6 Teams With Chance To Break Losing Cycle With Strong Second Half

Some teams in the NHL enjoy sustained success, but others can't get their rebuild or retool right and miss the playoffs for many years in a row. Some are more unfortunate than others because teams that were in similar positions pass them by and are contenders first. Much of the NHL standings are close and there are certain teams in great position to finally get over the hump into the playoffs, but strong second half performances can get others who have had a rough go in finally as well.

Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings arguably have the best chance at finishing in a playoff spot. They're tied for fourth in the league and first in the Eastern Conference with 47 points in 38 games, which has them at nine games over .500, on a three game win streak, and having won eight of their last 10. They have space to add, their stars are playing like it, and some key young players have stepped into big roles that are really helping. One big change this season is a good number one goalie in John Gibson with a strong backup in Cam Talbot to cover for any bad stretches. Detroit hasn't made the playoffs in the past nine seasons.

Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks have been rolling since the start of the season and are tied for the lead in the Pacific Division with 44 points. The LA Kings are the closest team that could kick them out at 39 points. The Ducks have a ton of cap space as well, are deep at every position, and have plenty of talent throughout that has stepped up all at once and combined well for them. After taking a big step last season, Joel Quenneville was hired and the team expectedly took another big step. Anaheim has missed the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons.

Utah Mammoth

The Utah Mammoth have made some big trades over the past two years and really formed a strong team outside of their bottom-6. They have had to get through injuries, but have the team build to get into the playoffs. The West is weak and they are holding down a wildcard spot at .500. Utah is coming out of a bad stretch in which they started to fall and let teams catch up, but it didn't hurt their chances too much. They have shown that they can go on a hot run and have the talent to do so. The Mammoth/Arizona Coyotes have missed the playoffs the last five years, but made the playoffs just once in the past 13 seasons.

San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks have seemingly had the biggest turnaround and are the team among this group that wasn't expected to take this step to the playoffs just yet. The Sharks have lost three games in a row, but are two points out of a playoff spot in the West with two games in hand. Macklin Celebrini is a superstar, some of the other young guys and a few of the veterans have stepped up, but the edges are really rough. They have a ton of cap space to do something and break through, but it might turn out to be just a little ahead of time. San Jose hasn't seen playoff action in six seasons.

Buffalo Sabres

When you think about the Buffalo Sabres and playoffs, you have to go back a long way. They have missed 14 years in a row and it was really looking bad for the first 30 games. The team even fired their GM, but have rattled off seven wins in a row and just two points out of a playoff spot at four games above .500. The new GM isn't afraid of big trades to bring in talent, so that could be on the horizon to give Buffalo an even better chance. A team doesn't need to break their playoff drought more than Buffalo.

Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets were a surprising team to already make an addition in Mason Marchment, but as with every team in the East, they have a solid shot at going on a win streak and getting into good playoff positioning. The Blue Jackets may be last in the East, but are .500 and are six points out of it. In the second half of the season, we'll see more Jet Greaves, who has proven to be the better goalie, and some of the players look to come out of slumps and mid performances. They may still end up selling, but they're trying to win at the moment. Columbus hasn't made the playoffs in the last five seasons.

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