NHL Playoff Push: Ranking contenders’ remaining strength of schedule

We’re well into the stretch run of the season, with most nights now bringing clinching and elimination scenarios to the forefront.

After a busy weekend of NHL action, the Washington Capitals are the lone team to have officially clinched a post-season berth. And while several teams sit comfortably in playoff position, there’s still a lot of movement — nowhere more so than in the Atlantic Division, where just two points separate each of the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Tampa Bay Lightning while the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens have taken over the wild-card race and still have plenty of opportunity to climb.

At the bottom of the standings, meanwhile, we’re starting to see non-contenders officially eliminated. Fans of the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks can now officially turn their attention to the lottery odds.

With just over three weeks to go in the regular season, and with a major assist from Tankathon, we’re looking at the remaining strength of schedule for every club currently in or just outside the playoff picture and highlighting some intriguing matchups on the horizon for each squad.

New York Islanders, .573 (13 games left): Just two points separate the Islanders, on the outside of the playoff picture, and the Canadiens, in the second wild card spot, but those are a tough pair of points. Of New York’s league-high 13 games remaining, seven are against opponents currently in a playoff spot — including two dates with the powerhouse Capitals. That makes games like Monday night’s date against the Columbus Blue Jackets, sitting just two points behind New York in the wild-card race, all the more crucial.  

Carolina Hurricanes, .554 (12 games left): Sitting 12 points behind Washington for top spot in the Metropolitan Division, and 10 ahead of third-place New Jersey, the Hurricanes are all but officially locked into second place. A pair of games against Washington next month are the toughest dates on the remaining slate, but those feel like pre-playoff tune-ups more than anything as we await a likely first-round bout between the Hurricanes and Devils.   

New York Rangers, .553 (11 games left): Seven of the Rangers’ 11 games remaining are against teams currently in the playoffs. If they’re to have any hopes of making one last push for the post-season, New York needs to make good on some winnable games out west against Anaheim and San Jose later this week before diving into a final stretch that includes dates with Tampa Bay (twice), Carolina, and Florida.

Florida Panthers, .548 (11 games left): If you’re the reigning Cup champs looking to map out a third straight Cup Final run, who do you want to face in Round 1? With a home-and-home versus Montreal starting Sunday, a pair of matchups against the Maple Leafs, and one game left against both the Senators and the Lightning, Florida’s test-filled stretch run looks like a road map of a top contender trying opponents on for size. No lead is safe in the East, which should make for a thrilling finish in the Atlantic standings.

Washington Capitals, .537 (12 games left): If not for the Gr8 Chase, the Capitals would be facing a bit of a meaningless stretch considering their playoff ticket has been punched and their lead atop the Eastern Conference is looking pretty healthy. Tuesday’s heavyweight clash against Winnipeg should be fun, though, regardless of whether Alex Ovechkin lights the lamp.

Montreal Canadiens, .536 (13 games left): The league’s most exciting team down the stretch, the Canadiens have suffered just a single regulation loss since NHL play resumed post-4 Nations. A home-and-home against the Panthers starting Sunday is the team’s toughest remaining test, while back-to-back Ontario dates against the Senators April 11 and Maple Leafs April 12 should feel like early playoff games.  This is going to be a fun stretch run.

Toronto Maple Leafs, .535 (12 games left): It feels like every game is a measuring-stick matchup for the Maple Leafs right now as they look to steady the ship after a rough stretch through early March. Plenty of tests remain, including two matchups against the Atlantic-leading Panthers and one against both the Lightning and Canadiens, all of which could be first-round previews.  

Tampa Bay Lightning, .529 (12 games left): With just three of their final 12 games coming against teams currently in the post-season, the Lightning have a real chance to leapfrog the Maple Leafs and Panthers for the top spot in the Atlantic. Next week’s trip to Ottawa could offer up a first-round preview, while a home date against the Panthers could wind up being for all the Atlantic Division marbles.

