It’s become a favorite stat of hockey writers and broadcasters to point out that 76% of teams that are in playoff spots on Thanksgiving go onto make the playoffs. Thanksgiving is usually about the unofficial quarter-pole for the long NHL season, but by then enough dust has settled and more often than not slow starts have eliminated some from the running.
It’s a few days after Thanksgiving now, and the Penguins find themselves in the second wild card position this morning. (Though, Florida has one less game played and a regulation win for them would draw into an identical record, so it’s tight).