Edited Oct. 6, 2023 at 11:28 a.m.
Predictions here are all made on the idea that all things being equal with relatively healthy lineups. Obviously major injuries can change everything.
To me there are two teams that throw a wrench into my prediction:
1) NYI - They are to me, the hardest team in the NHL to predict. You really don't know what you're going to get with them. We know they'll get good defense and league-best goaltending, but how will the offense pan out? They could either miss or finish in the top two of the Metro and I wouldn't be surprised by either result.
2) CBJ - Very intriguing team to me. They're most likely going to miss the playoffs again, probably for the last time for a while, but their defense could wind up being very good which would help Elvis, so if they snuck in, I wouldn't be surprised.
Metro:
CAR
NYR
NJD
PIT
WSH
NYI
CBJ
PHI
I think the gap between the Pens, Caps and Isles will be VERY close. It will come down to the last two or three games of the season.