Philadelphia Flyers right wing Owen Tippett (74) celebrates his goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning with right wing Travis Konecny (11) and defenseman Jamie Drysdale (9) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
The NHL Eastern Conference playoff race looks nothing like it did just two weeks ago. The Philadelphia Flyers have surged into a postseason spot for the first time since January 12, winning 14 of their past 21 games to vault from 13th in the conference to third place in the Metropolitan Division.
Coach Rick Tocchet didn’t need to remind his players of the stakes. They saw the standings themselves, and their recent run — capped by an overtime win over Boston on top prospect Porter Martone’s first NHL goal — has turned them into one of the league’s most surprising late‑season threats.
Forward Noah Cates said the Flyers have been treating every game like a playoff matchup, focusing on simple, disciplined hockey that has pushed them back into the race.
Canadiens, Penguins and Bruins stabilize
While Philadelphia climbed, several contenders tightened their grip on playoff spots. The Montreal Canadiens reeled off six straight wins and clinched a berth Sunday, extending an eight‑game winning streak that began March 21. Cole Caufield is on the verge of becoming the franchise’s first 50‑goal scorer since 1990, fueling Montreal’s late‑season surge.
Pittsburgh has won five of seven, and Boston’s 4‑2‑1 stretch erased any doubt about postseason hockey returning to those markets. The Bruins and Penguins now look secure as the race enters its final week.
Red Wings collapse after early-season lead
No team has fallen harder than the Detroit Red Wings. Once tied for the most points in the East on January 15, Detroit held a 12‑point cushion over the ninth‑place team. That margin has evaporated.
The Red Wings have gone 8‑9‑3 since mid‑January and now sit two points out of a playoff spot with five games remaining. Their inability to score early has been a season‑long issue — they have failed to score in the first period in 43 of 77 games, the most in the NHL.
Coach Todd McLellan said he wishes he had an answer for the slow starts, while Lucas Raymond insisted the team still believes it can finish strong.
Blue Jackets skid after midseason surge
Columbus briefly looked like a playoff lock after winning 19 of 27 games following a coaching change from Dean Evason to Rick Bowness. But the Blue Jackets have now lost seven straight, falling out of the top three in the Metropolitan Division and into desperation mode.
Islanders fire Roy as slide continues
The New York Islanders’ collapse has been equally dramatic. Since March 18, when they appeared poised to cruise into the playoffs during Matthew Schaefer’s standout rookie season, they have lost seven of ten.
General manager Mathieu Darche fired coach Patrick Roy on Sunday and hired Peter DeBoer with four games left, hoping for a late spark.
Capitals running out of time
The Washington Capitals, still chasing one more playoff run for 40‑year‑old Alex Ovechkin, have also stumbled. Despite an 8‑3‑2 stretch that briefly revived their hopes, an 8‑1 loss to the Rangers exposed defensive issues that had been masked by strong goaltending.
Washington sits three points out with four games remaining and needs help to stay alive.
