1
Bruins
The Bruins made NHL historical past on Saturday by reaching 50 wins sooner than another crew in league historical past. Some will say this preposterous common season will solely put extra strain on Boston within the first spherical of the playoffs, however there will likely be loads of time to consider that when the postseason arrives. For now, followers simply have to take pleasure in this historic experience.
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50-11-5
2
Devils
Dougie Hamilton acquired some criticism for a down yr in 2021-22, however he has bounced again with a vengeance this season. Hamilton has tied his profession excessive in targets (18) and set new profession highs in assists (45) and factors (63). He’s executed all of that whereas posting a plus-24 aim differential at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick.
1
44-17-6
3
Hurricanes
Carolina can not seem to catch a break in its pursuit of a Stanley Cup. After shedding Max Pacioretty to an Achilles harm earlier within the season, star ahead Andrei Svechnikov has suffered a season-ending knee harm. The Hurricanes will nonetheless be a formidable playoff opponent, nevertheless it’ll be very tough to interchange Svechnikov’s offensive manufacturing.
1
44-14-8
4
Kings
It is an extremely small pattern dimension, however the Kings’ goaltending has been notably improved in March. Through 5 video games, Joonas Korpisalo and Pheonix Copley have mixed for 4.79 targets saved above common. That is an encouraging signal, and if this Kings crew will get dependable goaltending within the playoffs, it may win the Western Conference.
3
39-20-9
5
Wild
With Kirill Kaprizov out for 3 to 4 weeks with a lower-body harm, the Wild offense will get a serious take a look at. Even with Kaprizov within the lineup, the Minnesota offense was struggling to attain targets. The remainder of the lineup should decide up the slack now that Kaprizov and his 39 targets are on the shelf for the speedy future.
1
38-21-8
6
Stars
On Thursday evening, 9 completely different Stars scored as they hung a 10-spot on the Sabres. In latest years, Dallas has been criticized for an absence of offensive depth, however these issues will most likely vanish if the crew retains posting double-digit scores.
4
37-18-13
7
Maple Leafs
With a aim in every of his final two video games, William Nylander now has 35 on the season, which is a brand new profession excessive. Nylander is enjoying at an elite degree, and he is among the most enjoyable gamers to observe within the NHL as a result of it is by no means boring when he is on the ice. As a lot as Nylander creates on offense, he may give just a little bit again on the defensive finish, which is an thrilling combo.
1
40-18-8
8
Golden Knights
Jonathan Quick recorded a shutout of the Hurricanes in his third begin with the Golden Knights, stopping all 33 photographs he confronted. Quick is off to a 4-0 begin in Vegas, and he has helped them win a few video games by which the crew received outplayed. It’ll be attention-grabbing if he retains this up lengthy sufficient to get playoff revenge in opposition to the Kings.
3
42-20-6
9
Avalanche
The Avalanche’s coaching room is beginning to attain capability. Forward Artturi Lehkonen broke his thumb in Monday evening’s win over the Canadiens, and he’ll miss 4 to 6 weeks. Colorado has had unbelievably poor harm luck this season, and but the crew remains to be able to incomes home-ice benefit within the first spherical of the playoffs.
—
37-22-6
10
Oilers
The early returns on Mattias Ekholm have been distinctive. Ekholm has solely performed seven video games in an Oilers uniform, however the crew has a plus-9 aim differential and a 59.51% anticipated targets share when he’s on the ice at five-on-five. Edmonton is rather more imposing with Ekholm because the No. 1 defenseman.
1
37-23-8
11
Rangers
The Rangers’ five-on-five sport has been lagging of late, and that has led to some subpar outcomes on the scoreboard. Over the final month, the Rangers rank twentieth in five-on-five anticipated targets share (47.26%). That kind of quantity labored final season when Igor Shesterkin was having an out-of-body expertise, however that hasn’t at all times been the case this yr.
3
38-19-10
12
Panthers
One of the principle the reason why the Panthers have been capable of climb the Eastern Conference standings is that Aleksander Barkov has began to warmth up once more. Barkov has six factors in his final 4 video games, and he must preserve that up if Florida goes to get above the road by the point the common season ends.
3
33-27-7
13
Kraken
Seattle has misplaced three straight video games, and it’s now only one level forward of the Oilers within the Pacific Division standings. To make issues worse, the Kraken’s lack of goaltending is rearing its head as soon as once more. In the final month, Martin Jones and Philipp Grubauer have mixed to permit 6.54 targets above common, per Natural Stat Trick.
1
37-23-7
14
Islanders
After getting off to a robust begin with the Islanders, Bo Horvat has cooled off just a little bit. Horvat has only one help in his final six video games, and that’s unhealthy information for an Isles crew that’s nonetheless combating for its playoff life. Ilya Sorokin is greater than adequate to make up for some offensive shortcomings, however Horvat has to get going once more rapidly.
2
34-27-8
15
Lightning
Andrei Vasilevskiy has not been himself recently. Since Feb. 12, Vasilevskiy has made 11 begins, and his -1.19 targets saved above common rank forty seventh in that span. That explains a few of Tampa’s latest struggles, and it is arduous to see them getting far within the Eastern Conference playoffs with out Vasilevskiy being on high of his sport.
1
40-22-6
16
Jets
Few groups had a greater weekend than the Jets. On Saturday, they induced some hypertension in Winnipeg however pulled out an extra time win over the Panthers. On Sunday, the Jets went into Tampa Bay and defeated the Lightning in regulation. Winnipeg wanted to cease the bleeding, and it did precisely that.
