October can be fool’s gold in the NHL. A hot start and suddenly once-dormant fanbases start talking about the Stanley Cup playoffs. Playoffs? Yes, they have begun to speak of such things in Toronto (7-3-1), Edmonton (7-2-2) and even Ottawa (7-5), which appeared a mortal lock before the season to finish with the league’s worst record yet has won six games in a row. With the calendar turning over to November, those three teams are looking to snap playoff droughts, and one solid month at least would give them a shot. Seven of the top eight Eastern Conference teams on Nov. 1 last season made the playoffs. Only the Buffalo Sabres at 3-7-2 rallied to make it.
Things were more pliable in the Western Conference. But even though Anaheim, Vancouver and San Jose all rallied to make the postseason after being south of the No. 8 spot on Nov. 1, all were within three points at the time.
The Maple Leafs haven’t made it since 2004, the Oilers since 2006 and the Senators have missed two of the last three seasons.
– Brian McNally
