American Thanksgiving dey be important time wey dem dey check for NHL season. Dem dey talk say, during di salary cap era, 77 percent of teams wey dey playoff position for Thanksgiving dey go qualify for di spring. For 2024, 12 of 16 teams (75 percent) hold on to dia Thanksgiving playoff spots.
But dis season fit change dat pattern. Di Eastern Conference tight pass before, wit only nine points wey dey separate first (di Hurricanes, wit 30 points) from last (di Maple Leafs, wit 21 points). For di West, distance dey more between di top (Colorado, 37 points) and bottom (St. Louis, Vancouver, Calgary and Nashville, ranging from 20 to 16 points) of di conference. But only eight points dey separate second for di conference (Dallas) and 12th (Chicago).
E no worth am to treat dis year playoff picture as if dem write am for stone. Plenty things fit change after tonight 15-game slate, and beyond at dis rate. So instead, make we check di vibes around some of di strongest contenders, surprise teams wey dey shake up di picture and disappointments wey dey float around di playoff bubble.
Playoff Contenders
Twenty-two games into di season, di Avalanche get only one regulation loss. Wit 16-1-5 record, league-leading 37 points, and 0.841 points percentage, Colorado dey on fire. Wit dis incredible start, di Avalanche don become di measuring stick for di rest of di league.
Star power dey lead di way for Colorado. Di Avalanche don outscore opponents 37-13 wit at least one of (or both) Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar on di ice at five-on-five. Unlike last year, di Avs still dey lead di way without dia franchise cornerstones on di ice wit 24-20 scoring.
NHL Standings for Thanksgiving
Eastern Conference
- Atlantic Division: Tampa Bay Lightning (30 points), Ottawa Senators (28 points), Boston Bruins (28 points)
- Metropolitan Division: New Jersey Devils (31 points), Carolina Hurricanes (30 points), Washington Capitals (28 points), New York Islanders (28 points)
Western Conference
- Central Division: Colorado Avalanche (39 points), Dallas Stars (34 points), Minnesota Wild (30 points)
- Pacific Division: Anaheim Ducks (29 points), Vegas Golden Knights (28 points), Seattle Kraken (28 points), Los Angeles Kings (28 points)
Plenty can still happen, so keep an eye on your favorite team!