NHL Bubble Teams: Which Ones Make The Playoffs In 2016?

The NHL playoffs are the first step towards a team’s push for the Stanley Cup in June each year. Before the playoffs start however, there are always teams that find themselves just on the outside looking in at the teams heading there. This year, top teams like the Washington Capitals and the Los Angeles Kings have clinched their playoff spots already, but I’m not here to talk about those. This discussion will be about the “bubble” teams (as they are commonly referred to). This will be about the teams that are fighting for their playoff spot right until the end of the year, and the way the standings are this year, it should be an exciting final push.

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Teams that are right on the cusp of a playoff berth that I will be focusing in on are the: Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, and the Ottawa Senators.

In the Western conference, there is a large gap between the couple of teams that are close to a playoff berth, and the teams that are on the outside and bottom of the league (10 point gap between the Wild and Coyotes). The two teams in the west that will battle it out until the end of the year (barring a division leading team completely faltering) will be the Wild and the Avalanche.

The Wild have had their struggles throughout the season so far, and now are fighting to regain their Wild Card spot from the Avalanche. Their coach has gone so far to send a message to his players about their efforts and finishing ability by benching star player Thomas Vanek for consecutive games. On top of that, higher profile players like Jason Pominville have not been as productive as they are expected to be (11G, 22A, in 67 games) and that has hurt them. Goaltender Devin Dubnyk has played solidly for them all year long and still they find themselves struggling.

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The Colorado Avalanche have suffered a great loss to their offense by young star Nathan MacKinnon being out for at least 2 games. The Aves still have plenty of firepower besides him, but in a time like this, players like him are needed to win key games. The Avalanche and the Wild are only one point apart from one another and this should make for an interesting battle towards the close of the season.

For the Eastern Conference, there is much more competition for the last few Wild Card spots (currently held by the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings). The teams looking in with a real chance of challenging for one or both of these spots are the Devils, Flyers, Hurricanes, and Senators.

The Flyers are only one point back and are on a hot streak in their last ten games (7-2-1). Solid goaltending and surging offensive numbers will continue to be their ally. On top of that, the dynamic play of rookie sensation Shayne Gostisbehere is undoubtedly a key element to the Flyers team.

The Devils will continue to lean on their All Star goaltender Cory Schneider towards the end of the year, and will need him fresh should they make the cut. Until then, it will be up to the likes of top offensive Devils forward Adam Henrique to do the heavy lifting, especially since Lee Stempniak was traded to the Bruins at the deadline this past February.

The Hurricanes are struggling a bit to find their way, and it would honestly serve them best to not make a push towards the playoffs. As a team that lacks depth to make it through, the Canes would be an easier target for a top team like the Capitals should they make the playoffs.

The Senators still have a shot to make a decent push. Sitting 7 points back of the Red Wings, the Sens have all the tools to make a good playoff run. their recent struggles (especially their recent loss to the Buffalo Sabres) may have shaken their confidence, but I would not put it past them to make a legitimate run this year. They may not have their super hot goaltender like Hammond was last season, but they still have all the tools.

So Who Wins? Who Makes It?

For the West, it’s pretty much a coin toss to decide on which team will make it, but I am giving the slight edge to the Colorado Avalanche. The are a young and hungry team that seems to be playing like they want it much more. The Wild do have young talents, but their top players are either in their prime or just about to leave it. For the West, I give the edge to the Avalanche.

The East is a little tricker for one solid fact alone. The Detroit Red Wings have not missed the playoffs in 24 years and they too have everything they need to make it once again. The issue with the Wings at the end of this year is going to be their goaltending. Petr Mrazek played great all year long but has hit a cold streak, and Jimmy Howard has been sub par all year long. The bright spot of hope for them is the “never quit, never die” attitude of rookie sensation Dylan Larkin. If the Red Wings are to keep their spot, it will be on his shoulders to keep them there.

For the East I think that the New York Islanders will fizzle out of their playoff spot and it will be overtaken by the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers are a hot team right now, and they seem to have found the right combination of players to get the job done each night.

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So there you have it, as far as the Bubble teams go, the Colorado Avalanche and the Philadelphia Flyers will have the last playoff spots by season’s end.