Which Teams Are Going To The NHL Playoffs 2023?
In the NHL, eight teams make the playoffs per conference. The top three finishers from each division are guaranteed a spot, and the last two spots go to wild-card teams.
In the postseason, each conference will have two teams that advance to the Stanley Cup finals. These teams will play a series of best-of-seven games to determine the winner.
Boston Bruins
After reaching the 50-win mark faster than any team in NHL history, the Boston Bruins clinched their berth in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It took a 5-1 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday night, but Boston did what they needed to do to secure their spot in the playoffs.
The Bruins have been one of the most impressive regular-season teams in the NHL this season, and they’re on the verge of making a historic run to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Black and Gold currently hold the Presidents’ Trophy, and they’re poised to win their seventh-straight season in the postseason.
It’s hard to imagine that the Bruins won’t go all the way this time, and they’ve already made it clear they’re going to be a force in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2023. They’ve got a lot of talent, including star forwards Charlie McAvoy and Mason Lohrei, and they’re a team that’s stacked from top to bottom.
After a slow start to the season, Boston has reeled off 11 wins in their last 12 games and have a strong chance of winning the Presidents’ Trophy. They’ve also got a great goal differential and are a top-tier defensive team, so they should be very difficult to beat in the playoffs.
Washington Capitals
In the 33 years of the Washington Capitals’ existence, only seven times have they missed out on the playoffs. In 2022-23, they’re looking to make their ninth consecutive postseason appearance.
With a healthy core of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, T.J. Oshie, Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dmitry Orlov, the Capitals should be a strong team again in the coming years. However, there are a few key questions that need to be addressed before they can achieve their long-term goal of competing for the Stanley Cup again.
One of those questions is whether or not the Capitals can continue to build a deep roster despite losing some key players for an extended period of time. With the return of Tom Wilson and Nicklas Backstrom set for later in the season, this is an important time for Washington to bolster its depth.
Having a young goalie with playoff experience between the pipes would be a huge help. With Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek failing to meet expectations last season, Washington has an opportunity to improve its goaltending situation. Darcy Kuemper has the pedigree to be an excellent starting goalie, and he’s been on the rise in the NHL over the last few seasons.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are one of the top teams in the NHL this season and a serious contender for the Stanley Cup. Despite losing their star forward Andrei Svechnikov to a torn ACL earlier this month, the team has the talent and star power to win the league’s title.
The Hurricanes were founded in 1979 and joined the National Hockey League in 1997, after moving from Hartford Connecticut to Raleigh, North Carolina. The team’s first season in Raleigh was their most successful in franchise history, as they posted a record-breaking win percentage and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time.
After two seasons of disappointing postseason performances, the Hurricanes hired Rod Brind’Amour as head coach and made a return to the playoffs in 2021. However, the following season would be shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Hurricanes finished in fourth place in their conference, a disappointing result for a team that had won its first Stanley Cup a year before.
To improve their chances of winning the Stanley Cup in the future, the Hurricanes need to focus on generating more high-quality scoring chances and improving their special teams. They also need to improve their mental toughness and resilience to help them overcome adversity during the playoffs.
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are in the playoffs for a second straight year and 62nd time in franchise history. The team has made the Stanley Cup Final four times in the past 11 postseasons, but they haven’t won it in 20 years.
While this year’s team isn’t the same as the one that reached the Stanley Cup Final last season, they have a good chance of making it back. They have a potent combination of talent, including a top-notch goalie and a veteran forward.
They’ve also got a young group of players that are developing into core members, including Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil, among others. It’s a group that has the potential to make a big impact this season, but it’s not without its flaws.
As such, it’s tough to predict how the Rangers will fare in the playoffs. They have a great deal of skill, but the playoffs can be a tough place for teams to thrive.
But the Rangers are a team that should be able to overcome their flaws, especially when it comes to playing with a full roster. They’ve done it quite often early this season and should be able to do so again.
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are one of the two oldest teams in the National Hockey League, and they play their home games at Rogers Arena. They were founded in 1945 and are based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The Canucks have a long history of playing in the NHL, but they have never won the Stanley Cup. They have made seven postseason appearances, but they have never advanced beyond the second round.
They have a history of winning a lot of games, but they have not won a title since 2010. In their most recent season in 2023-2022, they had 97 points and qualified for the playoffs.
While it would take them a torrid pace of points to qualify, they are a team that is extremely realistic about how far they need to go. That is a big part of why the Canucks are so close to qualifying for the NHL Playoffs in 2023.
They have a very strong core of players that includes Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin and Roberto Luongo. They have also made some moves in the offseason to try to bring back their glory days. The Canucks haven’t won a title in the past six years, but fans are optimistic that this new ownership group can bring them back to the top of the Pacific Division.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a National Hockey League (NHL) team located in Columbus, Ohio. They play in the Eastern Conference and are members of the Central Division. They are currently ranked 23rd in the NHL.
The Blue Jackets are a team that is known for their passion and competitiveness. They have a strong fan base in the state of Ohio that has grown over the years and has helped them become a successful franchise.
They are a great team to watch because of their grit and the fact that they have some of the best players in the NHL. They are also a team that is very competitive and always in the hunt for a playoff spot.
This season, they finished fourth in the Central Division with 80 points. They managed to do this even though they had an incredibly tough schedule that included five games against top teams.
However, their chances of making the playoffs remain very low. Their probability is three percent. They are also projected to finish in the bottom five of the East.
Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Kraken, a new expansion team in the NHL, is on the verge of postseason glory. They are currently on pace to win the Pacific Division and are a strong contender for the top Wild Card spot in the West.
The Kraken are a strong team with an impressive stable of depth, led by young studs Matty Beniers and Shane Wright. They have also added a healthy Brandon Tanev, who adds a two-way presence to the club’s forward group.
Their blue line is one of the most dominant in the league, led by Jamie Oleksiak, Will Borgen and Carson Soucy. They have combined for 151 of Seattle’s total points this season and are averaging a plus-plus rating on the road.
In addition, the Kraken’s offense has been blistering, with 13 players putting up 20 or more points. It’s a reason the team is currently tied for fourth in the league in points.
The Kraken are currently four points behind the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings for first place in the Pacific Division, and are tied with the Edmonton Oilers for the top Wild Card spot. They are a good team and are definitely a playoff threat, but they need to continue to play well to make it to the NHL Playoffs.