2
38-27-3
17
Penguins
Evgeni Malkin has been completely dishing recently with 9 assists in his final six video games. Malkin now has 70 factors in 66 video games, and he’s a lot nearer to peak efficiency than he was over the earlier two seasons. Pittsburgh will at all times have a shot when Malkin and Sidney Crosby are firing on all cylinders.
2
34-23-10
18
Sabres
Alex Tuch returned to the Sabres’ lineup simply in time. On Monday, Tuch suited up for the primary time since Feb. 24 and scored a pair of targets in a comeback win over the Maple Leafs. Buffalo will want extra of that from him to maintain its playoff hopes alive.
1
33-28-5
19
Senators
It looks like the Senators’ magic could have run out at this level. In the final 10 days, Ottawa has misplaced to the Blackhawks, Canucks, and Flames by a mixed 12 targets. Those losses have all however knocked the Senators out of the Eastern Conference playoff image.
6
33-30-4
20
Predators
Tommy Novak, a third-round decide in 2015, has emerged as a constant supply of offense for the Predators. After spending elements of 5 seasons within the AHL, Novak has tallied 13 targets and 15 assists in 34 video games with Nashville this season. He’s a motive the crew has remained a float after being an aggressive vendor on the commerce deadline.
1
34-24-7
21
Flames
If you are going to reverse your playoff fortunes, you’ll be able to’t be dropping video games to the Ducks and Coyotes. That’s what the Flames have executed within the final week, and it has put a serious dent of their playoff possibilities. Calgary has one month to point out one thing that it hasn’t proven in any respect this season. If that does not occur, Darryl Sutter’s seat will likely be awfully heat.
1
30-24-14
22
Canucks
Vancouver has gained 5 straight video games, and J.T. Miller appears to have discovered a little bit of a groove below head coach Rick Tocchet. Miller has 4 targets in his final 4 video games, and he has the chance to complete sturdy in what has been an in any other case tough season for him.
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29-32-5
23
Capitals
Evgeny Kuznetsov has actually struggled just lately, and that is unhealthy information for a crew that’s already just a little shorthanded. Since Feb. 26, Kuznetsov has only one level, and he hasn’t discovered the scoresheet in his final six video games. Washington is combating an uphill battle, and it wants Kuznetsov to start out piling up factors sooner fairly than later.
1
32-29-7
24
Red Wings
One of Steve Yzerman’s priorities within the offseason needs to be getting Dylan Larkin some assist. Larkin is the one participant with greater than 20 targets on the season (25), and the following closest participant is Dominik Kubalik at 18. If the Wings wish to contend, they want extra firepower up entrance.
2
30-28-9
25
Blues
If any Blues followers are on the lookout for any positives from this season, it needs to be Jordan Kyrou’s manufacturing. Kyrou has a giant contract extension kicking in subsequent season, and he has set a brand new profession excessive in targets with 30. The crew round him has been a little bit of a multitude this season, however Kyrou has proven he can fill the following with a excessive diploma of regularity.
2
29-32-5
26
Coyotes
Juuso Valimaki has quietly emerged as a dependable defender for the Coyotes this season. He has two targets and 24 assists in 63 video games this season, and his on-ice impacts have been very encouraging. Valimaki has posted a minus-1 aim differential and a 49.7% anticipated targets share at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick. Those are a number of the greatest numbers on your entire crew.
2
25-32-11
27
Ducks
Last summer time, the Ducks signed Ryan Strome to a five-year contract value a complete of $25 million, and that hasn’t precisely labored out for both aspect thus far. After tallying 21 targets and 54 factors with the Rangers final yr, Strome has simply 11 targets and 31 factors in 2022-23.
2
22-35-10
28
Blackhawks
Chicago was using a four-game shedding streak. It was in a nosedive and enhancing its draft lottery possibilities by the day. Then the Blackhawks went and beat the Bruins on Tuesday? Don’t ask me how, however they discovered a option to outduel the very best crew within the NHL.
3
23-38-6
29
Canadiens
Not to be outdone by the Blackhawks, the Canadiens had been nonetheless on the lookout for their first win in March. That is, till Tristan Jarry had one of many worst durations of his profession. Jarry single-handedly ended Montreal’s seven-game skid.
2
27-35-6
30
Blue Jackets
Johnny Gaudreau hasn’t scored a aim since Feb. 14, and he has simply six assists in his final 9 video games. Columbus is aiming for the No. 1 general decide, however the franchise needs to be no less than just a little involved to see Gaudreau struggling so badly. Maybe sticking him on a line with Connor Bedard subsequent season will assist.
1
21-38-7
31
Flyers
The Flyers are getting in on the tanking motion too. They’ve now misplaced 4 straight video games in regulation, and so they’ve gained simply two of their final 10 video games. At least Philadelphia ripped the band-aid off and parted methods with GM Chuck Fletcher in order that it might probably transfer ahead with a brand new imaginative and prescient.
1
24-32-11
32
Sharks
Few groups have had goaltending extra conducive to tanking than the Sharks, to place it properly. James Reimer’s -11.44 targets saved above common is tied for eighty fifth, per Natural Stat Trick, and he’s having a markedly higher season than his fellow netminder Kaapo Kahkonen. With -23.51 targets saved above common, Kahkonen ranks ninety fifth. Only Vancouver’s Spencer Martin has been worse.
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19-36-13
