Most of the NHL’s teams have between 18 and 20 games left in their regular-season schedule. In the Eastern Conference, the eight playoff teams have created separation from the rest of the competition, as Washington holds the second wild card with 84 points – 15 clear of ninth-place Columbus. In the Western Conference, things are much less settled, with three teams within three points of the second wild card position. How will things finish up? Check out the updated standings and our online NHL betting insights on the next few weeks.
NHL News: Four Weeks Left in the Regular Season — Who’s In the Playoffs?
Western Conference
→ Central Division
Place Team GP Pts
1 Colorado Avalanche 66 98
2 Minnesota Wild 64 84
3 St. Louis Blues 65 81
→ Pacific Division
Place Team GP Pts
1 Calgary Flames 65 88
2 Los Angeles Kings 68 81
3 Edmonton Oilers 67 79
→ Wild Card
1 Nashville Predators 66 80
2 Vegas Golden Knights 68 76
Dallas Stars (Central) 64 75
Winnipeg Jets (Central) 67 74
Vancouver Canucks (Pacific) 68 73
San Jose Sharks (P) 65 66
Anaheim Ducks (P) 67 65
Chicago Blackhawks (C) 67 58
Seattle Kraken (P) 66 48
Arizona Coyotes (P) 66 45
Eastern Conference
→ Atlantic Division
Place Team GP Pts
1 Florida Panthers 65 94
2 Tampa Bay Lightning 65 88
3 Toronto Maple Leafs 65 87
→ Metropolitan Division
Place Team GP Pts
1 Carolina Hurricanes 66 95
2 Pittsburgh Penguins 67 90
3 N.Y. Rangers 66 89
→ Wild Card
1 Boston Bruins 65 87
2 Washington Capitals 68 84
Columbus Blue Jackets 66 69
N.Y. Islanders 64 65
Detroit Red Wings 66 60
Buffalo Sabres 67 58
Philadelphia Flyers 66 53
New Jersey Devils 66 53
Ottawa Senators 65 52
Montreal Canadiens* 66 47
| Place | Team | GP | Pts |
| 1 | Colorado Avalanche | 66 | 98 |
| 2 | Minnesota Wild | 64 | 84 |
| 3 | St. Louis Blues | 65 | 81 |
| Place | Team | GP | Pts |
| 1 | Calgary Flames | 65 | 88 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Kings | 68 | 81 |
| 3 | Edmonton Oilers | 67 | 79 |
| 1 | Nashville Predators | 66 | 80 |
| 2 | Vegas Golden Knights | 68 | 76 |
| Dallas Stars (Central) | 64 | 75 | |
| Winnipeg Jets (Central) | 67 | 74 | |
| Vancouver Canucks (Pacific) | 68 | 73 | |
| San Jose Sharks (P) | 65 | 66 | |
| Anaheim Ducks (P) | 67 | 65 | |
| Chicago Blackhawks (C) | 67 | 58 | |
| Seattle Kraken (P) | 66 | 48 | |
| Arizona Coyotes (P) | 66 | 45 |
| Place | Team | GP | Pts |
| 1 | Florida Panthers | 65 | 94 |
| 2 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 65 | 88 |
| 3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 65 | 87 |
| Place | Team | GP | Pts |
| 1 | Carolina Hurricanes | 66 | 95 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 67 | 90 |
| 3 | N.Y. Rangers | 66 | 89 |
| 1 | Boston Bruins | 65 | 87 |
| 2 | Washington Capitals | 68 | 84 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 66 | 69 | |
| N.Y. Islanders | 64 | 65 | |
| Detroit Red Wings | 66 | 60 | |
| Buffalo Sabres | 67 | 58 | |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 66 | 53 | |
| New Jersey Devils | 66 | 53 | |
| Ottawa Senators | 65 | 52 | |
| Montreal Canadiens* | 66 | 47 |
*-eliminated from postseason competition
Which team will win the President’s Trophy?
This award goes to the team with the best overall record (with the most points). Teams receive two points for a win and one point for a loss after regulation, either in overtime or in the shootout. Colorado, Florida and Carolina have the best shot at it, and Colorado has won it three times in the past, most recently last season. Neither Carolina nor Florida has ever won the trophy.A better question is what the trophy means for playoff success. The trophy was introduced for the 1985-86 season, and it has been handed out 35 times. Of those 35 winners, only eight teams also went on to win the Stanley Cup, and only 11 of those teams even made it to the Cup Final.
Who will win the Hart Trophy?
The league’s MVP claims this award, which has annual debates about whether the player “most valuable” to his team has to play on a team headed for the postseason. Also, questions surround whether the value comes from a player’s whole game or from a player’s most notable skill? Some of the top contenders also have some questions. Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin is the reason his team is in the postseason conversation at all, but he does not play every night. Toronto forward Auston Matthews has had an outstanding season offensively, but he has a lot of help around him. Florida defenseman Jonathan Huberdeau scores points in bunches, but at the blue line? He’s average at best.
Which teams are peaking at the right time?
The Minnesota Wild have gone 8-1-1 in their last ten games after hitting a rough patch. Marc-Andre Fleury has a chance to backstop another team deep into the postseason, and the Wild has a wealth of offensive talent. Right now, the Wild would face St. Louis in the first round of the playoffs, and the Blues have trended downward in March, going 3-6-3 in the month’s 12 games.
Will the Dallas Stars make the playoffs? They have improved dramatically in games past regulation this season, going 13-3 in those contests. Last year, they performed historically badly in those games, which is why they did not get to skate for the Cup. However, they keep shooting themselves in the collective foot like they did this past weekend, following up an impressive win in Carolina with a dreadful third period at home against Vancouver, turning a 1-1 tie into a 4-1 embarrassment.
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