Halfway Home - A Look into the Second Half

As Spring arrives here in Ontario, the heat in the playoff race also begins to intensify. For most, the halfway point of the season is here, divisions are molding into their playoff matchups, and hockey fans continue to play the game of What If? What if this team wouldn't have picked up so many Bettman Points, or this player didn't get injured? Etc., etc. Let’s forget that for now and appreciate the flawless efforts Canadian NHL teams have made to prevent any game cancellations due to COVID-19. Cheers to you.

Now… On to hockey!

The North Division has no shortage of star offensive players, so it's hard to create an argument against a decrease in goal scoring during the second half. It seems inevitable that teams will alter their systems and play a defensive style against the opponent's top players. Depth scoring will become a premium, and the Leafs and Jets have been thriving off of this all season. See Toronto's recent 3-0 run against Edmonton, keeping two of the league’s best players to a combined one point. The Leafs top 6 held the Oilers in check, and the bottom lines dominated their roles as well. Shutting down elite players in the NHL is near impossible, so the focus shifts to the team to step up and make a difference. The Leafs have demonstrated this from season's start, and the organization deserves credit for establishing a bottom-six capable of generating offense any given night.

Toronto continues to power through the opposition with their depth scoring and leadership, regaining their place atop the division. There is an unquestioned level of leadership and responsibility instilled into this team. Also, the veteran presence around the room has proven to be a contributor to their success. The compete level of this team is unlike many we've seen in recent memory. As the records stand, the Leafs, Jets, and Oilers are looking to compete for the North Division title but forgetting about the Habs would be a mistake.

Hockey fans were expecting the Canadiens to struggle after opening the season on a league-leading pace but not this quickly. Many of us were drinking the Montréal juice early on, and rightfully so. The team's performance in their last ten games, however, shows for a record of 3-2-5. Additionally, if Carey Price can regain his confidence, Montréal can go on another winning streak.

Speaking of winning streaks, Winnipeg has gone 16-5 in their last 21 games. Don't look now, but the Jets have solidified their spot in the race to win the division. With incredible discipline and responsibility instilled by Head Coach Paul Maurice, Winnipeg may be the most overlooked team in this division. The acquisition of Pierre-Luc Dubois is paying dividends. He is beginning to look more comfortable in Maurice's system, adding a different element to their Top 6. Dubois has posted 4-3-7 in 11GP for the Jets.

So, what happens in the second half?

Expect much to stay the same in the North Division moving forward as the Leafs, Jets, Oilers, and Canadiens appear to be the four teams in control of the playoff positions. With team familiarity at an all-time high, should we assume long win streaks are no longer likely within divisions around the league? Besides, sports have a way of creating internal playoff motivation at the ¾ mark of the season, and teams play desperately for every point. I would anticipate the Oilers and Habs will battle for the 3rd and 4th seed leaving the Leafs and Jets to battle for 1st in the North Division; Each gaining home-ice advantage in the first round.

The NHL Trade Deadline is approaching fast, and many fans are questioning the amount of movement the league can have with COVID-19 in effect. Teams have been trying to have these restrictions altered, allowing for less time in quarantine. I don't see the league approving this as the Winnipeg/Columbus trade had its difficulties with Laine, Roslovic, and Dubois all missing games due to the restrictions. However, I've been wrong before and will be many more times. I don't anticipate much happening with so many teams being so tight to the cap.

PS – This ESPN deal is TREMENDOUS for the NHL and hockey fans. More viewers in North America will allow for more exposure to the sport of hockey. An increase in viewership and participation will help create more league revenue. All of which will (hopefully) lead to a higher salary cap for the NHL. Hockey has a bright future, and fans of the game have plenty of reason to be excited.

Please see Stephen A. Smith's "5 Thing's I Know About Hockey" above.

Let's do that Hockey!!!