NHL: East sees crazy playoff race
The National Hockey League has perfected the idea of parity. There is a salary cap and a salary floor, along with a point for any team that even gets a game to overtime. Then, if you can last the five minutes of 3-on-3 in overtime, you get a glorified exhibition with the shootout. Win that? Get another point.
If you don’t believe that parity is king in the NHL, take a look at the Eastern Conference standings this year. The Washington Capitals are clearly going to be the top seed in the conference, running away with the Metro Division with a record of 39-9-4 (82 points). With a 17-point lead in the division, the Capitals can easily coast into the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in search of their first Stanley Cup title.
After that? It is a rat race to end all rat races.
The Florida Panthers are leading the Atlantic Division, something almost nobody thought was coming. Florida was supposed to be a good team and perhaps reach the postseason, but a division title? Insane. This is a team being led by veterans such as Jaromir Jagr and goaltender Roberto Luongo, who has suddenly found the fountain of youth.
So, on Feb. 10, this team should be an easy mark to make the playoffs, right? Wrong.
Florida has 70 points and yes, it should get in, but the Panthers are only eight points ahead of the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning. Only the top three teams from each division are guaranteed playoffs spots, so if the Panthers falter and the above trio get hot, Florida could be completely out of the mix.
In the Metro, things are even more out of control. While Washington is clearly going to take the division, the race for the second and third spots are crazy. The New York Rangers have 65 points while the New York Islanders are hot on their heels with 62, despite playing one less game. The Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils are also knocking on the door, sitting with 62 points apiece. The schedule has these teams playing constantly down the stretch, something that will give us a wild March and April.
Only three teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets, are under the .500 mark. It is an incredible show of parity, a place where any team can win on any night, anywhere.
The NHL still has its best teams, but the race for the bottom half of the Eastern Conference playoffs showcases that anything is possible. If Pittsburgh gets in, it has Sidney Crosby, Phil Kessel and Evgeni Maklin. If New Jersey sneaks in, it has Cory Schneider and the third-ranked defense.
It’s going to be fantastic. Settle in.
