Eastern Conference Playoff Teams Make NHL History

The eight Eastern Conference teams that have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs made history on Sunday.

For the first time in NHL history, all eight playoff teams from the same conference have eclipsed the 100-point milestone. The Washington Capitals became the last team to reach the century mark when they earned a point in their 4-3 shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.

The Florida Panthers lead the way in the East with 120 points, while Carolina Hurricanes come in at number two. Their 112 points have them leading the Metropolitan Division.

It’s crazy to me that this has not happened before. Don’t get me wrong, reaching 100 points is not easy and should not be taken for granted, but at some point along the way, I would have expected it to happen.

The Eastern Conference playoff teams have made history this season.

With that said, it makes sense that these teams would be the ones to do this. All season long, we have talked about the gap between the playoff teams and the non-playoff teams, I just can’t remember a season in which the teams that were holding playoff positions at Christmas were the exact same teams to reach the postseason.

Not only have these teams been good enough and consistent enough to essentially maintain a playoff position wire to wire, but the gap that I mentioned has only grown.

Entering action on Monday, the Capitals, who would be the second wild card team if the season ended today, have a 20-point lead over the New York Islanders.

To compare the Isles, the first team out, further, their .506 point percentage and -11 goal differential compare, in terms of playoff teams, most closely to the Pittsburgh Penguins (.631) and Boston Bruins (+31), respectively. Those numbers only make the disparity more obvious.

Looking further down the standings, only one team besides the Islanders has a point percentage that is .500 or better (Columbus Blue Jackets: .500). At the very bottom, the Montreal Canadiens are on their way to the fourth-lowest point percentage by any team in the last decade (.319).

In addition, the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils are doing their best to follow Montreal’s lead, as both clubs own sub-.400 point percentages.

The playoff teams in the Eastern Conference have been clearly superior to their rivals throughout the regular season, and this record-setting output is the icing on the cake.