NHL Playoff Race: 3 Teams Making Surprising Comebacks

Three Original Six teams have shocked the hockey world with unexpected turnarounds, breathing new life into the NHL playoff race.

The Detroit Red Wings are on fire, riding their first seven-game winning streak in 13 years. It’s a dramatic shift that came right after they switched coaches, bringing in Todd McLellan to replace Derek Lalonde.

Just how hot are the Wings? Their power play has been unstoppable, scoring on an incredible 50% of their chances since Christmas.

Young star Marco Kasper has finally found his groove too. After a brutal 15-game stretch where he didn’t score and was a minus-12, he’s exploded for four points in just two games against Seattle and Chicago.

There’s a lot at stake in Detroit. They’re trying to avoid becoming the first Original Six team ever to miss the playoffs nine years in a row.

Up in Montreal, the Canadiens have been writing their own comeback story. Things looked pretty grim in mid-December after they got crushed 9-2 by Pittsburgh. But then something clicked.

The Habs went on an incredible 9-2-1 run, including wins over the last four Stanley Cup champions – all on the same road trip. They’ve actually had the NHL’s best record since December 16.

And this isn’t just luck. The stats show Montreal is playing genuinely good hockey, controlling about 53% of the expected goals – putting them among the league’s top teams during this stretch.

The New York Rangers have had the wildest ride of all. They looked great at Thanksgiving but then completely fell apart, posting the NHL’s worst record over a seven-week stretch. There were even rumors about players revolting against management.

But the Rangers have turned things around since late December, going 4-2-1 with impressive wins over New Jersey and NHL-leading Vegas. They’ve done this despite missing their star goalie Igor Shesterkin for part of that stretch.

Shesterkin’s back now and he’s been amazing, stopping 94.4% of the shots he’s faced. The defense is stepping up too – especially the top pair of K’Andre Miller and Will Borgen, who’ve been dominating opponents lately.

All three teams are now just two points out of a playoff spot, with games in hand. It’s a pretty remarkable turnaround that’s made the Eastern Conference playoff race way more interesting than anyone expected.

History suggests it’s tough to climb back into the playoffs after a slow start – teams typically have a 75-80% chance of making the playoffs if they’re in position by Thanksgiving. But these three Original Six teams are doing their best to defy those odds.