New Jersey Devils, .528 (11 games left): With franchise cornerstones Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton both out with injuries, the silver lining in New Jersey is a comfortable cushion in the standings and a winnable schedule. After Friday’s trip to Winnipeg, followed by a home-and-home with the Wild, New Jersey closes out the campaign with a team-friendly six-game stretch in the East.

Ottawa Senators, .512 (13 games left): Tied for the most games remaining, and with the most winnable slate in the league, the Senators should be fun to watch down the stretch. A stretch of five games against non-playoff opponents could put them in position to make waves in the Atlantic’s top three when they host the Lightning and Panthers next week. Circle April 11 on your calendars, too, with the Canadiens coming to town.

Winnipeg Jets, .577 (11 games left): The Jets have been making winning look easy all year long, but they’ll be tested plenty down the stretch, starting with a battle atop the league when the Capitals come to town on Tuesday. The next three weeks are all about lineup tweaks and tune-ups, and with dates against playoff teams like New Jersey, L.A., Vegas, Dallas, St. Louis, and Edmonton, head coach Scott Arniel will have plenty of runway before the post-season.

Minnesota Wild, .568 (12 games left): Last week’s trio of wins couldn’t have come at a better time considering the stretch ahead — starting Monday night in Dallas, the Wild play five games in eight days to close out March, all against playoff-bound teams. They host Vegas on Tuesday after a long flight home from Dallas, then the Capitals on Thursday followed by a home-and-home against the Devils. Yikes.

Vancouver Canucks, .567 (12 games left): After falling off pace in the wild-card race, Vancouver cannot afford another loss like the one suffered Saturday against the Rangers. If April bouts against heavyweights like Vegas, Dallas, and Colorado are to hold any sway in the standings, the Canucks will first have to make good on a winnable trio of Eastern Conference matchups against the Devils, Islanders, and Blue Jackets.   

St. Louis Blues, .553 (10 games left): That’s six straight wins for St. Louis, and 12 victories in 16 games since the NHL resumed following the 4 Nations Face-Off. Sure, they’ve benefited from a fairly friendly slate of opponents within this run, but the Blues face some important tests down the stretch. Following Tuesday’s matchup against the also-red-hot Canadiens, St. Louis’ remaining schedule includes two dates against Colorado as well as one each versus the Central-topping Jets and an Oilers squad that could be hungry to stay above the wild-card fold.

Los Angeles Kings, .552 (13 games left): The Avalanche, Maple Leafs, and Jets present good challenges for L.A., but we all know the real tests come against Edmonton — the Kings are once again on a collision course with Edmonton in the Pacific Division’s 2-3 matchup, which has us circling a pair of April dates against the Oilers.

Calgary Flames, .546 (13 games left): Three straight wins to close out their final Eastern swing has the Flames still afloat in the wild-card race as they enter the most important weeklong stretch of the season. After hosting the Kraken on Tuesday night, the Flames go up against the Stars, Oilers, and Avalanche to close out March.

Colorado Avalanche, .546 (11 games left): With a first-round date with Dallas looking like it’ll be a reality, the Avalanche feel like a measuring stick for other teams down the stretch. A pair of games against the red-hot Blues brings a little intrigue, though.

Vegas Golden Knights, .536 (12 games left): If the playoffs started today, the Golden Knights would be hosting the Wild. That should bring plenty of eyeballs to Tuesday’s matchup in Minnesota. Games against the Oilers, Jets and Avalanche are the club’s toughest remaining tests.

Dallas Stars, .533 (13 games left): A western road trip that takes them through Alberta and into Seattle provides some good tests for Dallas, but we’d be lying if we said we weren’t ready to just skip ahead to Game 1 of the playoffs.

Edmonton Oilers, .530 (12 games left): A trio of games against San Jose brings down the Oilers’ SOS score significantly, but don’t be fooled — there are some tough matchups in here, including Wednesday against Dallas, a late-season test against the Jets, and a trio of Pacific bouts (one night in Vegas, plus two dates against a familiar foe in L.A.) that could decide the division and offer up a first-round preview. Mix in some uncertainties around injuries to Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and we’ve got an interesting few weeks ahead for Edmonton.