It's Thanksgiving week in the United States.
That means big meals and heavy prep are on their way to kitchens and dining rooms across the country, but to those who consider themselves hockey types, there's more.
Recent NHL history suggests any team in a playoff position through the holiday week—the quarter-pole of the season—is in a particularly good position when it comes to holding on to that place when the season's end arrives in the spring.
That's familiar news in a lot of cities around the league.
Six of the eight teams now in a playoff spot in the two conferences were in the tournament in 2023-24, including both of last season's top seeds—the New York Rangers and the Dallas Stars—and the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.