There are less than 10 games in the National Hockey League regular season and the spots for the final two Wild Card playoff teams are coming down to the wire in both conferences. The Eastern Conference is a three-team race while the Western Conference is a four-team battle for the final two playoff spots. Due to the following reasons, we believe these teams will be playing extra hockey at the end of the NHL regular season.
Eastern Conference
Wild Card #1 (New York Islanders)
The New York Islanders currently have a three-point cushion on the first wild-card playoff spot. With six games left in their schedule, they are creeping ever so slightly to clinching the first wild card position.
They have stellar goaltending and play team defense throughout the game. While they do have a tough three-game set at Tampa, at Carolina, and vs Tampa, they finish their season off against the Flyers, Capitals, and Canadiens. If it comes down to the last three games this team will solidify a wild card birth.
Wild Card #2 (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Currently, the Penguins are sitting in the second wild-card position just one point ahead of the Panthers. What separates the Pens from Florida is their experience and depth up front. This team has veteran leadership that is still producing a quality level of play.
With three out of their last seven games against non-playoff teams and two against teams that have already clinched, their schedule is working out perfectly for Pittsburgh. Expect Sidney Crosby and company to get this team to the postseason once again.
Western Conference
Wild Card #1 (Seattle Kraken)
The Seattle Kraken have a three-point cushion with two games in hand of the next team behind them. Their 88 points at this point in the season is surely a surprise to many but this team is playing consistent defense and finding ways to score in bunches.
In their nine games left in the season, Seattle plays Anaheim once, Arizona three times, Vancouver once, and Chicago once. Six out of the nine games are against non-playoff teams to finish their season, expect this impressive run in Seattle to continue.
Wild Card #2 (Calgary Flames)
While this Calgary Flames team started the season off rough, they are sitting just two points out of a Wild Card spot with seven games to go. They have the same amount of games as the team ahead of them in the standings (Winnipeg Jets).
Currently, on a two-game win streak, this Flames team will face the Jets once and six other non-playoff teams to finish their regular season. This team has offensive firepower that can propel them into a playoff spot. Look for Calgary to use their schedule to their advantage and creep into the final wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference.
