they’ve made up ground in the playoff race.
The other key for the Senatros is health. Jake Sanderson is one of the best defensemen in the NHL and a difference maker at the point. He’s out week to week, and it could cost them enough games to just miss the playoffs.
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues were sellers at the trade deadline. They moved on from Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk, two veterans who were staples of the roster, and there was talk about them trading core players like Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou. Yet, somehow, the Blues are still in it, sitting only six points out of a Western Conference playoff spot.
The reason for optimism surrounding the Blues is that they’ve been in this spot before. Everyone remembers the 2018-19 season, where they went from worst to first, and last season, they won 12 games in a row to secure the final spot in the wild card. So, with Jordan Binnington flipping the switch and the top-end talent stepping up, they might do it again.
Winnipeg Jets
Like the Blues, this team has struggled all season, yet is only six points out of a wild card spot. The Winnipeg Jets battled injuries early on this season, notably with Connor Hellebuyck missing a few weeks but now that he’s back, they can get hot.
Hellebuyck, in particular, is the reason the top teams in the Western Conference hope the Jets don’t make the playoffs. He’s the best goaltender in the game and is coming off an Olympic and Gold Medal performance that proved he can win on the big stage. If the Jets get in, it will be with Hellebuyck playing lights-out goaltending. That and a Jets team that’s found its footing can make them a sleeper team come playoff time.
Other Teams to Watch
The Philadelphia Flyers are only five points out of a spot, thanks to two wins in a row. They’ve also struggled for most of the season but a hot streak and dominant play from Dan Vladar can let them sneak in. The same is true about the Washington Capitals, who have the elite talent and the goaltender to get hot.
The Florida Panthers are on a three-game winning streak and are within striking distance of a playoff spot. It’s crazy because they’ve had all the obstacles in front of them this season. And if they get in, there’s no doubt they can win in the playoffs.
Out west, the final spot is up for grabs. One day, the San Jose Sharks have it, and the next day, it’s the Seattle Kraken, Los Angeles Kings, or even the Nashville Predators. All it takes is for one of them to back their way in.
The usual homer POV as have to throw the flyers in there.