Who would have thought that one of the craziest race in the NHL at this time would be happening at the bottom of the standings?
Last night, the Chicago Blackhawks managed to play troublemakers to the Flames, getting the 4-3 win in Calgary. The Flames are running out of time to clinch a playoff spot, playing against the Winnipeg Jets later today in a battle for the last wild-card spot in the Western conference. With the two points they earned last night in Calgary, the Blackhawks, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Anaheim Ducks are now in a three-way tie with 56 points in the race for 32nd place and the best draft lottery odds. But there is a new leader in the Connor Bedard sweepstakes as Corey Masisak of the Athletic points out:
“Anaheim was the only team that didn’t play Tuesday, but the Ducks moved into pole position for the Connor Bedard Grand Prix, but only by a tiebreaker. By virtue of having the fewest regulation wins (13), the Ducks are officially in last place.”
Last week, the Hawks held the prized spot of the best odds in the upcoming draft lottery. But now, the Ducks have landed in the best position.
All four teams aforementioned by Masisak above have five games left to the 2022-23 season. As the reporters reminds fans: “The 32nd-placed team has a 25.5 percent chance at the No. 1 pick, the 31st team a 13.5 percent, 30th 11.5 percent and that continues to drop to three percent for the 11th-placed team.”
While Bedard keeps blowing us away in the first round of the WHL playoffs, recording a goal and two primary assists, NHL fans are focused on which team will land him at the draft lottery.
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