by Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
What makes the NHL such a great league is that there is so much parity.
Given how tight the playoff picture is in both conferences, who knows which bubble teams will punch their ticket to the dance at this point?
Here are three teams currently on the outside looking in that could qualify for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Columbus Blue Jackets
This summer, the Columbus Blue Jackets and their fans faced two huge tragedies when a suspected drunk driver killed Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew.
Regardless of the results, this season was going to be about honoring the Gaudreaus and their family and providing support to a fan base in need of healing. But despite the pain and sadness, the Blue Jackets have been a group that has shown unwavering resilience.
Related: Columbus Blue Jackets and fans come together as 2024-25 start
Dean Evason’s group is 10-9-3 in 22 games this season and currently has 23 points – just four out of the second wild card spot in the East.
Defenseman Zach Werenski, 27, leads the team. The defenseman leads the team with 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists) in 22 games and currently has a plus-minus of plus-9, tied for second on the team with center Sean Monahan.
Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
Even though Columbus has some catching up to do, they hung around because of their team mentality. Filling the void left by Gaudreau was impossible, but the actors mobilized.
What makes things even more impressive for this group is that they found themselves without their captain, Boone Jenner, at a time when leadership is vital to the franchise.
Jenner will miss most of the season with a shoulder injury, but could be back before the end of the regular season.
Either way, there seems to be something special brewing in Columbus, and we’re all here for it.
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues (11-12-2) needed a cure after a 9-12-1 start to the season, and Jim Montgomery is just what the doctor ordered.
Once the Boston Bruins opted to fire Montgomery after a slow start to the season, Doug Armstrong couldn’t pass up the opportunity to bring back his former assistant coach. He fired head coach Drew Bannister to do just that, and the results were encouraging.
They won their first two games of the Montgomery era, beating the New York Rangers 5-2 before eliminating the New Jersey Devils 3-0.
They finished November losing 3-2 in overtime to the Philadelphia Flyers after coming back twice in the third period to win a critical point.
For a team that has struggled to defend, it has allowed just five goals over the last three games, the second-fewest total in the NHL over that span.
Starting goalie Jordan Binnington’s overall numbers aren’t ideal, going 7-9-2 in 19 starts with a 2.87 GAA and .899 save percentage. But over his last four outings, he’s gone 2-1-1, posting a 1.75 GAA and a .940 SP.
Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The Blues find themselves just three points out of a wild card spot, and if any team knows what it takes to turn around a season, it’s this franchise after climbing from the basement after the halfway point in 2018-19 to not only make the playoffs, but hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.
Ottawa Senators
If we make a list of teams that need a playoff spot, the Ottawa Senators (10-12-1) are at the top of the list.
They have missed the playoffs in each of the last seven seasons and are currently six points out of a wild card spot after 23 games.
The Senators have had solid performances from three players this season. Tim Stutzle (10 goals, 19 assists), captain Brady Tkachuk (11 goals, 15 assists) and Drake Batherson (nine goals, 15 assists) are all averaging more than a point per game this season.
But what should give the Senators hope that they can turn around their slow start is goaltender Linus Ullmark.
Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The 31-year-old, acquired from the Boston Bruins this summer in exchange for goalie Joonas Korpisalo, center Mark Kastelic and their 2024 first-round pick (Dean Letourneau), signed a four-year extension worth $33 million, worth $8.25. million per year. However, his first 14 games weren’t great, posting a 3.09 GAA with a .886 SP.
Ullmark won the 2023 Vezina Trophy after posting a 1.89 GAA with a .938 SP. He followed that season with a 2.57 GAA with a .915 SP in his final year in Boston.
He’s better than he’s shown, and if he can get hot, it could be the key to Ottawa sneaking into the playoffs.
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