As NHL teams compete for Stanley Cup playoff positioning, some division leaders face questions about their postseason durability. According to Yahoo Sports analysis, several teams currently at or near the top of their divisions are new to those standings and lack playoff experience.
The concern centers on whether these division leaders can maintain their regular season success when facing the intensity and pressure of playoff hockey. Teams that have climbed to division-leading positions for the first time may find the playoff environment significantly different from regular season play.