The 2024-25 NHL season is barreling toward its conclusion, with fewer than 20 games left for each team.
While the Central and Metropolitan Division races are all but over (Winnipeg and Washington are cruising to the finish line) the Atlantic and Pacific Divisions are set for a thrilling showdown.
In the Atlantic, the Florida Panthers sit precariously at the top. But for how long? With superstar Matthew Tkachuk sidelined until the postseason and Aaron Ekblad slapped with a 20-game suspension for violating the NHL’s performance-enhancing drug policy, Florida’s grip on the division lead is slipping. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning are closing in fast, turning this into a battle that promises fireworks.
Out west, the Pacific Division is heating up. The Vegas Golden Knights have seized the lead, much to the frustration of Edmonton Oilers fans. It wasn’t long ago that Edmonton was sitting atop the division, riding high after the 4 Nations Face-Off break, even eying Winnipeg’s Presidents’ Trophy lead. Now? The Oilers find themselves five points behind Vegas with just 18 games left. They’re also under threat from the surging Los Angeles Kings, who are breathing down their necks, just one point back with a game in hand.
Consistency has been Edmonton’s Achilles’ heel. Dropping games to the Philadelphia Flyers and Buffalo Sabres (teams they should have beaten) has cost them dearly. But there’s still hope. According to Tank-a-Thon, Edmonton has the second-easiest remaining schedule in the league. Vegas, meanwhile, has the fourth-easiest, while Los Angeles faces a tougher path with the 16th-hardest slate. The door is still open for the Oilers to make their move.
Edmonton’s road ahead starts out east, with critical matchups against the New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils, and New York Rangers. The Oilers have had solid success against these teams on the road this season, and after two strong home wins last week against Montreal and Dallas, they’ll need to build on that momentum. The NHL is a rollercoaster, and while Edmonton’s recent form has been shaky, the tide could turn in their favor.
Vegas isn’t exactly soaring either. The Golden Knights are coming off back-to-back losses to Los Angeles and Pittsburgh, the latter a frustrating overtime defeat. Like Edmonton, Vegas is also on an eastern road trip this week, with stops in Columbus, Buffalo, and Detroit. The Blue Jackets, riding a three-game home win streak, could be a challenge, but Buffalo and Detroit (owners of a combined one win in their last 13 games) should present less resistance.
Meanwhile, the Kings are staying put in sunny California, hosting the Washington Capitals tomorrow and the Nashville Predators on Saturday. Los Angeles hasn’t been dominant lately, posting a 5-3-2 record in its last 10 games, but that stretch includes a thrilling 6-5 regulation win over Vegas — a game that proved the Kings are still very much in the hunt.
This Pacific Division race is going to the wire. With evenly matched schedules this week and head-to-head clashes still to come, every point is crucial. Who will rise? Who will stumble? The stakes couldn’t be higher.
