Still enough hockey left for this to change, but the likely playoff matchups are starting to take shape
With all situation xG% ranking in brackets
Florida (1) - Washington (12)
Toronto (3) - Tampa (11)
Carolina-Rangers being tied fucks with this a bit, but the Rangers are surging, and Carolina sucking dick, so I'll assume the Rangers pass the Canes.
NYR (15) - Bruins (5)
Carolina (4) - Pittsburgh (6)
Those 2 could easily flip though.
Colorado (10) - Dallas (7)
Calgary (2) - Nashville (19)
St Louis (20) - Minnesota (16)
Edmonton (8) - LAK (9)
First glance takeaways
- Fuck the east and everything it stands for. NYR is the only mediocre team of the bunch and they have the pending Vezina winner in net, not a fun series for anyone. Out west, there's 3 teams that are mediocre to mildly bad according to xG (and could get worse if 13th Vegas passes 9th LAK)
- Tampa appears to be the lesser of the two matchup possibilities for us. But that's 2 time defending stanley cup lesser of the two matchup possibilities to us though.
- If we have to go through Tampa & then the Panthers to get to the ECF, I am kinda happy that the Panthers have to put up with Tom Wilson's shit for a series.
- I'm kind of surprised Colorado isn't better...they're really dragged down by their 27th ranked PK. But even then, just 9th in 5v5 xG. Must be nice playing in a conference with like 3 other teams of value.