Skids by the Capitals, Flyers and Avalanche have altered the NHL's playoff race
A handful of teams hitting the skids late in the season has changed the complexion of the playoff races around the NHL
When April began, the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers looked on track to make the playoffs and the Colorado Avalanche had a good shot at winning the Central Division.
Not so much anymore, with the losses cascading down like spring showers.
The Capitals have lost their past six games, the Flyers their past seven and the Avalanche have dropped three of their past four. Playoff races around the NHL have since flipped, with Pittsburgh, Detroit and the New York Islanders picking up the pieces in the Eastern Conference and Dallas widening its lead atop the Central and in line for home-ice advantage until at least the Stanley Cup Final.
“When you’re in a winning streak, it feels like you can do no wrong and you can’t miss,” Capitals leading scorer Dylan Strome said Monday. “And when you’re in a losing streak, it feels like bounces just aren’t going your way, the possible offsides aren’t going your way, the penalty calls aren’t going your way. That’s what it’s like when you get into a little bit of a losing streak.”
