Eastern Conference Wild Card Watch

[JediOrderPizza]

Go Panthers!

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

Are the Leafs about to win the division and still have to play the Panthers when they drop to a wild card spot? Sens are approaching the Panthers 3 spot!

Oh god please NO!!!!!!

And not because I like the Leafs chances better vs. the Sens,

I want Leafs vs Sens. Period. I want to witness the Battle of Ontario for the what, 5th or 6th time but not in like 20+ years?

Please let me have that. I won't even be mad if the Leafs lose.

No more Bruins (finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

And please no Florda team..............please, please, please hockey GODS!

I want a matchup that gets me really pumped and super into it. Sens tick every single box there.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Montreal is playing quite well and the Caps seem to be sleep walking a little bit. That's a scary matchup, IMO

 

[Mr Nogatco]

Caps gotta be happy they’re now highly unlikely to get the Rangers. I don’t care how rough a season they’ve had. I still wouldn’t want to face them in the playoffs if they got there

100%. Especially when you look at what happened the last time a team went from Presidents’ Trophy to 8 seed (2023 Panthers)

Which isn’t to say playing Montreal will be a walk in the park.

 

[Boyon90]

montreal is the prey right now, ottawa is out of reach, even the islander are getting into it, montreal must not look back, a miracle will come from ska sooner than later

 

[Michoulicious]

If Ottawa passes Florida and Toronto ends up facing Florida in WC2 instead I'm going to laugh so hard.

 

[swiftwin]

The Atlantic is exceptionally weak this year...especially at the top. No pedestal teams this regular season, just a bunch of "meh".

Now...could one of the former pedestal teams reinvent themselves for the post-season and catch fire in the playoffs?...that remains to be seen.

Just meh?

3 of the last 5 cup winners are from the Atlantic Division.

Also, the Altantic made the Cup Finals 6 times in the last 5 years.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Just meh?

3 of the last 5 cup winners are from the Atlantic Division.

Also, the Altantic made the Cup Finals 6 times in the last 5 years.

*this year*

 

[CanadianHockey]

The Atlantic is exceptionally weak this year...especially at the top. No pedestal teams this regular season, just a bunch of "meh".

Now...could one of the former pedestal teams reinvent themselves for the post-season and catch fire in the playoffs?...that remains to be seen.

Is that why the Atlantic has 3 of the top 5 teams in the conference? 4 of the top 6?

The only dominant team in the East has been Washington. Otherwise the two divisions are even.

 

[StreetHawk]

montreal is the prey right now, ottawa is out of reach, even the islander are getting into it, montreal must not look back, a miracle will come from ska sooner than later

Jackets 6 in back of Mon with 6 games left. Brutal weekend for them losing to Tor and Ott. Have a !2B with Wash upcoming but with Ovy breaking the record he might sit out the game in CBJ to rest for the PO since it’s a b2b.
Mon needs to end 1 point ahead of rangers. Can’t match them in RW. So can’t afford to tie them in points.

 

[Megustaelhockey]

I will never cease to be amused by the "my (division/conference) is better than yours" trope. Everyone knows what good looks like regardless of conference/division structure.

 

[leafsfan5]

I cannot f***ing believe that we're about to win the division and our reward is the best team in the NHL

f*** this

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

I cannot f***ing believe that we're about to win the division and our reward is the best team in the NHL

f*** this

 

[Clint Eastwood]

If Florida chokes a divisional spot to ruin Battle of Ontario and Battle of Florida, I'm gonna be marginally upset because Tampa/Ottawa and Toronto/Florida are fun series but still.

 

[Master P]

I cannot f***ing believe that we're about to win the division and our reward is the best team in the NHL

f*** this

The Brad Marchand game 7 OT winner is going to be crazy.

 

[Pablo El Perro]

If Florida chokes a divisional spot to ruin Battle of Ontario and Battle of Florida, I'm gonna be marginally upset because Tampa/Ottawa and Toronto/Florida are fun series but still.

To be fair, Boston quit trying to win the division for the Toronto matchup last year.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Florida isn't stupid. They want the first round bye that is Toronto.

 

[Boyon90]

I cannot f***ing believe that we're about to win the division and our reward is the best team in the NHL

f*** this

ottawa?

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

ottawa?

Ottawa and Montreal probably have two of the best Eastern Conference records in 2025.

Don't quote me on that, but I remember at one point they were both near the top 5 of the NHL in their previous 30 games.

 

[Boyon90]

Ottawa and Montreal probably have two of the best Eastern Conference records in 2025.

Don't quote me on that, but I remember at one point they were both near the top 5 of the NHL in their previous 30 games.

he probably meant florida, as they might get bumped by ottawa

 

[red devil]

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Dobes steals the game for Montreal. Highway robbery.

 

[Frank Drebin]

I cannot f***ing believe that we're about to win the division and our reward is the best team in the NHL

f*** this

Ottawa, Florida, tampa bay

Id be thrilled to be playing an inexperienced team while the former cup champs beat each other up

 

[Frank Drebin]

View attachment 1007925

So what’s the magic number for Montreal right now, 7?

Ie any combination of points gained for Montreal vs points lost for detroit or nyr