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The NHL is at the halfway mark of the 2024-25 regular season, and The Hockey News is taking this moment to examine the biggest shocks and surprises so far this year.
On Wednesday, we focused on the league’s biggest shocks, and in today’s file, we’re breaking down the most positive surprises this season.
Few people gave the Flames any chance to do something good this season, and it’s easy to see why. Beginning last year, Calgary GM Craig Conroy began tearing down his roster by trading defensemen Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov and Noah Hanifin and center Elias Lindholm. While more trades could be coming, the Flames have shown some serious determination to avoid finishing at or close to the bottom of the Pacific Division, going 19-14-7 this season.
Calgary is still going to have an uphill battle to outlast Pacific powerhouses in Vancouver, Edmonton, Los Angeles and Vegas, but the Flames’ strong first half means they’ll be playing meaningful hockey for at least the next couple of months. The Flames are still a team in transition, but the fight to stay relevant has warmed the hearts of Calgary fans, and because of that, the Flames could still surprise the hockey world and qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs this season.
Admit it – you didn’t think the Blue Jackets would be anywhere except the bottom of the Metropolitan Division this year. But since Nov. 17, Columbus has gone 12-8-4 and 6-2-1 since Dec. 18. That’s pushed them up the standings into the second wild-card slot.
They still have plenty of competition for that spot – seven teams below them all are within five standings points – but at a time when the Jackets need as much good news as it can get, having a solid hot streak could do wonders for the rest of Columbus’ season.
The Blue Jackets have the NHL’s fifth-best offense at 3.37 goals-for per game, but they also have the league’s second-worst defense (averaging 3.61 goals-against per game) and the fifth-worst penalty kill (72.9 percent efficiency). So the challenge is clear for them – clean up their play in their own zone, and they can continue rising through the ranks. One of the wild-card slots are very much up for grabs, and that should be thrilling for Jackets fans.
Related: Should The Columbus Blue Jackets Push For The Playoffs By Trading For Upgrades?
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