Eastern Conference Playoff Race Heats Up

It's March 25th.

Welcome in.

This is NHL News Today, where your team meets AI.

I'm Corey with the story.

The Eastern Conference playoff race in the NHL is getting intense, with the cutoff likely

landing around 97 or 98 points.

That means even strong teams can miss out and head to the golf course early.

Right now the battle for wild card spots and division finishes is tighter than ever,

with just a few points separating contenders.

The New York Islanders and Boston Bruins look most at risk.

Both have struggled defensively lately, relying heavily on star goalies, Ilya Soracan and

Jeremy Swaman to keep them alive.

The Islanders dropped out of a playoff position after a recent loss, while the Bruins play

at even strength raises doubts about sustaining there.

Push.

Meanwhile, in the Metropolitan Division, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins

have surged into contention.

Those transformed under new coach Ritt Bownes, winning most of their last 25 games and dominating

at 5 on 5.

Pittsburgh has outscored defensive issues, staying competitive despite preseason doubts.

The Ottawa Senators boast the best even strength stats over their recent games, grabbing a wild

card spot despite mounting injuries to key defenders.

Detroit Red Wings however are fading fast, blowing a 7-point lead and now sitting outside

the playoffs with tough odds.

It all shapes up for thrilling final 3 weeks, where goal tending and momentum could decide

who advances and who watches from home.