With under a month to go in the NHL Regular Season the race for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference is as wide open as it could be
With under a month to go in the NHL Regular Season the race for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference is as wide open as it could be
With under a month to go in the NHL Regular Season the race for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference is as wide open as it could be
The Panthers, Bruins and Rangers all remain within one point of each other, but there is a new addition to the race. The surging Carolina Hurricanes are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and are now tied with the Panthers and Bruins with 97 points, and one back of the East-leading Rangers with 98.
Here is a look at this Week’s Schedules:
Florida Panthers
Tuesday March 26 vs Boston Bruins
Thursday March 28 vs New York Islanders
Saturday March 30 vs Detroit Red Wings
Boston Bruins
Tuesday March 26 @ Florida Panthers
Wednesday March 27 @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Saturday March 30 @ Washington Capitals
New York Rangers
Tuesday March 26 vs Philadelphia Flyers
Thursday March 28 @ Colorado Avalanche
Saturday March 30 @ Arizona Coyotes
Carolina Hurricanes
Tuesday March 26 @ Pittsburgh Penguins
Thursday March 28 vs Detroit Red Wings
Saturday March 30 @ Montreal Canadiens
All four teams play 3 games this week, with the biggest game on the calendar being the head-to-head matchup in Sunrise on Tuesday between the Panthers and the Bruins. Florida is tied with Boston with a game in hand so a win (especially in regulation) Tuesday could be significant with just 11 games remaining on the Panthers schedule.
Of the four teams in the race, the Hurricanes have the weakest strength of schedule this week. As of Monday, they have no playoff teams on their schedule and have been lights out lately.
The Rangers picked up a big two points in the shootout win over the Panthers on Saturday to hold on to the top spot at least temporarily in the East.
The Panthers look to get Aleksander Barkov and potentially Aaron Ekblad back in the lineup this week. They played their best two games in a while Saturday and Sunday, and with that type of effort continued, they could make a big move in the standings this week.
The race for the coveted number one spot and President’s trophy are wide open and up for grabs.
For playoff matchup purposes, I’m sure both the Panthers and their fans would rather play the whoever get the last wildcard spot in the first round, as oppose to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Big week ahead for the Cats and it all begins Tuesday in an Atlantic Division first place battle against the Bruins.
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