January NHL Standings, News and Opinion (Monday 1/8)
By Jim Lynch
Wow, is the season really starting to fly by? Here we are just a few weeks out from the All-Star Game, and the NHL Standings are really starting to take shape for the second half of the season.
January NHL Standings, News and Opinion (Monday 1/8)
Today, I want to highlight the hypothetical playoff matchups if the postseason started today.
Atlantic Division
Boston Bruins 32-4-4 68 Points
Toronto Maple Leafs 25-9-7 57 Points
Tampa Bay Lightning 24-13-1 49 Points
Buffalo Sabres 20-15-2 42 Points
Florida Panthers 18-19-4 40 Points
Detroit Red Wings 16-15-7 39 Points
Ottawa Senators 18-18-3 39 Points
Montreal Canadiens 16-21-3 35 Points
A1 Boston Bruins Vs WC2 Pittsburgh Penguins
Wow, this would make for a really fun playoff matchup. The Boston Bruins are the current Presidents Trophy favorites, and to get matched up with the Penguins to start things off in the playoffs would make for some great TV.
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs Vs A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
Having this matchup again in the playoffs would be a real treat. The Toronto Maple Leafs are having an absolutely great season, and their reward already looks like a matchup once again with the Tampa Bay Lightning. While the Lightning might have lost in the final last year, they still are the Lightning.
Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes 25-8-7 57 Points
New Jersey Devils 25-12-3 53 Points
Washington Capitals 23-14-6 52 Points
New York Rangers 22-12-7 51 Points
Pittsburgh Penguins 20-13-6 46 Points
New York Islanders 22-17-2 46 Points
Philadelphia Flyers 15-18-7 37 Points
Columbus Blue Jackets 12-25-2 26 Points
M1 Carolina Hurricanes Vs W1 New York Rangers
The Hurricanes and Rangers meeting in round one would be an epic rematch of the second round last year. I definitely like this as a matchup as the Rangers and Hurricanes are two good teams both with hopes of getting out of the first round and having a good playoff run.
M2 New Jersey Devils Vs M3 Washington Capitals
This is another good matchup. The Capitals have been on a tear as of late and now have two of their star players back in the mix. While the Devils might not be the most consistent team right now, I do think they still are one of the best in the league.
Central Division
Dallas Stars 24-11-6 54 Points
Winnipeg Jets 26-13-1 53 Points
Minnesota Wild 22-14-3 47 Points
Colorado Avalanche 20-15-3 43 Points
St. Louis Blues 20-18-3 43 Points
Nashville Predators 18-14-6 42 Points
Arizona Coyotes 13-21-5-31 Points
Chicago Blackhawks 10-25-4 24 Points
C1 Dallas Stars Vs W1 Calgary Flames
In the Central, our first matchup is a rematch of last year, this time with the roles flipped. The Stars look like a real playoff team, whereas the Flames are just trying to stay afloat in the NHL standings. I hope we can get this matchup in round one as I think the two teams are really fun to watch against each other.
C2 Winnipeg Jets Vs C3 Minnesota Wild
The Jets and Wild both are having great seasons. For Winnipeg’s return to the playoffs, I think this would be a lot of fun to watch in 2023. I think whatever team adds a little more at the deadline could be the one to pull away in this series.
Pacific Division
Vegas Golden Knights 27-13-2 56 Points
Los Angeles Kings 23-14-6 52 Points
Seattle Kraken 22-12-4 48 Points
Calgary Flames 19-14-8 46 Points
Edmonton Oilers 21-17-3 45 Points
Vancouver Canucks 17-19-3 37 Points
San Jose Sharks 12-21-8 32 Points
Anaheim Ducks 12-25-4 28 Points
P1 Vegas Golden Knights Vs W2 Edmonton Oilers
Vegas vs Edmonton. Can you really ask for a better first-round series with Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid facing off in the postseason?
P2 Los Angeles Kings Vs P3 Seattle Kraken
The Kraken make their playoff debut against the Kings. While we will have to wait and see if either team can stay afloat over the next few months, this would be a fun playoff matchup for sure, especially considering the Kings would be entering as the more experienced playoff team.
So that is where all the playoff matchups are at as of today. Some important teams are missing from the mix, but the one I need to mention would be the Colorado Avalanche.
I think everyone assumes the Avs will be in the playoffs when all is said and done, but that has been the case for other teams in the past, like Vegas and Tampa a few years ago. We will have to wait and see how things shake up by the time the season comes to a close.
One big piece of news from around the league has to be the All-Star game rosters being announced. While the rosters are not complete, there are a lot of stars already named to the event, and I think there is a real opportunity that this game will be one of the most entertaining yet.