The first three positions in the Atlantic Division will mean automatic playoff berths which makes for a highly competitive race the rest of the way. There was a total of six points separating four teams for that third spot in the Atlantic which will make for a dramatic race in the second half of the season. While a team could still get a potential wild card spot with a fourth or fifth place finish, that would also be contingent on a team from the Metropolitan Division having a lesser record. Points, and intensity, will be at a premium the rest of the way.
Red Wings Resurgence in Jeopardy
Detroit used a stretch of five wins in eight games to take the third spot in the Atlantic. The Red Wings have shown significant improvement on defense and in goal while boasting the NHL’s third ranked power play.
A potential distraction will be speculation about the future of head coach Mike Babcock. Babcock is considered the best coach in the game and has not yet signed a contract for next year with Detroit. All signs point to the Toronto Maple Leafs backing up the truck for Babcock after the season with the biggest offer in NHL history for a coach.
Another more immediate problem on the ice is the groin injury to goaltender Jimmy Howard, which has put him on the injured reserve. Howard was solid with a .920 save percentage and was to play in the All Star Game. With backup Jonas Gustavsson also out with a shoulder injury, the Red Wings face the prospect of placing rookie Petr Mrazek between the pipes at the most critical time of the season. Detroit overcame numerous key injuries last year to make the playoffs, thanks in large part to Babcock’s superior coaching, and it would be no surprise if they again thrive on this latest adversity.
Boston off the Mat
The Boston Bruins used a three-game winning streak to get back in to the playoff race as they held the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Goaltender Tuukka Rask still had a subpar .914 save percentage but most would agree that means plenty of potential upside. The Bruins slumped to 21st in the NHL for goal scoring and that remains the biggest concern as to their long term prospects. Left winger Milan Lucic, whose lack of production and discipline was a major reason for the Bruins failure in last spring’s playoffs, got off the dime with four points in five games.
