What’s at stake over the final week of the NHL season

The NHL playoff race is heating up as we head into the final stretch of the regular season. With just a handful of games left for each team, the battle for playoff spots and individual awards is intensifying. Let’s take a closer look at the current playoff picture, focusing on the Canadian teams.

In the Eastern Conference, seven of the eight playoff berths are already locked in, with Montreal on the verge of clinching the final wild card spot after winning six straight games. If the playoffs started today, the Canadiens would face off against the top-seeded Washington Capitals led by Alex Ovechkin. The Ottawa Senators, making their return to the postseason after a four-year absence, currently hold the top wild card spot and are set to face the Toronto Maple Leafs in a highly anticipated Battle of Ontario series.

Speaking of the Maple Leafs, they solidified their hold on first place in the Atlantic Division with a thrilling overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Toronto’s victory put them three points ahead of the Lightning, positioning them for a potential Battle of Florida matchup against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. In another Eastern matchup, the Carolina Hurricanes look set to face the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the playoffs, with the Hurricanes holding a comfortable lead for second place in the Metropolitan Division.

Turning to the Western Conference, three playoff spots are still up for grabs, but the Edmonton Oilers have a significant lead over the Calgary Flames for the Pacific Division’s third spot. The Flames are currently chasing wild card spots held by the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild. Although Calgary’s playoff chances are slim, they still have a chance to make a late push. Unfortunately, the Vancouver Canucks were officially eliminated from playoff contention last night.

At the top of the standings, the Winnipeg Jets are in a tight race with the Washington Capitals for the Presidents’ Trophy for the league’s best record. The Jets also hold a four-point lead over the Dallas Stars for first place in the Central Division, setting them up for a favorable first-round matchup. However, the wild card teams are proving to be tough competition, with the St. Louis Blues riding a hot streak of 12 consecutive wins before dropping their last two games.

In terms of individual awards, Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl is leading the race for the NHL’s goal-scoring title, while the battle for the Art Ross Trophy is neck-and-neck between Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon and Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov. Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck is a frontrunner for the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender and could even be in the running for the Hart Trophy as league MVP.

Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens is the favorite to win the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year, while San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini is making a late push with an impressive performance last night. And of course, the highlight of the season was Alex Ovechkin breaking Wayne Gretzky’s career goal record, solidifying his place as one of the greatest players in NHL history.

As the regular season winds down, the excitement and anticipation for the playoffs continue to build. Stay tuned for more updates on the NHL playoff race and individual award races as the season reaches its thrilling conclusion.