Oh, is the No. 2 wild card coming down to the wire, or what? Honestly, I thought we’d see the St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens punch their respective tickets into the NHL Playoffs by now, but the hockey gods had other ideas so far. Maybe that trend will continue as the Columbus Blue Jackets and Calgary Flames continue to remind fans that they’re still in this thing.
Then, we got some confirmed matchups on the slate, all of which will re-ignite or start new chapters across a few heated rivalries. So, whose matchups are locked in and who’s still up for grabs? And which teams should be wary about their potential opponents?
Confirmed Matchups
Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche
This one’s a classic heavyweight battle between Mikko Rantanen and Nathan MacKinnon, with the better of the two clocking in as the potential underdog. Still, it’s hard to count out the former Hart Trophy winner as the stakes rise, especially against a former teammate.
Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers
We’re about to see if the great defense reigns supreme or the great offense because let me tell you: Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid will be ready to roll. And if Draisaitl has any lingering effects from his injuries, you won’t know it.
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils
A classic battle in the Metropolitan Division’s featuring a pair of teams that’ve struggled down the stretch. But one strong series could result in the winner here turning the trajectory of their season around.
Unconfirmed Matchups
Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues
The Jets are cruising into the NHL Playoffs while the Blues are stuck trying to figure out how to sneak into the postseason. Right now, they’re losing momentum quickly. Still, this team enjoyed a 12-game winning streak, so maybe they’ll end up surprising us….maybe…
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild
This is the one matchup I refuse to change my stance on for a single iota. The Knights deserve to be in the playoffs as winners of the Pacific Division. Meanwhile, the Wild look like the best team of a subpar slate of wild card contenders in the West.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators
If the Leafs can sneak in a win, this one’s a done deal and it’ll be a confirmed matchup. Still, I wouldn’t expect the Senators to give the Leafs an easy matchup, even if Toronto may have the best lineup in hockey. Ottawa has been red-hot lately and is giving me 2022-23 Florida Panthers vibes.
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers
The Lightning are another red-hot team heading into the last half of the 2024-25 season’s last week. If I’m the defending champion Florida Panthers here, I know I’m in trouble the second I take the ice against my biggest rival.
Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens
Another day passes, and the Canadiens find another way to keep this thing interesting. Meanwhile, the suddenly red-hot Blue Jackets feel they have a shot to make a late run into the playoffs. And to be frank, if I’m the Capitals, I’d rather play the Habs.