NHL Playoffs: Metropolitan Division Drama

Carolina"s Path

With 2 games to go, the Hurricanes have the simplest path to winning the Metropolitan Division. Carolina needs to simply win their final two games and they"ll lock up the number one spot, from the Metropolitan, as they currently have a 1 point lead over the New Jersey Devils.

Complicating matters for Carolina, is the team has hardly been playing inspired hockey down the stretch. Over the last ten games, the team is a measly 4-5-1 with losses coming in there last three consecutive games.

They do get to play a Detroit team that fell flat over the second half of the season before finishing against a Florida Panthers team that is still competing for one of the two final Wild Card spots. If the Hurricanes slip up at all, they may find themselves dropping out of the top spot.

New Jersey"s Path

As the Devils prepare to enter the NHL Playoffs for the first time since Taylor Hall"s magical MVP season, the team is still very much in play for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. The Devils currently hold the first two tiebreakers over Carolina and the Rangers, having 1 more Regulation Win over both teams, 2 more Overtime Wins over Carolina and 5 more Overtime Wins over New York.

For the Devils, wins in the final two games against a Buffalo Sabres team still fighting for a spot in the NHL Playoffs and an already eliminated Washington Capitals team, and any type of loss from Carolina will see the Devils vault to the top of the division.

Meanwhile, the Devils are still fending off a challenge from the New York Rangers. With just 1 point separating the two teams, two regulation losses by the Devils could mean heading to Madison Square Garden, on a losing streak, to play a talented rival in the first round.

New York"s Path

For the Rangers, yesterday"s shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres all but ended their chance for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. However, Carolina"s loss in regulation did technically keep the number one seed open, if just for another day.

As the Rangers only have 1 game left, the maximum amount of points they can earn on the season is 109, which they can achieve by beating a Toronto Maple Leafs team who already knows their playoff seeding.

At 109 points, the Rangers will be tied with where Carolina currently sits and 1 point better than the rival New Jersey Devils. For the Rangers to earn the top spot in the division, they would need both Carolina and New Jersey to lose all of their final games.

In the event that this perfect storm happens, the Rangers would be tied with Carolina in the standings but would have 1 more Regulation Win, giving them the tiebreaker and the division crown. However, if Carolina or New Jersey simply earn a point over their final 2 games, the Rangers can finish no higher than 3rd and will start the NHL Playoffs on the road.

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