Goodbye, NHL lockout.
Hello, playoff hockey in January. Well, sort of.
The unintentional result (or benefit) of replacing an 82-game marathon with a likely 48-game sprint means the grace period that usually exists before the All-Star break is gone.
Every game will matter, and the playoff picture will begin to take shape as soon as the puck drops.
This could be a pack race like in recent years where a cluster of teams hover around the playoff cut-off line until the final few days of the season. But there's also a chance some teams will capitalize on this unique format and pull away for a fast start. Here are some teams that might get out of the gate quickly:
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers sent their top three forwards and an up-and-coming defenseman to the American Hockey League during the lockout. Forwards Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall and defenseman Justin Schultz combined for 133 points in the AHL. Sophomore center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins recently led the World Junior Championship with 15 points. Of course, neither level is the same as the NHL, and the Oilers' defense and goaltending have underperformed the past few years, but it's safe to say these players are in midseason form.
"They're young, too, so there are no excuses when you're 18, 19, 20," captain Shawn Horcoff said with a smile. "I expect no excuses out of those guys come the start."
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings' championship run last year was a surprise, but they are a favorite this season. This is practically the same team that overwhelmed its opponents with physicality and speed, becoming the first eighth seed to win the Stanley Cup. Health, at least at the outset, is a concern, though. Goalie Jonathan Quick had back surgery, and center Anze Kopitar recently injured his knee playing in Sweden. If the Kings jell like they did last spring, watch out.
Minnesota Wild
Until mid-December last season, the Wild sat atop the Western Conference standings. They remained in the top eight until about a month later. That's about how long this abbreviated season will go, a morale boost for a franchise that's missed out on the playoffs the past four seasons. Add in game changers such as winger Zach Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter, and the Wild could be tough to beat.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers were among the teams to have the most players play in Europe during the lockout. Some of their more crucial contributors, forwards like Danny Briere and Claude Giroux and goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, have been in game shape for quite some time. That's also left them vulnerable to injuries. Both Giroux (neck) and Briere (wrist) were injured while playing in Germany. Giroux should be fine to start the season, but Briere's status is unclear. Regardless, this is still a playoff team.
Phoenix Coyotes
At this point of the season last year, right after the All-Star break, the Coyotes took off. Goalie Mike Smith became a Vezina-type performer, the team had lengthy win streaks and that momentum pulled them into the playoffs. With each game carrying even more weight in a truncated season, tight, defensive-minded hockey will be key and that's the Coyotes' bread and butter. Yes, it's been almost eight months since most Coyotes played competitively. But the bulk of the lineup skated locally, and the upside to that would be the familiarity these players already have with one another.
"It definitely didn't hurt us," captain Shane Doan said, "and we'll take advantage of that."
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