As we get closer and closer to the NHL Playoffs, things are moving fast. Some teams are clinching their spot for the 2021 Playoffs.
Here are the latest news items and prospects for the hottest NHL teams. Staying up to date with these happenings is key to making the best hockey bets. Here we update you on the progress of the Colorado Avalanche, the current favorite to win the Stanley Cup, The Boston Bruins, and the Washington Capitals.
Check out the latest hockey news to catch up on all the other teams.
Avalanche Clinch Playoffs Spot
The Colorado Avalanche has long been the favorite to win the Stanley Cup 2021. So it is no surprise that they have already clinched their spot for the postseason. This is the fourth straight year that the Avalanche will be heading into the NHL postseason.
Last Thursday the Avalanche defeated the St. Louis Blues. This result was far from a surprise, with the final score of 4-2, the Avalanche are officially advancing onto the playoffs.
Colorado follows the Vegas Golden Knights, who clinched their playoff spot just the day before. While Vegas clinched before the Avañlanche, they did so having played two more games, so in a way, the Avalanche clinched earlier in their season.
With 12 games remaining in the regular season, the Avañanche can already set their eyes on the postseason.
Potential Contenders Looking to Clinch
While we already have two teams gearing up for their secured playoff spots, many other teams are on the brink and hoping to seal the deal as soon as possible. Here we take a close look at two top contenders, looking to clinch their playoff spot over the coming games: the Bruins and the Capitals.
Boston Bruins Heating Up
The Boston Bruins have been acting out of character, occupying the fourth position in the East Division. However, something seems to have changed recently.
After a five-game winning streak, everyone in the NHL has their eyes on this emerging NHL Playoffs contender.
Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak have been top players for years. Their scoring and assisting skills have really been on display these last few games. They seem to be key to the success of the Bruins. But will they be enough to carry them to or even through the playoffs?
Perhaps now that the team is recovering from a series of injuries that left their record between February and April at 10 wins out of 25 games, they will be able to turn things around. We all love a Cinderella story.
The Goalies are the Weak Spot for the Capitals
With just 56 instead of the regular 82 games, each matchup carries more weight. The stakes are so much higher. This is doubly true as we close out the season.
The Caps have fewer than ten games left. And they are doing well so far in the newly formed Eastern Division where their record is 30-13-4. They are carrying many players from 2018 still, when they won the Stanley Cup.
With a big lead over the fifth place team in the Eastern Division, the Caps are looking good to make the playoffs.
This may all depend on how their young goalies handle the pressure. Vitek Vanecek, at just 25 years old, has had a great rookie year. Neither he, nor his backup, Ilya Samsonov, have played in an NHL Playoff game.
We will see if they can handle the heat on the ice!
Chris Wassel is a skilled scribe who possesses a fervor for both sports and entertainment. Boasting a journalism background and over two decades of experience, he has crafted pieces that encompass a diverse array of sports including hockey, basketball, football, and others. His writing is characterized by its lucidity and sharpness, and provides a unique viewpoint on entertainment and political matters. While Chris primarily focuses on sports writing, he also writes about a wide range of subjects.