5 NHL Teams That Could Make An Unexpected Playoff Push

The 2019 NHL playoffs are right around the corner, as the season concludes on April 6th. The NHL trade deadline is February 25th, making the next few weeks vital to any sort of playoff run. Teams will know quickly if they'll be buying or selling at the deadline. The following are five teams that I believe could make an unexpected playoff push this season.

1. Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes perpetually end up on this list because of their lack of ability to score goals. They scored just 140 goals up until the All-Star Break in 50 games. 2.8 goals per game is not terrible, but their expected goals for is a bit over 3. That is a major reason why they are still several points out of a wildcard spot in a year they should be battling for the division potentially. Take out the 22 goals from Sebastian Aho and the picture becomes even bleaker. Don Waddell acquired Nino Niederreiter and his 13 goals. This team needs to put the puck in the net and there are still 30+ games left.

There lies the issue of goaltending as well. Scott Darling is buried in the minors and will eventually be bought out. Petr Mrazek struggled just enough to let Curtis McElhinney take the reins of the starting job. However, McElhinney is injured (day to day) and Mrazek is keeping them above the water of late. However, McElhinney provides league average to slightly above goaltending with a 2.50 goals-against average and .914 save percentage. Mrazek is conversely at .500 with a save percentage under .900. Carolina needs to score around 3 or just over 3 goals a game combined with average goaltending.

Another question arises as far as the trade deadline. Does Carolina decide to trade Micheal Ferland or a right-handed defenseman for scoring help? Ferland likely will demand a $5-$6 million dollar AAV next season and Carolina could maximize trade value while helping their playoff push. The other problem exists because of having too many good defensemen. One may have to go to make way for that elusive top-six scoring punch. Carolina, according to their numbers is 30-40 goals off what they expect to be.

Now, how fast does Curtis McElhinney come back and will he play to the early season form?

If he does and Carolina starts scoring closer to what is expected, they could unexpectedly make the playoffs.

2. St. Louis Blues

St. Louis perplexes most everyone because so much more was expected of this team. A few pundits even had them as a Stanley Cup contender during the preseason. The acquisition of Ryan O'Reilly was supposed to be that piece which put them over the top. As in Buffalo and Colorado, production came with the center and yet everything else has fallen apart again. O'Reilly tallied 50 points in 49 games before the break. The next leading St. Louis scorer has just 35 points and Vladimir Tarasenko has just 17 goals and 32 points. It is hard for them to score (139 goals in 49 games). Then, there is the goaltending.

Jake Allen is having one of those nightmare seasons he has become known for. The bizarre part is his home and road splits. His road numbers are great -- 2.33 goals against average and a .920 save percentage. The home marks are abysmal -- 3.65 goals against average and a .878 save percentage. Some things can try to be explained but this one is what kills St. Louis. Having a record around .500 at home in a place where the Blues have annually enjoyed success is a dagger. One bright spot has been Jordan Binnington. The goalie is 5-1-1 in nine games played with a 1.84 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. The key with Binnington is he makes the saves at crucial times whether it be at home or on the road. St. Louis has to decide what team they will be -- a playoff team or a rebuild candidate. They are 6-3-1 in their last ten games and if St. Louis can get average goaltending, the scoring is coming around enough. This remains a team that can make a push and maybe create a little havoc in the playoffs -- even without David Perron.

3. Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver has pushed their way into the playoff conversation all year. Elias Pettersson missed some time due to injury but the rookie has performed unbelievably well in his first 40 games. Now, he has 23 goals on 82 shots (45 points overall). That 28% shooting percentage probably does not continue but his shot selection and ability to create are difference makers. Unexpected contributions from Alexander Edler, who has turned the clock back on defense and the rise of Jacob Markstrom (11-4-2 in December and January) have been vital. Calling up Thatcher Demko could be enough to push Markstrom as his numbers late in January began to dip a bit.

The biggest thing going for the Canucks is that a lot of teams are bunched together. No one is pulling away. Just a half dozen points separate the top wildcard spot to the seventh. It boils down to the two ancient hockey constructs -- scoring goals and keeping them out. Can Vancouver get enough of both to sustain a playoff run? The possibility is there.

4. Anaheim Ducks

It looks outlandish on the surface but Anaheim is still in the playoff race. John Gibson kept this team in this position through the All-Star Break despite often facing 35+ shots every night and a plethora of high-danger scoring chances. When a team's goalie is their best fantasy player by a wide margin, that spells trouble. Anaheim has allowed 153 goals which is not horrible but have only scored 120 times. Only Los Angeles (114) has scored less. The injuries piling up has been significant and now Ondrej Kase is out for the rest of the season with a torn labrum.

Some hope exists as Corey Perry is about to return early from a knee injury. If he can regain any kind of form, that would help Ryan Getzlaf immensely. One player has over 30 points and the leading goal scorer per game is finished for the year. Goal scoring has to go up at some point even just a little. That would relieve some pressure off Gibson as his margin of error would lessen. With the West so tight, Anaheim need only sustain one decent run and that may be enough. They just cannot afford another losing streak like that 12 game journey in January.

5. Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia answered the bell recently and the arrival of Carter Hart has helped. The Flyers languish 11 points out of a playoff spot but with uncertainty running wild in Columbus and several teams ahead of them, this is not as crazy as it looks. Philadelphia's five-game winning streak has not been pretty but it is effective. Playing that kind of hockey with timely goaltending is all the team needed to make the playoffs in the first place. This is before everything went south during the first half of the season. Hart completely changed the dynamic going 7-5-1 so far in his rookie campaign and displaying a poise over his last four starts that has calmed the team and its fanbase down.

It still is a long road to haul but Philadelphia has overcome some long odds before to make the playoffs. Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk are racking up points again (van Riemsdyk has seven goals in his last seven games). The Flyers have to keep teams from scoring just a little better and average about three goals a game over the final 25+ games to have a chance. This is not impossible.

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