This will go down as the most unusual season in NHL history and it is mostly due to the fact that teams will be restricted to playing teams only in their own division. That means that for a team with legitimate playoff hopes like the New York Rangers, every game is a four point game. It’s also what sets the loaded East Division apart from the other three divisions. And that is a good thing for the Blueshirts.
The other three divisions
Unlike the East, the Central, North and West Divisions have teams that are not very good and the elite teams have feasted on those bottom feeders. Predictably, it’s affected the standings and established a hierarchy within each grouping.
Central Division
In the Central Division, Detroit is clearly the worst team in the group. Every other team in the Division has a plus .500 record against them except the Hurricanes who are 1-1-0. One reason that the Blackhawks and Panthers have exceeded expectation is that they each have gained eight points at Detroit’s expense. The simple fact is that Detroit has won only six of 22 games and the team that makes the most of playing the Red Wings will benefit the most. So far, it’s been Chicago and Florida.
Florida may be sitting in first place in the Central, but they have only two games left against Detroit. Carolina, Dallas and Tampa all have six games left, an opportunity to gain as many as 12 points. Nashville is the other underachiever in the Central with only eight wins in 19 games. Tampa has made the most of the Predators’ situation, sweeping all four games they have played against them.
North Division
The same thing goes for the North Division and Ottawa. The Senators have won seven of 22 games and one reason why the Maple Leafs, Jets and Oilers are at the top is that they are a combined 11-2-1 against Ottawa.
Having a weak opponent helps teams in trouble. Vancouver has only eight wins and 18 points in 24 games. Just think where they would be if they hadn’t won all three of their games against the Senators.
Failure to take advantage of teams like Ottawa has resulted in the first coach to be fired as Montreal let Claude Julien go in part because they have beaten Ottawa only once in four games. If they had swept the Senators, they would be in second place in their division.
West Division
In the West, before the season the consensus bottom feeders were going to be the three California teams. While the Kings have surprised everyone with their play so far this season, the Ducks and Sharks have been mediocre. How have Vegas, St. Louis and Colorado done against them? They are a combined 11-3-1. It’s a big reason why those three teams are sitting on top of the West.
As for the Kings, they are in fifth place with 21 points in 19 games, but they still have six games to play against Vegas and Colorado, and four more with St Louis. They are 4-4-0 against the top three teams and if they can play .500 hockey against them and beat the bad teams, they have a shot at the playoffs.