The Atlantic is just so clogged right now. The younger teams are starting to gain some ground on the old guard. From our cold, dead hands.We just tied Toronto in points and sit 2nd in the Atlantic, 4 points behind Florida (with a game in hand).
Ottawa is 7-2-1 in their last 10, has won 6 straight and is 4 points behind us and the Leafs.
This is gonna be one of the more interesting season ending stretches in recent times.
I agree, not a lot of teams I’d feel comfortable going against. Even Columbus could surprise us badly. Rangers are just a red hot Shesterkin away from upsetting a favorite too. It’s all a coin toss really.Ottawa is not a team I'd want to play in round 1. Atlantic winner is pretty much guaranteed to face the top wild card, which is likeliest to be the Sens right now. They have an easy schedule too. I don't see any safe matchups out there, unless New Jersey continues to lose and somehow gets supplanted by the Rangers or Jackets.
Florida and Toronto are the top tier, but Ottawa will have that momentum and excitement of finally getting in, plus Brady Tkachuk playoff debut. Something about them scares me a bit.
At this point I'd almost lean toward the Panthers considering Tkachuk could be rusty/not 100% and Ekblad will miss the first 2. Metro division is very lucky.
We gotta be peak performance for 20-25 games. Can we do it?There's no easy path this season to the Cup (not that there is one most seasons). Both conferences are fairly stacked at the top, with each having 4 or 5 teams that wouldn't surprise most if they make it to the SCF. Regardless of who Tampa has to go through, it will take thelr best to win it all. The difference between last year and this year though, imo, is that this team has a realistic chance of hoisting the Cup at the end.
Could have 6 players with 50+ points before the Islanders and Kraken even have one.Nick Paul now gives us six 20 goal scorers, that leads the league. Bjorkstrand has 17. Three...soon to be four 30 goal scorers also leads the league
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