NHL Wild-Card Roundup: What’s Next for Bubble Teams on the Outside Looking In

The race for the playoffs heats up as the NHL schedule enters the homestretch.

There are less than 25 games remaining on the NHL schedule for most teams. By this time, we begin to get some clarity on where teams might finish. 

Some teams may start looking forward to playoff time and who they may face when getting there. Others may be more focused on the draft lottery. But there’s also a slew of teams in the Eastern and Western Conference whose result is still up in the air. 

Here is a look at six potential wild-card NHL teams on the outside looking in and what the path ahead could look like for each.

Remaining Schedule: Seventh-hardest (according to tankathon.com)

Goals Leader: Tyler Toffoli (25)

Assists Leader: Jesper Bratt (39)

Goalie Wins Leader: Vitek Vanecek (17)

It has been a difficult season for the Devils. The talent is seemingly there, but the team hasn’t been able to get to that next level we saw last season. While injuries and inconsistent play can partially be blamed, Lindy Ruff’s time as coach is also being questioned. The goaltending has also not lived up to expectations. 

All these variables put together mean the Devils risk missing out on the playoffs just one year after punching their ticket for the first time in four seasons. This team is sitting five points out of the playoffs with 23 games remaining. The right moves made at the deadline, and possibly even a coaching change, may be the difference in making a push for the playoffs or not.

Remaining Schedule: Fourth-hardest

Goals Leader: Dylan Strome (21)

Assists Leader: John Carlson (30)

Goalie Wins Leader: Darcy Kuemper (13)

It’s been a difficult stretch for the Capitals, highlighted by a six-game losing streak from late January into February. 

Though they have been able to right the ship a little bit over the past couple of weeks or so, there’s still a major uphill battle needed to get back into the playoff conversation. It’s going to be difficult, with 15 of Washington’s remaining 24 games coming against teams above them in the standings.

Remaining Schedule: Ninth-hardest

Goals Leader: Sidney Crosby (32)

Assists Leader: Erik Karlsson (35)

Goalie Wins Leader: Tristan Jarry (17)

Kyle Dubas’ first year at the helm of the Penguins organization has not gone to plan. Adding Erik Karlsson in the off-season was supposed to give this team one more push for a Stanley Cup. That push hasn’t happened yet. 

On top of that, despite the high-end talent, the Penguins shockingly have the fifth-worst power play in the league – that obviously must improve to try to get to the playoffs. 

While the fight for the post-season will be tough for Pittsburgh, they do have five games in hand on the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final wild-card spot. They also have the experience and high-end talent it could take, so one can never count out the Penguins.

Remaining Schedule: 26th-hardest

Goals Leader: Pavel Buchnevich (24)

Assists Leader: Robert Thomas (48)

Goalie Wins Leader: Jordan Binnington (20)

Sitting five points out with a couple of games in hand, the Blues have shown in the past that a late-season run could result in a playoff spot and even playoff success, with no better example being the Blues’ Stanley Cup victory in 2019. 

The easier schedule also does St. Louis favors giving the team a better chance to claw back to the playoffs. While there may not be much high-end point-per-game scoring other than Robert Thomas’ 66 points, there is depth on the roster. However, trade rumors circulating around Pavel Buchnevich may indicate the Blues are not looking at the playoffs this season if they make the move.

Remaining Schedule: 32nd-hardest

Goals Leader: Joel Eriksson Ek (28)

Assists Leader: Mats Zuccarello (39)

Goalie Wins Leader: Filip Gustavsson (16)

While the Wild sit six points back of a wild-card spot, they do control a lot of their destiny. Not only does Minnesota have the easiest strength of schedule remaining in the NHL, but they will play all three of the prospective wild-card teams in front of them multiple times during the rest of the season. Minnesota sees the Blues three times, the Los Angeles Kings twice and the Nashville Predators twice. 

While the Wild have had up-and-down stretches since the team fired coach Dean Evason and assistant Bob Woods, they have found ways to pick up multiple three- and four-game winning streaks. A strong result over the remaining games could give Minnesota the push needed to get into the playoffs.

Remaining Schedule: 25th-hardest

Goals Leader: Blake Coleman (24)

Assists Leader: Nazem Kadri (30)

Goalie Wins Leader: Jacob Markstrom (20)

One can only imagine how this season could have turned out had the Flames started the season differently. Losing eight of the first 10 games set the Flames back early, and though they do have a 27-18-4 record since, it’s still been an up-and-down season overall. 

Because of this, the trade rumors are swirling around the Saddledome. Chris Tanev and Elias Lindholm were already traded. Noah Hanifin and Jacob Markstrom have remained connected to teams around the NHL for some time. 

With that in mind, it wouldn’t seem like Calgary will be making a push for the playoffs. If this team does want to push for a spot, though, it has to start now because the schedule gets difficult. Twelve of the team's final 23 games will come against opponents ahead of them in the standings.