The online betting world is fixated on the Super Bowl and the race for the NHL playoffs. Now that the NHL All-Star break is over, many of the teams in the lower part of the NHL standings need to start making their playoff pushes or risk being left out of the post-season. There are a few teams that have been slumping as of late and put themselves in bad situations while other teams are surging but may not be able to get out of the hole they have dug themselves. Lets look at the teams in the NHL that are battling for a playoff spot and evaluate their chances.
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres may have dug themselves a hole that they will not be able to climb out of. When the All-Star break ended, the Sabres were tied for last in the Eastern Conference and 10 points out of a playoff spot. In its last three games, the Sabres are 2-0-1 and that includes an exciting 1-0 loss to the Eastern Conference leading New York Rangers. The Sabres are going to need to string a lot of wins together to have any chance of making the playoffs, but it is off to a good start so far.
Washington Capitals
The price per head sports experts were not sure what to expect from the Washington Capitals this season. What has emerged is a listless team that has already gotten one coach fired and is working on getting a second coach relieved of his duties as well. The scoring punch the Caps used to have is gone and there is just no stability in the nets for Washington. If the Caps want to make the playoffs, it will have to wrestle the Southeast Division title from the Florida Panthers, and that will not be easy.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Florida Panthers not only have to watch out for the Washington Capitals, but the Tampa Bay Lightning are making strides towards the division lead as well. The Lightning are currently riding a five-game winnings streak and have pulled itself to within nine points of the division lead after spending much of the season in the Southeast basement.
Dallas Stars
The Super Bowl odds do not affect the Dallas Stars, but its tumble down the Pacific Division standings has been a problem. The Stars used to be way out in front of the rest of the pack in the Pacific Division, but Dallas now sits eight points out of the division lead and one point out of a Western Conference playoff spot. The Stars are losing games in bunches and are not winning enough to offset the ground it is losing in the standings.
Calgary Flames
A 5 dimes review of the Flames’ roster shows a group of players that would love to get captain Jarome Iginla into the playoffs one more time before he retires. Despite some great goaltending and timely goal scoring, the Flames are just not a very good hockey team. Calgary currently sits in 11th place in the Western Conference and is three points out of a playoff spot. But this season is playing out a lot like last season did. Just when the Flames start putting wins together to push towards the playoffs, the team gets off track and goes on a devastating losing streak.
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