The obvious answer is to finish with more points in the standings. Currently, there are four teams vying for position to grab the golden ticket to the playoffs. The reward would be really special for any of these teams to claim that spot. Every team has something to play for, bigger than just the pride of the club.
For the Utah Hockey Club (UHC), it is their first recorded year in the NHL after the short trek up from Arizona. They have been putting the league on notice. This is not the Coyotes of old, but instead, they are only a few pieces away from being able to knock a few teams out of the playoffs. Playing for the pride of the club is special this year because this team wants to start their legacy off with a bang!
Calgary has a superstar rookie in net. Dustin Wolf is dragging the lowest goals-for team to the playoffs by standing on his head, trying to secure a Calder Trophy.
The St. Louis Blues have a grit in their eye as they try to replicate their 2019 Cup-winning performance. With an early coach change, this team was headed nowhere fast, with talks only a month ago speculating the club may be on the verge of blowing it up and starting a rebuild. However, they have been on a tear, with the Four Nations Face-Off reminding Binnington of his championship-level goaltending ability. They have already saved what was a lost season, but a playoff berth would be the cherry on top.
The Canucks have had a tragedy of a season. Vancouver came into the season as a top-tier playoff team everyone thought was going to be competing for the Cup. Controversy in the locker room saw them lose star JT Miller to the Rangers, then several other key players during the trade deadline. A playoff berth could ease the burn and pain of fans and a club that came into the season riding so high.
The good news for UHC is they lead all the teams in the race in the Money Puck power rankings, which is based on advanced metrics. The areas they have a significant advantage in are goal percentage, unblocked shot percentage, and expected goals-for. The key for this team to break a tie is to avoid any more tied game results. The Blues lead the four teams with only seven overtime decisions, which is the first tiebreaker.
The good news is the UHC plays each of the other three teams before the season comes to a close, along with games where they are heavily favored, including two against the Predators, one against the Blackhawks, and one against the Buffalo Sabres.
The bad news is the strength of the remaining schedule is a tough slog. In the remaining 16 games, seven are against top playoff teams in the NHL, which is almost half. In comparison, the Blues have only 5 of 15. So, the Blues have the edge in strength of remaining opponents and will break a wildcard tie with more regulation wins.
Calgary has a disadvantage with 10 playoff teams in the last 17 games. Vancouver has 8 of 17 against playoff teams.
NHL Playoff Tiebreakers:
- The greater number of games won in regulation time (excluding overtime and shootout wins).
- The greater number of games won in regulation and overtime time (excluding shootout wins).
- The greater number of games won in any manner (including shootout wins).
- The greater number of points earned in games against each other among two or more tied clubs.
- The greater differential between goals scored for and against during the entire regular season.
- The greater number of goals scored during the entire regular season.
In their inaugural season, the Utah Hockey Club has a golden opportunity to make a splash and secure a playoff spot. With a favorable position in the Money Puck power rankings and key games against direct competitors ahead, UHC has the tools to control their own destiny. However, the road to the postseason won’t be easy, as they face a gauntlet of top playoff teams in their remaining schedule. While the Blues may have an edge in strength of schedule and regulation wins, UHC’s advanced metrics suggest they have the potential to outplay their opponents and break any ties in their favor. If the team can capitalize on their strengths, minimize overtime losses, and rise to the challenge of their tough opponents, the Utah Hockey Club could very well find themselves celebrating a playoff berth in their first year, setting the stage for an exciting new era of hockey in Utah.
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