The NHL standings as of Thanksgiving are often predictive of playoff outcomes, with a historical success rate of 81.25% for teams in playoff positions. This season, several teams are establishing themselves as contenders, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have shown depth and consistency even without star Auston Matthews.
The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning are also making strong cases in the Atlantic Division, while the Washington Capitals lead the Metropolitan Division. The New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes are rounding out the playoff picture in the Metro.
In the Central Division, the Minnesota Wild are performing consistently, and the Winnipeg Jets are maintaining a solid position despite some depth-scoring concerns. The Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers are leading the Pacific Division, with the Oilers showing signs of a resurgence.
