Around the League: Only a few teams are still left in the playoff race. The Penguins are hot on the heels of both Florida teams and are just five points back from the Devils. The Golden Knights are also just five points back from the Kings, but five points may be too much to overcome at this point in the season. The Penguins have a game remaining against the Panthers, and, interestingly enough, the Golden Knights play the Kings twice in the final week of the season as well as a single meeting with the Flames. In addition, some of the preseason favorites are battling for the President's Trophy. The Blackhawks, Jets, and Islanders are all separated by just two points. Many teams this week had bounce-back weeks, and some have nearly secured a playoff spot. Here are the rankings: 1. Calgary Flames (8-1-0) Last Week: Not ranked Hit: 8 wins gives them some real security for the playoffs. They're up by 6 points and had a great week after the previous week probably had them feeling nervous. Miss: I saw people giving the Flames a tough time for losing to @Nxgi and spoiling the perfect week. I don't think I need to add to that. 2. New York Islanders (7-1-1) Last Week: 11 Hit: New acquisition @Breaky goes 3-0 on the line centered by @PureFiishin who has mostly played wing this year. Miss: They went 7-1-1, so not much went wrong I'd assume. Though, the first line loses an OT game to the Devils (a good team in their own right) and they drop a game to the Rangers who are essentially playing spoiler. Better performances in these games could mean the lead on the President's Trophy and home-ice advantage all playoffs. 3. San Jose Sharks (7-2-0) Last Week: Not ranked Hit: Another solid trade deadline deal, @nO Undies On and @Auggy32 are 3-0 this week paired with winger @Tendy and including games against the Jets and Blackhawks. Miss: Similar to the Islanders, just missed opportunities to grab points to help them in the race for the President's Trophy. 4. Philadelphia Flyers (6-1-2) Last Week: Not ranked Hit: 4-0-1 against playoff teams and that one overtime loss? It came against the best team in the East. Miss: Where were these Flyers earlier in the season? They've had a string of good weeks, but still down by 9 points which all but eliminates them from playoff contention. 5. Chicago Blackhawks (6-2-1) Last Week: 3 Hit: The third line is winning and this team seems to be ready for the playoffs, firing on all cylinders. Miss: An uncharacteristic loss occurred as the Hawks fell to the Canucks this week. Surely they won't dwell on it too much, but would have been nice to grab two points from that game for better positioning in the final two week sprint towards the naming of the regular season champions. 6. Winnipeg Jets (5-2-2) Last Week: 14 Hit: 3-1-2 against playoff teams is solid and they allowed just 16 GA this week. Miss: They lost to the 3 best teams points-wise this week and their offense was below average with 22 GF; however, they played six of their nine game against playoff teams. 7. Saint Louis Blues (6-3-0) Last Week: 6 Hit: They spoiled a team's perfect week, what more could they want? Miss: The Blues are using a lot of ECUs for a team somewhat comfortably in the playoffs. 8. Columbus Blue Jackets (7-2-0) Last Week: Not ranked Hit: Seven wins gives the Jackets some much needed distance from the Devils. Miss: Two losses in games they should have been better in close to guarantees the Islanders will finish first in the Metropolitan division. 9. Montreal Canadiens (5-1-3) Last Week: 8 Hit: Besides a tough game against the Blue Jackets, they got a point in every game which keeps them neck and neck with the Bruins and allows them some breathing room from the wildcard teams. Miss: More missed opportunity to move up in the standings, especially that some of these games could have been a bounce away from being wins. 10. Pittsburgh Penguins (6-2-1) Last Week: 16 Hit: Huge week for @xTheos l7l and @Duggan as they beat the Maple Leafs and the Lightning, a team they are trailing for a wildcard spot. Miss: Every point counts when you're chasing a wildcard spot, and a game against a bad Washington team as well as an OTL in a game they looked like they had the better scoring chances could haunt this team if they miss the playoffs. 11. Buffalo Sabres (5-2-2) Last Week: 10 Hit: Have to think the Sabres are enjoying playing spoiler as they beat the Bruins and Maple Leafs this week. Miss: None 12. Colorado Avalanche (6-2-1) Last Week: Not ranked Hit: Just 15 GA this week, well under their season average. What's more, they had a victory against their likely playoff opponent, the Jets. Miss: Just now saw that @Huds1N was traded after spending five weeks with the club, then reacquired at the deadline. Hopefully he didn't sell his Denver home or he'll be living out of his suitcase still come playoffs. 13. Tampa Bay Lightning (5-4-0) Last Week: 5 Hit: Tough week playing six Eastern playoff teams, but it was enough to stay ahead of the Penguins and in their wildcard spot. Miss: It seems @NYR95 and @Hxndry have NHL 18 figured out, but the other forward lines need to start clicking if this team is going to do any damage in the playoffs. 14. Nashville Predators (5-3-1) Last Week: Not ranked Hit: Another couple of spoiler wins against the Blackhawks and Stars. Also, @Nraimondi44 tallied a few more points and is now top 5 in scoring for defensemen. Miss: I'd say none like Buffalo, but the Predators still have/had a slim chance at sneaking into the playoffs if they could find a way to win more games. It's going to be basically impossible now though down by 7 points with week 8 starting on Sunday. 15. Detroit Red Wings (5-3-1) Last Week: Not ranked Hit: A rare sighting of the Red Wings in the Super 16 has to be a hit by itself, but maybe Detroit showed a glimpse of what they could have done this season had things worked out the way they'd hoped in a 4-2 win over the Maple Leafs this week. Miss: Not so much a miss for this week, but this team looked so promising on paper and it's strange to see them at the bottom of the Atlantic division standings. 16. Vegas Golden Knights (5-3-1) Last Week: Not ranked Hit: Each loss was to a team ahead of them in the standings which at least says that maybe those teams were just better rather than the Golden Knights failing to execute. Miss: The overtime loss to the Flames really hurt; the Golden Knights could have potentially been just three points out with a regulation win. Fear not Golden Knights fans, one more week of division opponents will occur before Las Vegas' fate will be decided. Games to Watch: San Jose Sharks at New York Islanders Monday Dec. 4th - 10:00 PM EST Two teams in the hunt for the President's Trophy battle to see who will take the lead. Chicago Blackhawks at Toronto Maple Leafs Monday Dec. 4th - 11:00 PM EST The Blackhawks currently hold the lead for the President's Trophy and face the top team in the Atlantic division hoping to stay in front of those close behind them. Pittsburgh Penguins at Boston Bruins The Bruins are just several points back from the Maple Leafs for the Atlantic division lead, but are also in danger of losing the home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Penguins are just three points back from the Lightning and Panthers and this is a must-win game for them. Letdowns of the Week: Vegas you were such a good story after turning your season around after being dead last earlier in the year, please make the playoffs. Surprises of the Week: @NYR95 has another big week against some formidable opponents and now leads the scoring race by 8 points with just two weeks left.
I meant that I wasn't expecting him to jump eight points ahead being tied last week. Although, now I realize it sounds like "Oh wow that scrub NYR is leading how did that happen."
