2022 DCHL Eastern Conference Playoff Race

DCHL Playoff Race Predictions
2/18/2022 • Jean Levergneux

 

Let’s take a minute during the Olympic break to look at the playoff picture in the DCHL and predict who will make the playoffs and who will miss the dance.

Eastern Conference

Starting with the Eastern Conference it is evident that the Atlantic division will only send 3 teams to the playoffs and the Metro division will have a wild card team take the last playoff start of the Atlantic division.

Atlantic Division

It is pretty much a foregone conclusion that the Buffalo Sabres will win the Atlantic Division in 2022 and will face the wild card team coming over from the Metro division, the question now is who will they face? Devils 52, NYR, Capitals or the Blue Jackets with 45 points each.  Prediction New Jersey!  The other 3 teams are in the selling / rebuild mode.  NJ would have to go on a long losing streak in the 2nd half of the season to miss out on that wild card spot.

The next 2 playoff spots are still up for grabs in the Atlantic division, although it seems like the Bruins have taken a stronghold on 2nd place, which would leave 3rd place and the last playoff spot in the Atlantic division.

The Habs, Panthers, Leafs and Senators are within 3 points of each other.  Let’s take a minute to look to see which team is expected to make the playoffs.

Habs and Leafs have been in a selling mode all season, they have both put they’re veterans on expiring contracts on the block. 

The Habs have played the most games out of the 4 teams battling for the last playoff spot in the Atlantic and although they will be playing half their games against teams with a record of .500 or less, those extra game played will be too much to overcome.  They are tied with Florida and the Panthers have played 3 less games then “Les Blue, Blanc, Rouge.      

The Leafs had a surprisingly great start to the season, and they’ve been riding that wave, but it looks like the wave coming to an end.  They’ve lost 13 of their last 20 games and although their playing half their remaining games against teams with a record below .500, it looks like the Leafs will be on the outside looking in by the time the season is over.

The Panthers are currently on a 5-game losing streak.  The GM thought that bringing in Bruce Boudreau would take the Panthers to the playoffs, but they’ve continued to stay around the .500 mark.  To spark the team and make a playoff run, the Panthers GM brought in 2 top 4 D in Ryan Suter and Erik Karlsson.  The Florida team is scheduled to play 17 of its last 31 games against teams of a record .500 or below.

The last team in the hunt for the last playoff spot in the Atlantic are the Ottawa Senators, the Sens stand with 46 and 52 games played, 3 points behind the Habs and Panthers with 2 games on hand on the Habs and played one more than the Panthers.   

If the Sens GM was so inclined, he could make a few deals to make the playoffs, his team is good enough to beat out the other 3 teams, but it doesn’t look like that’s the way he’ll go.

Prediction: Panthers make the playoffs, not because they’re the best of the 4 teams, but because they have the best schedule for the rest of the season and the Panthers GM is the only one that cares if his team makes the playoffs or not!

Atlantic Division Standings predictions

1.     Buffalo Sabres

2.     Boston Bruins

3.     Florida Panthers

4.     Montreal Canadiens

5.     Ottawa Senators

6.     Toronto Maple Leafs

7.     Tampa Bay Lightnings

8.     Detroit Red Wings

1st round Playoff Match ups

Buffalo vs New Jersey

Boston vs Florida

 

Metropolitan Division

The top 4 in Metro division is all but decided already, Carolina, Philadelphia, NY Islanders and Pittsburgh are too far ahead of NJ and the rest of the division to catch them. 

The following questions will help us predict who will finish where:

·       Is the Canes GM done dealing or will he trade some of his strength up front for help on D? 

·       Will the Flyers GM trade two of his top 9 Forwards (Oshie & Eller) who are good playoff performers?

·       The Islander’s GM has been a major player in past trade deadlines, will he be a player again this year to make a deep playoff run?

·        Are the Penguins the team that started the season 10 – 0 or are they the team that’s been 19 – 14 since?

 

Not knowing the answers to any of these questions well go on the strength of schedules and the trend each team was on before the Olympic break.

The Canes have a tough schedule ahead of them, playing 20 of the teams remaining games against teams .500 or better. It won’t be easy for them to stay at the top of the division.  But if they keep winning at an .800 rate (16-4), it will be tough for the Flyers or Islanders to beat them for the top spot in the division.  And they don’t have to play the Panthers anymore who are 2 – 0 against the Canes this season😊

The Flyers remaining schedule includes 15 of 32 games against team .500 or lower.  Winning 16 of their last 20 games the Flyers continue to be on of the top teams in the league.

The Islanders won 16 of their last 20 games but haven’t been able to make up any ground on the Canes and Flyer who are just has hot or even hotter in the Canes case.  They 15 of last 33 games are against teams .500 or below.

The Penguins have lost 11 of their last 20 games, it looks like the only thing that will save them from dropping out of the last playoff spot is the 14 points lead they have on the Devils. 

Metropolitan Division Standing Predictions:

1.     Carolina Hurricanes

2.     New York Islanders

3.     Philadelphia Flyers

4.     Pittsburgh Penguins

5.     New Jersey Devils

6.     New York Rangers

7.     Washington Capitals

8.     Columbus Blue Jackets

Playoff Matchups:

Carolina vs Pittsburgh

NYI vs Philadelphia

 

Let me know what you think, the Western Conference is coming next!

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