Christmas may be new Thanksgiving as NHL playoff barometer


              New York Rangers center Filip Chytil (72) loses a blade during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
            
              The puck defects off of Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) as Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
            
              Los Angeles Kings center Jaret Anderson-Dolan, left, chases the puck while under pressure from Seattle Kraken right wing Daniel Sprong during the third period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
            
              In this photo shot with a wide angle lens, Colorado Avalanche goaltender Pavel Francouz looks back to see the puck on the goal line but the play was ruled no goal as the goal had come off its moorings before the puck crossed the line during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
            
              Tampa Bay Lightning center Vladislav Namestnikov (90) celebrates his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs with center Ross Colton (79) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
            
              Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews (34) shoots as Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider (53) and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot (8) defend in the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 28, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
            
              Calgary Flames' Elias Lindholm (28) skates the puck around Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov (37) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
            
              Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore, right, collides with Seattle Kraken right wing Jordan Eberle (7) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Christmas may be new Thanksgiving as NHL playoff barometer