The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs will begin on April 20th. We know the teams in the Western Conference are going to the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference, it seems nobody wants to take command of the final wild-card spot. Not to mention the third spot in the Metro.
The final stretch of the 2023-24 NHL regular season is here. It has been a year like no other. The race for the final two spots in the Eastern Conference has taken the spotlight. It is coming down to who wants it more to make the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Things are taking shape with the New York Islanders starting to secure the third spot in the Metro with their win Tuesday night. The Washington Capitals got a big win over the Detroit Red Wings in regulation to get back into the second wild-card spot in the East. But again, who wants it more?
We know the deck is stacked against the Philadelphia Flyers, who have lost eight games in a row. The Flyers are pretty much done. Detroit also has a tough road to climb after losing to the Capitals. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins only got a point on Monday and are not back in action again until Thursday. Again, this is why the regular season is essential. Can’t cheapen these games with a play-in round.
Let’s take the odds to make the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
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2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds (Via Draft Kings):
Who Gets The Final Two Spots in Eastern Conference
New York Islanders
-750
Washington Capitals
+115
Pittsburgh Penguins
+140
Detroit Red Wings
+195
Philadelphia Flyers
+1300
As we look at the odds, some things stand out. The New York Islanders are -750 favorites to finish third in the Metro and make the playoffs. It makes sense; the Islanders have won five in a row, are up two points on the Washington Capitals, and are three points clear of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. The Islanders control their destiny to get into the playoffs. To close the season, the Islanders play Montreal (not easy), the Rangers again, the Devils, and the Penguins.
The second favorite is the Washington Capitals at +115. They also control their destiny to get into the playoffs. Ending a losing skid and winning a big play-in playoff-type game against Detroit was big. Washington needs to win the games they are supposed to win to get into the playoffs. It is a tough schedule, but they have the tools to do it. The Capitals finish the season against Buffalo, Tampa Bay, Boston, and Philadelphia.
The Penguins are next at +140, followed by Detroit at +195. Those teams meet on Thursday in another play-in playoff-type game. Neither of these four teams has a game in hand; they all have four games left. Pittsburgh also plays the Islanders to end the regular season, so that game is big, with Boston and Nashville in there.
After the Pittsburgh game, Detroit has Toronto and back-to-back with Montreal to close the season. The way Montreal plays is not easy. The Canadiens just eliminated the Flyers from playoff contention. So Detroit can’t take the Canadiens lightly.
Stranger things have happened, but the Islanders seem a lock to make the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Meanwhile, Wild Card 2 in the East is decided by Washington, Detroit, and Pittsburgh.
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