I have been slightly incorrect in the past. The central does have have the better collection of teams overall. However, the Metropolitan Division currently has the most traffic…
Prior to games on February 8th:
- Washington Capitals – 67 points – 29 games remaining
- Pittsburgh Penguins – 63 points – 27 games remaining
- New Jersey Devils – 62 points – 30 games remaining
- Philadelphia Flyers – 59 points – 29 games remaining
- Columbus Blue Jackets – 58 points – 29 games remaining
- New York Islanders – 58 points – 28 games remaining
- Carolina Hurricanes – 57 points – 28 games remaining
- New York Rangers – 55 points – 28 games remaining
This is not the most talented division, nor does it possess a top three team, but each club is in play for the postseason. Both wild card spots in the East are held by a member of the Metro. It is one hundred percent a three-man race in the Atlantic. This makes for just a 4-point separation between the number one wild card spot (held by the Flyers) and the last place Rangers. The margin for error gets smaller and smaller as every single game now has playoff implications.
So, we meet again…probably
The matchup everyone now looks forward to every season is most likely forthcoming again. It is always known that Sidney Crosby is a three-time Stanley Cup Champ while Alex Ovechkin has yet to reach a conference final…in fact, Crosby has served as Ovi’s kryptonite having never beaten him in the playoffs. The past two years each of their teams have met in the second round with the Penguins winning in six in 2016, then in seven in 2017. There is a very good chance we see this movie yet again this Spring…
Washington Capitals: Why they will finish in the top three of the Metro
Alexander Ovechkin – 32 goals (leads league)/26 assists/58 points (11th in league)/+12
Depth – Four Players (Ovechkin/Kuznetsov/Backstrom/Carlson) with at least 40 points
Braden Holtby – 27 wins (tied for 3rd in league)
Pittsburgh Penguins: Why they will finish in the top three in the Metro
Trending upwards – 7-3-0 in their last 10 – 20-7-1 on home ice
Special Teams – Power play is 26.8% (leads league) – Penalty Kill is 82.5% (7th in league)
Experience – 15 of their 20 current players on roster have won a Stanley Cup together
We have the cast and crew ready to go. The two teams battled it out on the Friday before the Super Bowl in D.C. with Pittsburgh prevailing 7-4. Will we see the same ending to this trilogy as we have seen in the previous two??…or will the Washington Capitals finally breakthrough and compete for a Stanley Cup??
You gonna make a move or stand pat??
Philadelphia Flyers: Sell it seems like
The Flyers are too inconsistent to be true contenders in the East (5-4-1 in their last 10). Therefore, selling would be smart to keep adding prospects and draft picks to keep building for the future. Ron Hextall added a first rounder in the offseason for Brayden Schenn. Seeing what the market would bring for someone like Wayne Simmonds (which would be a bundle) would be smart. “It all depends on what’s coming back” Hextall says (The Inquirer).
Columbus Blue Jackets: Buy more than likely
The Jackets have scored the least amount of goals (139) of any team in the Metropolitan Division. They are -11 on the year and will look to bolster their roster offensively. Columbus is a league-worst 14.1% on the power play as well. Looking around the league, a reunion with Rick Nash may be the best option.
New York Islanders: Toss up
Star Center for the Isles John Tavares is on pace for a 40-goal/90-point season. He is in his prime at 27 and has an expiring contract and will become a free agent on July 1st. Islanders’ GM does not expect to move him before the deadline, but seeing what the market will offer may be in his best interest. The team also knows how to put the puck in the net better than any team in the Metro with 181 goals on the year, but gives up more than anyone in the division (197 goals against). Bolstering their defensive core will be on their minds one way or the other.
One point separates these three teams. All are in play for the postseason. If you have a shot to make the playoffs, the advice should always be to go for it. The parity is real…ask Nashville.
Close, but no cigar
The Hurricanes and Rangers round out the bottom two in this jam packed division. The Rangers have asked Rick Nash for his no-trade list, but GM Ron Francis has not ruled out buying before the deadline. Two different approaches, but similar team finishes if changes don’t soon occur…
New York Rangers: Selling most likely
Trending downwards – 3-7-0 in their last 10 – 8-14-2 on the road (16 road games left)
No elite scoring – 0 players with 40+ points
Carolina Hurricanes: Buying??
Trending downwards – 4-5-1 in their last 10 – -20 goal differential (worst in division)
Elite scoring and depth – two players (Teravainen/Aho) with 40+ points – five players with 30+ points
As constructed, neither of these teams are dangerous come mid-April. However, if either GM decides that this year is worth giving up significant pieces for their future with how tight the standings are, this could be extremely interesting down the stretch.
Do it
Whether you’re buying, selling or standing pat on February 26th, do it. Very rarely do all seven-eight teams in a division have a clear shot at ending up in the playoffs. All you have to do is get to the dance and right now, the last place Rangers are just three points out of that last wild card spot…
The Hurricanes have a Stanley Cup-winning net minder in Cam Ward and the Rangers obviously have a hall of fame goalkeeper in King Henrik. You can win any playoff series with hot goaltending. Anything can happen. Whatever these teams are thinking, each have a shot…so do it.
You can ‘Like’ The Game Haus on Facebook and ‘Follow’ us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from other great TGH writers along with Charlie!
“From Our Haus to Yours”