SUNRISE, Fla. – Bruce Cassidys Vegas Golden Knights He lost eight of 10 games before the All-Star break after leading the Pacific Division at the halfway point in the NHL season.
They’re still secure in a Western Conference playoff spot, but they can’t keep it.
“We’re still in good shape – that’s how we see it,” Cassidy called. “There aren’t too many teams that can drive the last 30 games home in this league and we’re certainly not one of them.”
Cassidy’s old team, that Boston Bruins, probably could. They’re at the top of the NHL and running away with the Atlantic Division.
With 39 wins and 83 points in 51 games, Boston is on track to break the record for the best regular season in NHL history. The Carolina hurricaneswho defeated Boston in seven games in the first round last year is next in the standings with 76 points.
“There are no weaknesses from top to bottom,” said Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour.
The Bruins are in a class by themselves, but the playoff races behind them in the East and West should be heating up with about 30 games to go before the Stanley Cup chase begins.
METROPOLITAN DEPARTMENT
The Hurricanes went into the break on a seven-game winning streak, scaring the Bruins a little in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy and home field advantage in the postseason. Winger Max Pacioretty tore his right Achilles tendon again Five games since his return hasn’t slowed them down and if their goalkeeping performance continues, Carolina has a good chance of reaching the final in the east.
“This team is a special group of guys,” said Brind’Amour, who captained Carolina to the 2006 Cup and is in his fifth year as coach. “We show that every night. It’s just very consistent and they take their job very seriously. You’re doing it right.”
The Runner-up New Jersey Devils compete against each other for the first time since 2018. Hitting bottom the next season helped them win the lottery No. 1 Pick Jack Hughesa two-time All-Star that lets her win early.
“Much better than getting out of the mix,” Hughes said. “We’re really excited because it’s going to be very important hockey and it’s going to be really competitive and we’re really excited to be where we are. ”
They are followed by the New York Rangers, the Washington Capitals, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders. All three New York area teams were able to pull it off, which was the expectation the gamekeepers after reaching the Eastern Finals last year.
“I think last year’s run really taught us a few things and stuff that we can obviously build on for the rest of this year,” said 2021 Norris Trophy defender Adam Fox.
ATLANTIC
The Rangers lost to the Lightning in six games last spring two-time champion Tampa Bay reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the third straight year before getting it beaten by the Colorado Avalanche.
The Lightning will almost certainly face that Toronto Maple Leafs — who have not won a playoff series since the beginning of the NHL salary cap era in 2005 — in the first round and remain a threat to the Bruins.
But Boston split despite starting the season without left winger Brad Marchand and No. 1 defenseman Charlie McAvoy. The Bruins have lost just 12 games under new coach Jim Montgomery.
“You just keep winning,” said all-star right winger David Pastrnak, who ranks third in the league. “Every single line and every single type goes and it obviously builds our confidence. It’s funny sometimes what confidence can do in hockey.”
The islanders should feel a little more confident after that Acquisition of Vancouver’s 30-goal scorer Bo Horvat, still need to make up ground to get in.
HEADQUARTERS
Defending champion Colorado climbed the standings, winning seven of eight before the break despite an injury-plagued first half of the season. Captain Gabriel Landeskog has yet to make his debut of the season since knee surgery. It would be foolish to bet against the Avs coming out west again.
“It’s up to us: we determine our own destiny” All-Star Center Nathan MacKinnon called. “We absolutely have to play like we did before the break. No matter who’s in the lineup, we played well, played hard so it would definitely help with healthy bodies.
They’re still trailing the Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild at the Central, with the Nashville Predators hot on their heels. Only the Stars and Jets are essentially guaranteed a seat.
“You grind every point for it” Stars top scorer Jason Robertson called. “Every point is going to be a dogfight, so it’s going to be 30 fun games on the track.”
PACIFIC
Undisputed MVP favorite Connor McDavid and the Edmonton oilerwho were swept by Colorado in the West Final still have some catching up to do in the Pacific Division.
Top spot is held by the Seattle Kraken, who surprisingly make the playoffs in their second season but still have to fend off the Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights.
Edmonton—and the rival Calgary Flames at the Battle of Alberta – have the talent not only to get in, but also to run. McDavid leads the league with 41 goals and 92 points, 16 more than No. 2 goalscorer and teammate Leon Draisaitl, and has produced like no other since Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux in the mid-1990s.
Now he’ll be looking to carry the Oilers into the playoffs and beyond.
“It wasn’t easy at all for our group. We kind of had to fight for everything we’ve got,” McDavid said. “For whatever reason, we were a second-half team. Ever since my freshman year we’ve always been better in the second half so we’ll definitely try to continue that. That being said, we’re not going to hang our hats on that and expect that to get us into the playoffs. There is much to do.”
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Follow AP Hockey writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno
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