Several teams on the edge of the Eastern Conference playoff picture believe they can still make a playoff push.
But realistically, how many teams have a genuine chance?
Using data from SN Stats and the NHL, we examine the most significant playoff comebacks within the final 10 games of the regular season in the last 20 years (salary cap era).
Since 2005-06, 11 teams have reached the playoffs after being at least three points out of a playoff spot within their last 10 games. Twice, teams have overcome a five-point deficit in this timeframe, the largest comeback.
Currently, seven teams outside the playoff positions are entering their final 10 games. As more teams approach the 72-game mark, we look back at historical comebacks of three or more points, how they happened, and their playoff success.
Five Points Back
2013-14 Dallas Stars
Situation: With 10 games remaining, the Stars were five points out of a playoff spot, holding a 34-27-11 record. The Arizona Coyotes occupied the second wild card in the West with eight games left and no teams in between.
Schedule: Dallas had six road games and four home games left, including three back-to-back sets, winning the first game of each but losing the second in two instances. Their record in the last 10 games was 6-4-0, losing three of their last five in regulation.
Outcome: The Coyotes faltered, losing seven straight games from March 29 to April 12, gaining only three points in overtime losses. Dallas and Arizona played in the season`s final game, but Arizona`s slump made it irrelevant. Arizona won 2-1 but finished two points behind Dallas. The Coyotes scored 11 goals in their last eight games, while Dallas scored 31 in their final 10 and secured the second wild card.
In the first playoff round, the Stars lost to the top-seeded Anaheim Ducks in six games. Nick Bonino scored the series-winning goal in overtime for Anaheim.
2023-24 New York Islanders
Situation: Nine games remaining, the Islanders were five points out of a playoff spot. The Washington Capitals held the second wild card, and Detroit was three points ahead of New York in ninth place.
Schedule: Five of the Islanders` final nine games were at home, with only one back-to-back. They won both games in that back-to-back. They won seven of their last eight games, with their single loss in a shootout to the Rangers.
Outcome: New York`s strong finish secured a playoff spot and moved them to third in the Metropolitan Division. Washington struggled, losing four straight in early April, and Philadelphia collapsed, losing eight straight from March 24 to April 9. The Flyers dropped to 11th in the East by season`s end.
The Islanders finished three points ahead of Washington and faced Carolina in the first round. New York lost the first three games, won Game 4 in double overtime, and lost Game 5, 6-3.
Four Points Back
2005-06 San Jose Sharks
Situation: With 10 games left, the Sharks were four points out of the last playoff spot in the West, following two regulation losses. No teams were between San Jose and the eighth-ranked Edmonton Oilers.
This was before the wild card system, with the top eight teams from each conference making the playoffs. There were three divisions per conference, and division winners were guaranteed a top-three seed.
Schedule: The Sharks had a busy schedule: 10 games in 17 days, five home and five road, including three back-to-back sets where they went 6-0. Their only April losses were the first game (OT loss) and the last (shutout loss after clinching playoffs).
Outcome: The Sharks jumped to second in their division and fifth in the West, seven points above the playoff cut-off. Vancouver, initially seventh and five points ahead of San Jose, finished 4-4-2 and missed the playoffs by three points.
San Jose defeated Nashville in the first round, winning four straight after losing Game 1. In the second round against Edmonton, who upset top-seeded Detroit, San Jose won the first two games but lost the next four, being eliminated by the Oilers who reached the Stanley Cup Final.
2007-08 Washington Capitals
Situation: Division winners guaranteed top-three seeds, Washington was four points behind Philadelphia for eighth place with 10 games left. Buffalo was three points ahead of Washington, and Carolina led the division by five points over Washington.
Schedule: The Capitals faced a six-game, 12-day road trip, with four games against division rivals (Southeast Division). Washington won nine of their last 10 games and all seven against Southeast Division opponents, including two wins over Carolina.
Outcome: The Capitals finished first in the Southeast and third in the East with 94 points, tied with Ottawa and Boston (seventh and eighth seeds). Washington played Philadelphia in the first round, winning Game 1, losing the next three, winning Games 5 and 6, but lost Game 7 in overtime, 3-2.
2018-19 Colorado Avalanche
Situation: The Avalanche were four points out of the second wild card in the West with 10 games remaining in 2019. Arizona held the spot, but Minnesota and Chicago were also ahead of Colorado.
Schedule: Colorado had five home games, five road games, and two back-to-backs. They played each of the teams ahead of them, beating Chicago once in regulation, losing in OT the next night, beating Minnesota in regulation, and beating Arizona in a shootout.
Outcome: Colorado`s 7-1-2 finish made them the second-hottest team entering the playoffs. Chasing teams faltered: Chicago (4-4-2), Arizona (3-4-2), and Minnesota (3-6-0). Colorado surpassed them to grab the last wild card by four points.
