The Thanksgiving Panic Index: Which NHL teams are the most concerned?

"Since the NHL switched to the wild-card format in 2013-14, 77% of teams in a playoff position on Turkey Day go on to make the Stanley Cup playoffs (excluding the two COVID-impacted seasons), according to ESPN Research. In half of those 10 seasons, 13 of 16 teams remained in playoff spots by season's end. There's never been fewer than 11 or more than 13 Thanksgiving playoff teams that eventually made the cut."

"In other words, there are always teams on the outside who get in. Last season, the Montreal Canadiens (five points back), Ottawa Senators (three back), St. Louis Blues (two back) and Edmonton Oilers (one back) were not in playoff spots at Thanksgiving and still made the postseason tournament. Over the last 10 non-COVID seasons, teams on the outside that eventually made the postseason where 2.8 points back of a playoff seed."

"Colorado Avalanche They have reached a stage of spiritual enlightenment. As the Buddha taught, if one scores all the goals (4.00 per game through 22 games, best in the NHL) and allows the fewest (2.18 goals against per game, best in the NHL) then that is the path to many victories. They are in a state where suffering has been extinguished, with an .841 points percentage and one regulation loss as of Nov. 24."

Since the NHL adopted the wild-card format in 2013-14, 77% of teams in a playoff position on Thanksgiving go on to make the Stanley Cup playoffs, excluding two COVID-impacted seasons. In half of the last 10 non-COVID seasons, 13 of 16 teams remained in playoff spots by season's end, and the number that eventually qualified has ranged only between 11 and 13 teams. Teams outside the playoff positions frequently still qualify; last season four teams that were not in playoff spots at Thanksgiving made the postseason, and outside qualifiers averaged 2.8 points back over the past 10 non-COVID seasons. The ranking categorizes teams by varying panic levels, with the Colorado Avalanche posting elite scoring, stingy defense, an .841 points percentage and the highest playoff probability.

Read at ESPN.com