The Eastern Conference continues to prove they are the best in the NHL. As the regular season comes to a close in the coming weeks, multiple teams are jockeying for the top spot. Each point earned is crucial in race to get the top seed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While the teams are getting much of the attention, the race to get the Hart Trophy is also getting interesting as Sidney Crosby continues to lead despite being out indefinitely.
Crosby played so well throughout the season that he built a solid points lead in the MVP race. After suffering a broken jaw, he is considered out indefinitely, but that may not stop him from being handed the Hart Trophy at the end of the season. Even if he is unable to return this season, his first 36 games proved that he could easily earn MVP again for the second time in his career. His first trophy came in 2007. He leads the league with 56 points, five more that Steven Stamkos. He is tied with 41 assists with Martin St. Louis. With Crosby, the Penguins went on a 15-game win streak, but since the injury they are 3-2, averaging just two goals per game. There is still time for Stamkos to make a run at the points lead, but the Penguins record proves they need Crosby.
While Pittsburgh will miss Crosby come playoff time, they have wrapped up the Atlantic Division and hold a steady lead in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The focus now becomes a race for second place. The Montreal Canadiens had the worst record in the Eastern Conference at the end of the 2011-12 season. Now, they have clinched a playoff berth, sitting in second place in the conference.
Montreal defeated the Buffalo Sabres Thursday night 5-1 to clinch to spot. The Boston Bruins certainly did not help their cause as they loss to the New York Islanders, allowing Montreal to move back into first place in the Northeast Division, one point ahead of the Bruins. The race for second is expected to go back and forth between the two teams. Both made key roster upgrades that should carry them to a deep playoff run.
The Eastern Conference playoff race will only get more exciting at this point. Multiple teams sit close together in points to earn the final few spots. The New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets and Islanders will all have to play well down the stretch in order to cement their spot.