Colorado faced Calgary in Round 1, winning the series 4-1 after losing the first game. In Round 2 against San Jose, they traded wins to Game 7, losing 3-2.
2007-08 Nashville Predators
Situation: Predators were four points out of the playoffs with only six games left, needing a quicker comeback than Washington`s. Colorado held the eighth seed, Vancouver was seventh, and Edmonton was just one point ahead of Nashville.
Schedule: Nashville had six games in 11 days, four road, one back-to-back at the end. They played Detroit (Presidents` Trophy winners) on the road, losing 1-0 in OT, but the rest were against non-playoff teams. They shut out Columbus twice and beat St. Louis twice.
Outcome: Nashville went 4-1-1, but Vancouver`s collapse opened the door. Colorado finished strong, Edmonton was 2-2-1. Vancouver lost seven of their last eight, falling to 11th.
Nashville faced Detroit in Round 1, losing the series 4-2, despite making it competitive after losing the first two games and winning games 3 and 4 at home. Detroit went on to win the Stanley Cup.
2006-07 New York Islanders
Situation: On April 4, 2007, the Islanders were three points out of the last playoff spot with three games remaining. Montreal held seventh, Toronto eighth, and Islanders and Hurricanes were tied. New York had a game in hand.
Eleven days prior, they were tied for eighth, but a four-game losing streak dropped them back.
Schedule: New York`s last three games were home against Toronto, and road games against Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Outcome: The Islanders won all three games, passing Toronto and Montreal for eighth. They clinched the final spot with a 3-2 shootout win over New Jersey on the last day, finishing one point ahead of Toronto. They lost to top-seeded Buffalo in five games in Round 1.
Three Points Back
2018-19 Columbus Blue Jackets
Situation: With eight games left, Columbus was three points behind Montreal for the second wild card, with a game in hand. Columbus was on a three-game losing streak, while Montreal was winning.
Schedule: Five of Columbus`s last eight games were road games, including two back-to-backs, all away. The Blue Jackets won all five road games, snapping their losing streak with a five-game win streak.
Outcome: Columbus`s 7-1-0 finish surpassed Montreal. They clinched a playoff spot in their second-to-last game.
This season, Columbus kept pending free agents Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, leading to a first-round sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who had a record-breaking regular season. In Round 2, after leading Boston 2-1, they lost three straight and were eliminated in Game 6.
2022-23 Florida Panthers
Situation: Panthers were struggling, losing four straight, and lost goalie Sergei Bobrovsky to injury. With eight games left, they were three points behind Pittsburgh for the second wild card, having played one more game.
Schedule: Four of Florida`s last eight games were home, with one back-to-back early in the stretch. They didn`t play Pittsburgh.
Outcome: Alex Lyon became the starter and won his first two games against Toronto and Montreal, starting a six-game win streak. With two games left, Florida was tied for seventh with the Islanders. Pittsburgh lost to Chicago, clinching a playoff spot for Florida with a game to spare.
The Panthers finished eighth. They upset Boston after being down 3-1, then eliminated Toronto and Carolina, before losing to Vegas in the Stanley Cup Final. This run boosted the franchise, leading to a Stanley Cup win the following season.
2012-13 Detroit Red Wings
Situation: In a shortened season, with four games left, Detroit trailed Minnesota and Columbus by three points. Red Wings had a game in hand on Minnesota and two on Columbus.
Schedule: Detroit had four games in six days, three at home, one back-to-back at home. Three opponents (Dallas, Arizona, Nashville) missed the playoffs.
Outcome: The Red Wings won all four games, allowing only three goals. Minnesota and Columbus also finished strong, but Detroit edged them out for seventh.
In the first post-Nicklas Lidstrom season, Detroit faced Anaheim, winning in seven games after being down 3-2. In Round 2, they led Chicago 3-1 but lost the next three. Chicago won the Stanley Cup, and Detroit hasn`t won a playoff series since.
2014-15 Ottawa Senators
Situation: With four games left and 92 points, Ottawa was ninth in the East, trailing Boston, Detroit, and Pittsburgh. Andrew Hammond (`Hamburglar`) was on a hot streak, winning 12 of 13.
Schedule: Over seven days, Ottawa had three road games, no back-to-backs. They played Pittsburgh, and only one opponent (Rangers) was a playoff team.
Outcome: Ottawa lost their first game of the week but won their last three, finishing in the first wild card spot ahead of Pittsburgh. Boston missed the playoffs after losing their last three. Hammond went 20-1-2 after being called up.
Ottawa played Montreal in Round 1, losing the series despite Anderson`s strong play after Hammond`s initial struggles.
