Playoff outlook as of the Christmas break and if the playoffs started today, who do you see winning round 1?

[Bjornar Moxnes]

This is the current playoff outlook. If the playoffs started today, who'd you take for each series?

For me:
East:
Tampa over Florida in 7.
Toronto over Boston in 7.
New Jersey over Ottawa in 6.
Carolina over Washington in 6.

West:
Winnipeg over Dallas in 7.
Minnesota over Colorado in 7.
Vegas over Vancouver in 5.
Edmonton over Los Angeles in 6.

Click to read more...

 

[VivaLasVegas]

Of course lots can change. But as we sit here today:

EAST:

WEST:

 

[syz]

Oilers/Kings in the first round... you don't say.

 

[SENStastic]

If the playoffs were held right now it would a true Christmas miracle for all Sens fans!

 

[scoopscj]

Id love to see playoff Brady. Sens are a fun team

 

[Oilslick941611]

Oilers/Kings in the first round... you don't say.

This shit needs to stop. 4 years in a row. It doesn’t breed rivalry. It breeds fatigue. I don’t hate the kings. I’m tired of them.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

Tampa 4 points back of Toronto with 3 games in hand will move ahead of the Leafs in the standings before season's end.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Pretty wild that a month ago the Penguins looked like the worst team in the league, now they’re in the mix for a playoff spot. Of course there’s a lot of hockey left to play.

 

[DitchMarner]

Pretty wild that a month ago the Penguins looked like the worst team in the league, now they’re in the mix for a playoff spot. Of course there’s a lot of hockey left to play.

They really never should have been that bad (just like the Rangers shouldn't be as bad as they have been lately).

But I do think the Penguins will miss the playoffs unless BOS or OTT collapses (which is possible, to be fair). My feeling is five teams from the Atlantic and three from the Metro will make the playoffs this year.

 

[Bandit]

This shit needs to stop. 4 years in a row. It doesn’t breed rivalry. It breeds fatigue. I don’t hate the kings. I’m tired of them.

Well please knock us out in 4 games this year then and maybe our dumbass GM will finally get f***ing fired like he deserves.

 

[Dotter]

Of course lots can change. But as we sit here today:

EAST:

View attachment 951037

WEST:

View attachment 951038

It's amazing how atrocious teams are this season. For example at this time last season Arizona Coyotes were firmly out of the PO race at 18th... but this season would be in a WC mix while having 2 games in hand.

Ottawa's win percentage this season is nearly identical to DRWs last season. That's how bad the east is this season!

 

[account deactivated]

I have no idea what all the colored boxes and teams are in the OP, but here are the standings with current wild card teams for each conference, right from NHL.com.

 

[Oilslick941611]

Well please knock us out in 4 games this year then and maybe our dumbass GM will finally get f***ing fired like he deserves.

You guys are doing well this year though! Enjoy it. You might win a series. Who knows.

 

[winnipegger]

We need Toronto/Ottawa in the first round. We need it.

 

[DitchMarner]

East:
Tampa over Florida in 7.
Toronto over Boston in 6.
New Jersey over Ottawa in 6.
Washington over Carolina in 6.

West:
Dallas over Winnipeg in 7.
Colorado over Minnesota in 6.
Vegas over Vancouver in 5.
Edmonton over Los Angeles in 6.

 

[Zeeker]

Who made that chart? Washington would be the top seed over NJD because of point percentage.

That’s how standings were determined during the Covid season.

 

[Zerotonine]

Need to go back to 1 vs 8

This is getting stupid year after year same match ups

 

[Fataldogg]

Need to go back to 1 vs 8

This is getting stupid year after year same match ups

Yeah, I can't stand the playoff format. Its going to be what... 4th year in a row we see the Kings vs Oilers in the first round?

 

[Zerotonine]

Yeah, I can't stand the playoff format. Its going to be what... 4th year in a row we see the Kings vs Oilers in the first round?

Lol just looked and even 1 vs 8 format edmomton plays kings lol 4th vs 5th lolol

actually not a single match up would change in the west in old 1 vs 8 format. Mind boggling

 

[Jumptheshark]

Didn't we just have this thread?

 

[KrugAvoy]

Boston over Toronto in 7 again

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

Need to go back to 1 vs 8

This is getting stupid year after year same match ups

Yep. Boring.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Didn't we just have this thread?

When I created it I didn't see the thread.

 

[JianYang]

View attachment 951063

This is the current playoff outlook. If the playoffs started today, who'd you take for each series?

For me:
East:
Tampa over Florida in 7.
Toronto over Boston in 7.
New Jersey over Ottawa in 6.
Carolina over Washington in 6.

West:
Winnipeg over Dallas in 7.
Minnesota over Colorado in 7.
Vegas over Vancouver in 5.
Edmonton over Los Angeles in 6.

New Jersey, Carolina, Florida, Toronto

Dallas, Colorado, Vegas, edmonton

 

[PaulD]

Need to go back to 1 vs 8

This is getting stupid year after year same match ups

You are absolutely right. Recalling the 2024 play offs - media as well as fans were generally in agreement it was a boring first round. Usually the best round.