"The well-known school of thought is that if you're in the playoff bracket by the time of Thanksgiving, then you will probably be there when the season is done. That may not hold true this season. In the Eastern Conference, a total of eight points separated the top team from the 15th team going into Friday's play. The divide is a little wider in the Western Conference but so far, across the league, it really feels like only Calgary, Nashville and Buffalo"
"Colorado Avalanche - In a league whose chief characteristic right now is parity, the Avs stand apart. At 12-1-5, they've gotten points in 17 out of 18 games. A plus-28 goal differential at this point in the season is fairly insane. The only question is - and not that it will matter come playoff time - how is a team that has Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas and Cale Makar not better at 3-on-3?"
Parity across the NHL has tightened the playoff picture, with only eight points separating the top and 15th teams in the Eastern Conference and a similarly close Western Conference. Calgary, Nashville and Buffalo currently project as clear also-rans. Several familiar contenders like Edmonton, Tampa Bay and Vegas are absent from the early top 16 but could climb later; Toronto looks unlikely to recover. Colorado leads at 12-1-5 with a plus-28 goal differential and dominant point collection in 17 of 18 games. Dallas rebounded after last season's collapse, New Jersey presents a healthy-contingent caveat and Anaheim's young core, led by Leo Carlsson, shows real promise.
Read at Boston Herald
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