European Conference could come down to historic playoff race

[scoop 3,426]

We are halfway through the season, and the middle of the European Conference is just about as tight as it could be. The three teams at the top have put some distance between their competitors. Third-place Riga has 46 points, with the jump down to fourth place being 10 points. While London is alone at 36 points, there are three teams tied at 35 points: Helsinki, Moscow, and Malmo.

 

It is unlikely that any of these teams will bow out of the race, even if there is a market to sell. If the standings remain as close as they are now, the end of the season will be very exciting to watch. With as close as things have been, it looks like we will be in for one of the closest 4-through-7 playoff races since the conferences expanded to eight teams. Previously, the closest the seventh place team in a conference has been to the fourth place team has been nine points. This happened most recently in Season 85 when the New York Americans finished 7th with 74 points to Seattle's 83 in 4th place. It also happened in Season 79 with Helsinki's 80 points and Moscow's 71 points. With how close things have stayed this season, I wouldn't be surprised to see fewer than five points separate the 4th and 7th place teams.