As the chaotic 2023-24 NHL season is about to reach the halfway mark, no lead is safe and no playoff spot is guaranteed this year.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!There have been unthinkable scores with 14+ goals between two teams, instant replay calling back goals that have changed the outlook of a contest and the San Jose Sharks are on a long, 12-game losing streak.
Fans league-wide can debate about which is better between the Western and Eastern Conferences.
Out of the last-10 Stanley Cup Champions, the winners have split 5-5 between the two groups of 16 teams.
Known as one of the more congested divisions in hockey, the Metropolitan is living up to the billing once again. Currently, there is just two points separating the Philadelphia Flyers in third place (46) and the Pittsburgh Penguins who are seventh (44).
To put how shocking that is, the Atlantic Division only has the Detroit Red Wings with 44 points, but they sit fifth.
Like every year, both conference’s wild-card spots are decided in the last week, in fact, sometimes the last day of the season.
The Wild West
On the Western side of North America, it is as tight as ever and every point from here on out matters too.
Wildcard Standings (Teams in wildcard spots in Italics)
7. Nashville Predators: 22-18-1 | 45 points
8. Edmonton Oilers: 21-15-1 | 43 points
9. Seattle Kraken: 17-14-9 |43 points
10. Arizona Coyotes: 20-17-2 | 42 points
11. St. Louis Blues: 20-18-1 | 41 points
12. Calgary Flames: 18-18-5 | 41 points
13. Minnesota Wild: 17-18-4| 38 points
The Predators have came out of nowhere and continue to rack up points thanks to a mix of youthful talent and seasoned veterans.
Edmonton have resurrected from being near the bottom of the standings to igniting an eight-game winning streak.
Similarly to the Oilers, Seattle are on a seven-game heater, putting opposing fanbase’s preseason doubts of them falling off away.
Right behind them, the Coyotes, Blues, Flames and even the Wild are still in hunt. Only five points separates Minnesota from the Oilers.
Getting even spicier, the Flames and Coyotes face each other tomorrow night and could make things get even interesting.
When asked about how important this game is for Arizona, center Nick Schmaltz understands the implications of this battle vs. Calgary.
“It (a win) would be huge, 2-3 is still not great on home ice, but we definitely need it,” Schmaltz said after beating the Boston Bruins 4-3. “They’re (Calgary) right there as well, I think they are in the wildcard race too. Anytime you play teams like that, it’s a four-point swing either way. Definitely need it.”
It will be a gauntlet throughout the rest of the season. Grab some popcorn, this is going to be fascinating to see how all this plays out.
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Alec Cipollini is a reporter of the Arizona Coyotes and Cardinals for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account @AlecCipollini
