Eastern Conference playoff push

Eastern Conference playoff push

Penguins recent surge has placed them back in the wildcard hunt along with four other teams

By Ryan Mosher

PITTSBURGH (April 4, 2024) There are two weeks left until the NHL regular season concludes and there are still four teams fighting for the final wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. The last Metropolitan division playoff spot is up for grabs as well.

The Washington Capitals currently hold the final wildcard spot with 82 points, and they have eight games remaining.

The Pittsburgh Penguins looked like they were giving up on the season when they traded away Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline, but after securing 15 of their next 28 possible points, the Penguins find themselves just three points out of a playoff spot.

The key to the Penguins resurgence has been staying afloat. The Philadelphia Flyers, who currently hold onto the final Metropolitan playoff spot by one point, have lost their last six games and have been trending downward for the entire second half of the season.

It will still be a tall task for the Penguins to reach the postseason because of their remaining schedule. Six of the Penguins’ final seven games will be against teams currently in a playoff position. Conversely, the Capitals and Flyers only play four and two current playoff teams respectively to round out their regular season.

On the upside for the Penguins, they have games against the Capitals, Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders, three of the teams which they are fighting for the wildcard spot.

The Red Wings are tied with the Capitals with 82 points, but are behind Washington in the first tiebreaker, which is regulation wins. The Islanders sit one point back from the Capitals and Red Wings.

The Capitals have one more game remaining than the other teams in the wildcard race, which could be the deciding factor in making the playoffs.

While the Columbus Blue Jackets are the only Eastern Conference team eliminated from the playoffs, the Capitals, Flyers, Red Wings, Islanders and Penguins are the only teams with a realistic chance of claiming the final two playoff spots.