Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
The Metropolitan Division, projected to be one of the best in the NHL, is off to a slow start. The Washington Capitals have used that opportunity to grab the lead in the division and have emerged as the clear favorites to win the division.
Before the 2015-2016 NHL season began, many pundits and experts believed that the Metropolitan Division could have as many as five playoff teams. The division would currently have four playoff teams (entering Sunday). Only three of them are ones that people would have expected to be up there. Preseason favorites in the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets have been struggling mightily.
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Meanwhile, preseason favorites in the Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, and New York Islanders have been able to live up to their hype thus far as the top three teams in the Metropolitan Division and are among the best teams in the NHL. The Philadelphia Flyers have been better than expected thus far and currently hold one of the two Eastern Conference wild-card spots. If the season ended today, the Flyers would be in the NHL playoffs.
It’s still early in the 2015-2016 season. However, the Metropolitan Division has quickly taken shape. The Capitals, Rangers, and Islanders have jumped out to fast starts. The trio is separated by just one point. The Flyers, Devils, and Penguins are battling for a wild card spot. The Hurricanes and Blue Jackets are both struggling and face a huge uphill battle if they want to make the playoffs.
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