With the trade deadline in the rearview, and less than 20 games to go in the regular season for most teams, all eyes are now squarely on the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. Like most seasons, several teams are again going down to the wire to qualify for a postseason spot.
Although no teams have been eliminated quite yet, the Columbus Blue Jackets, Montreal Canadiens, and Ottawa Senators will all need record-breaking win streaks to come close to a playoff spot. The Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New Jersey Devils are still well within the mix for the postseason, but it may be too little too late for all three organizations.
That whittles the list down to four: the Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Washington Capitals. Over the last two weeks, even though both the Red Wings and Lightning held comfortable positions in the wild card spots, the Islanders and Capitals have closed the gap considerably with solid 10-game stretches respectively.
Currently in the top spot, Tampa Bay has produced a 4-5-1 record in their last 10 games, while acquiring Anthony Duclair and Matt Dumba at the trade deadline. Holding a two-point advantage over Detroit and New York, the Lightning will face off against teams currently in a playoff position eight times over their last 17 games.
Moving north to Detroit, the Red Wings started the 2024 calendar year with a hot stretch, producing a 16-4-2 record after the New Year holiday. Over the last two weeks, however, a completely different hockey team has taken the ice. Currently riding a five game losing streak, Detroit is losing much of their footing in the Eastern Conference wild-card race, being outscored by their opponents by a margin of 17 over that stretch.
Now tied with the Red Wings for the last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, the Islanders are willing themselves into a playoff position. Earning a 6-1-0 record in their last seven games, New York has been dominating their opponents in nearly all facets of the game. Not only are the Islanders making a considerable amount of noise in the wild card race, they are only two points removed from knocking off the Philadelphia Flyers as one of the top three teams in the Metropolitan Division.
Lastly, being one of the streakier teams all season, the Capitals find themselves only three points out of the last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Producing a 7-3-1 record in their last 11 games, Washington will be one of the few organizations vying for playoff candidacy after selling off a few pieces at the deadline. Life will not get any easier for the Capitals, however, as 13 of their last 19 games will come against opponents currently in a playoff position.
Now its time for you to take the crystal ball for the 2024 Stanley Cup playoff race, which two of these teams will qualify for the wild card spots in the Eastern Conference?
Wings are not responding, Flyers are hanging on by their teeth, Isles will grab 3rd in the Metro, Flyers and Wings will duke it out for the last spot. Tampa in the 1st WC.
Agreed. Feel the Flyers should be included…
Agree as well.
Tampa Bay/Philadelphia
What the heck has happened to the Wings? Bizzare seeing a team just fall apart like they have.
Regressing to the mean.
@Gbear — As @Johnny Z and you have stated, it made me think of this analogy — The paddles are fully charged, but the Wings aren’t responding. It’s like trying to resuscitate a rock.
@Mac – It’s one thing if the Wings had just been eeking out wins previous to this collapse, but they were playing good hockey! Now they look like a lottery team. Gives ammunition to my “it’s all fixed” friends, lol!
I think I would be shocked if Philly made the playoffs at this rate. They weren’t getting great goaltending even with Carter Hart, and he’s now been arrested, leaving two pretty underqualified goalies manning the net.
I would *like* to see Tampa miss the playoffs as karma for cheating the cap. But there is rarely justice in this league.
Why would there not be an option for Flyers with Islanders taking third in Division? Poll is useless to answer since the answer is none of the above
i know they aren’t listed but Buffalo has caught up, yes they’ve played an extra game and 2 more than the Isles but they’re only 5 points out right now
I might agree with you but the upcoming western road trip will put an end to their playoff chances
true, already seems like the clowns talking smack about Byram were put to rest, He’s been great in Buffalo so far, i was hoping the Blackhawks would’ve drafted him but im happy with the chain of events adter picking Dach eventually lead to Bedard, 8 points in the last 2 games
Widdles!? I needed a joke bigger than the sharks… surely you mean whittles…
I also noticed that.
Detroit is goalie related. When Lyon was playing well They were in. Now that He has fallen back down to earth. Reimer is Reimer They are done.
NOT!!! Reimer did fine last night against the Lafs and will draw another game.
Your poll is silly as there is no mathematical way Tampa is NOT one of the Wild Card teams.