Athletistic / Hockey. All good things tend to end sooner or later. The 2023/2024 NHL regular season is coming to its logical and physical conclusion. We have four match days left to follow, and already on the night of April 19, 16 teams will know their opponents in the first round of the playoffs, and the other 16 teams will begin their vacation.

As of April 15, the eight playoff participants have already been determined in the Western Conference, and teams now just need to know their opponents in the first round of the Stanley Cup. But in the Eastern Conference there is an exciting fight for the last two playoff spots. For Russian fans, the most exciting situation is around two friends – Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin. The teams of the two Russians alternately get ahead of each other and try to jump on the bandwagon of the train leaving for the playoffs.

Just the previous week, Washington, having lost several matches in a row, first practically gave up the fight for the playoffs, and then, returning like a Phoenix, returned to the Cup eight. On the night of April 14, Washington managed to sensationally beat the Tampa Bay Lightning at home and put to shame many critics who predicted failure for the capital.

The Boston Bruins presented a gift to Washington, who managed to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in a side game during regulation time. It was these two results that brought Washington back into the playoff zone. But it’s one thing to come back, and another to hold on…

Photo source: NHL

Washington will play two games before the end of the regular season. From now on, the fate of the capital is in their hands: two victories will allow them to qualify for the playoffs. It is interesting that the first obstacle to this will be Boston, which a few days ago allowed the capital to stay afloat. Next night, the Capitals will play their main NHL game of this season.

Six Eastern Conference teams are already guaranteed to qualify for the playoffs. The Atlantic Division in the playoffs will be represented by the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs. The New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes will face off for the Metropolitan Division honor. And the first place in the wild card zone will definitely be occupied by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

If you look at the situation soberly, then the third playoff team in the Metropolitan Division should be the New York Islanders. The Islanders had a strong end to the regular season and with 90 points after 80 games, they now sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. With two games remaining in the championship, the Islanders are three points ahead of Washington and the Detroit Red Wings. The Long Island team will face the dud New Jersey Devils, as well as Pittsburgh. If Patrick Roy’s team decides to lose to New Jersey, then they could find themselves in a life or death match with the Penguins.

Photo source: New York Islanders HC

But for the second wild card, the fight pits four teams at once. Now everything is in the hands of “Washington”, but the young and inexperienced team of the “capital” too often finds itself in the zone of turbulence this season. It will be extremely difficult for the Capitals to get through even the next two games without any problems – without any downturns. The burden of responsibility will fall on the young shoulders of the Washington players, because even a lost point can be fatal for them. Now the Caps have 87 points – only in additional indicators they are ahead of two other teams.

Detroit, now ninth in the East, still has two games to play. The “Red Wings” have incredible luck, because they will have to play both games with the same opponent – the barely alive Montreal Canadiens. It is very difficult to believe that Patrick Kane and Co. will allow themselves to lose points in these matches.

The other two teams remaining in playoff contention are the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh. The Pilots have 87 points, but have already played 81 matches. The last meeting of the season, by a happy coincidence, will take place at home against Washington. However, Philadelphia still needs to receive many gifts from its competitors to make the playoffs. But Pittsburgh, if the points are tied, will definitely be higher than the Islanders and Detroit, so the Penguins have to win the remaining two games and hope Washington fails. So Crosby and Malkin will be fine.

Photo source: NHL

2024 Stanley Cup First Round Pairings Now

Eastern Conference:

  • New York Rangers – Washington Capitals;
  • Carolina Hurricanes – New York Islanders;
  • Boston Bruins – Tampa Bay Lightning;
  • Florida Panthers – Toronto Maple Leafs.

Western Conference:

  • Vancouver Canucks – Nashville Predators;
  • Dallas Stars – Vegas Golden Knights;
  • Edmonton Oilers – Los Angeles Kings;
  • Winnipeg Jets – Colorado Avalanche.

The bottom teams in the Western Conference are in bold. The fact is that this is a pair of ready-made playoffs – the first this season.

The NHL playoffs will begin on the night of April 21. The final game of the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals will take place (if necessary) on June 24. I would like to hope that a Russian hockey player will raise this trophy over his head for the ninth time in a row.

Nikita Serbakov, Athletistic



Athletistic