As the NHL playoffs draw near, the excitement is palpable. With just 12 days until the action begins, the race for playoff spots is heating up. The Eastern Conference is a hotbed of competition, with Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Philadelphia Flyers all in the mix. The Western Conference isn't far behind, with Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, and Vegas Golden Knights battling for their spots. The question on everyone's mind is: who will make it to the Stanley Cup Final? Let's take a closer look at the current matchups and the teams on the doorstep.
Eastern Conference
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Boston Bruins
The Lightning are the favorites to represent the East in the Stanley Cup Final, and for good reason. Jon Cooper's team is on a roll, with Nikita Kucherov charging toward both the Art Ross Trophy and the Hart Trophy. Andrei Vasilevskiy is a front-runner for the Vezina, and the team is on track to play the Bruins. While the series may not be as explosive as their outdoor game in February, the Bruins have Jeremy Swayman, who has the league's best goals-saved-above-expected rate. The supporting cast, led by David Pastrnak, can be leaned upon for offense. The remaining schedules for both teams will be crucial in determining the outcome of this series.
Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens
The Sabres clinched a playoff spot over the weekend, but they weren't too happy about their previous performance, including a loss to the Washington Capitals. The Canadiens, on the other hand, were the hottest team in the league before their loss on Sunday. With five games left, Cole Caufield is on track to reach the 50-goal plateau for the first time in his career. The Sabres will need to return to their winning ways, while the Canadiens will need to maintain their momentum. The remaining schedules for both teams will be crucial in determining the outcome of this series.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Ottawa Senators
The Canes remain the best in the Eastern Conference for now, but Tampa Bay, Montreal, and Buffalo are all within striking distance. The Senators, meanwhile, control their own wild-card destiny after beating the Hurricanes on Sunday. The Sens are in playoff contention, despite a handful of injuries on the back end. The remaining schedules for both teams will be crucial in determining the outcome of this series.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers
The Pens are inching toward clinching a playoff spot, and it appears likely that they'll be locked into either the second or third seed in the Metropolitan. The Flyers, meanwhile, have been coming on strong, with seven wins in their last 10 games. The remaining schedules for both teams will be crucial in determining the outcome of this series.
Western Conference
Colorado Avalanche vs. Nashville Predators
The Avs remain in the driver's seat to win the Presidents' Trophy, and Nathan MacKinnon is on track to win the goal-scoring race. The Predators, meanwhile, are in the second wild-card spot, but with little margin for error. The remaining schedules for both teams will be crucial in determining the outcome of this series.
Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild
This matchup has been more or less locked in for weeks, with home-ice advantage still up for grabs. The Stars are four points up on the Wild, but the Stars have only won three of their last 10 games. The Wild, meanwhile, are on the verge of catastrophe, but a win over Dallas on Thursday could give them a chance to surpass the Stars. The remaining schedules for both teams will be crucial in determining the outcome of this series.
Edmonton Oilers vs. Utah Mammoth
The Oilers are tied with the Anaheim Ducks for the Pacific Division lead in points, and they're heating up without Leon Draisaitl in their lineup. The Mammoth, meanwhile, are too far down in the Central to disrupt the Wild-Stars matchup. The remaining schedules for both teams will be crucial in determining the outcome of this series.
Anaheim Ducks vs. Vegas Golden Knights
The Pacific Division pillow fight presses on, with the Ducks and Golden Knights battling for their spots. The Ducks need a win to stop the bleeding, while the Golden Knights are 3-0 under their new bench boss, John Tortorella. The remaining schedules for both teams will be crucial in determining the outcome of this series.
As the playoffs draw near, the excitement is palpable. The question on everyone's mind is: who will make it to the Stanley Cup Final? The answer may be found in the remaining schedules and the teams' current form. Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the NHL playoffs are shaping up to be an exciting and unpredictable ride.
