As the midway point for the 2024-2025 NHL season passes, we take a look at the top hockey clubs carrying the torch to the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoffs. This season has been anything but expected, with top sports analysts confused, fans bewildered, and management breaking a sweat. Here are the top clubs in the Western and Eastern divisions that we can expect to see in this season’s finale.
The West (Pacific)
Starting far West, we land in the NHL’s Pacific division. The infamous Las Vegas Golden Knights (61), the Edmonton Oilers (61), and the Los Angeles Kings (55) hold the top three spots for the NHL in the division. The Las Vegas Golden Knights are tied at 29-14-3 with the Edmonton Oilers for the top spot. The Las Vegas Golden Knights had a pitiful start to their road games. They were undefeated at home for eight games straight for the first quarter of the season but struggled to put two pennies together on the road. After some players returned from injuries, the team improved their gameplay.
The Edmonton Oilers sit at +25 on their goal differential compared to the NHL’s Dark Horse Knights at +29. Recent news from the Oilers and Canucks game ended Edmonton’s win streak. Star couple Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid have been separated after McDavid received a nasty penalty, prompting a disciplinary league hearing paired with whispers of a suspension. How the club will fair without the top star-powers is up in the air.
The L.A. Kings are six points behind the two titans with a 25-13-5 record. The Kings have been steadily picking up speed as their record seems decent at home and on the road. Their recent surge could be their recent visit from Buddy the Elf post-holidays.
Central
The NHL holds the annual All-Star game to commemorate the league’s top players as well as the approximate midway point through the season. As the Central division in the NHL reviews their first-half performance, the Winnipeg Jets hockey club is sitting pretty at the top slot with 65 points. The club has been making teams curse under their breath close after the season’s first puck drop. The Jets currently hold a 31-13-3 record. Situated below Winnipeg at #2 is the Minnesota Wild. The Wild is down seven points from Winnipeg with a record of 27-15-4. The Jets are one of the few highly favored Stanley Cup competitors this season.
The East (Metropolitan)
The NHL has numerous beasts situated in the metropolitan area of the league. The Washington Capitals (67) hold the crown for first in their division, followed by the New Jersey Devils (58), and the Carolina Hurricanes (57). The Capitals have the most points in the league and have had a phenomenal season with a current standing of 31-10-5. That record alone has been terrorizing the remaining clubs in the NHL. The Devils, as well as the Hurricanes, have made headlines numerous times in this year’s season for fantastic plays, striking offense, and physical gameplay. There is still plenty of room for upset in this division of the NHL, especially with New Jersey and Carolina.
Atlantic
Finally, we land on the most eastern conference in the NHL. The Atlantic has seen quite a few teams with favorable records. The top-standing clubs are as follows: The Toronto Maple Leafs (60), The Florida Panthers (57), and the Tampa Bay Lightning (53). To add a shocking twist, Toronto is +13 in their score differential, the Panthers are +11, but Tampa Bay is +39. Each team had some trend-setting games and some serious moments in the NHL. In addition to the Metropolitan conference, we can expect to see grear change within these standings before the playoffs.
Looking Ahead To the Playoffs
As we approach the 2024-2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, the current division standings are subject to change. The Western Pacific Conference’s top hockey club is in danger. If the Vegas Golden Knights lose one more game, they fall from the top spot. They’re currently on a three-game losing streak, and their rivals, the Edmonton Oilers, are set on being first in the division. The Winnipeg Jets are holding strong at the top slot with an eight-point lead. Moving over to the East, I expect to see substantial change within the top three leaders of the metro conference.
The Atlantic division is also subject to change, but the most exciting facet of being midway through the 2024-2025 NHL season, besides the All-Star games, is that we can start to focus on playoff hockey.
