Metropolitan Division reset

NHL.com looks at how each team shapes up entering the stretch run in the race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The NHL All-Star break has come and gone and the 10-week sprint to the Stanley Cup Playoffs begins Tuesday.
Here's a look at how the eight teams in the Metropolitan Division shape up entering the race for the postseason:

Washington Capitals

29-15-5, 63 points, 1st in division, 3rd in Eastern Conference
Remaining games: 33 (15 home, 18 away)
Special teams: Power play: 20.0 percent (15th); penalty kill: 80.2 percent (18th)
What's gone right: Their best players continue to be their best players, led by forward Alex Ovechkin, who leads the NHL with 30 goals. Goalie Braden Holtby once again ranks among the best in the League at his position, and John Carlson is a legitimate threat to win the Norris Trophy.

What's gone wrong: Injuries have limited the production of forwards T.J. Oshie (11 goals) and Andre Burakovsky (nine points in 24 games).
Needs:With rookies Christian Djoos and Madison Bowey among their top six, the Capitals could use another veteran defenseman.
Trophy hopefuls:Holtby (Vezina), Carlson (Norris), Ovechkin (Hart, Richard)
Schedule: The Capitals have a four-game road trip from Feb. 13-19 (Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild, Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres), and still have three games to play in California from March 6-10. Four of their final six regular-season games are at home.
Outlook: Given how tight the Metropolitan Division has been from the start this season, the Capitals know they have their work cut out for them if they hope to finish first. But they've once again displayed they're good enough to win it.

Columbus Blue Jackets

27-19-3, 57 points, 2nd in division, 5th in conference
Remaining games: 33 (17 home, 16 away)
Special teams:Power play: 13.7 percent (31st); penalty kill: 77.5 percent (26th)
What's gone right:Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is having another outstanding season and is among the League leaders in wins, save percentage and shutouts.
What's gone wrong:Defenseman Jack Johnson has struggled in his seventh season with the Blue Jackets and has requested a trade. He can become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
Needs:The Blue Jackets miss center Brandon Dubinsky, who has been out since Dec. 12 because of a broken orbital bone. His grit and solid two-way play will be vital for their playoff hopes.
Trophy hopefuls: Bobrovsky (Vezina)

Schedule: March opens with three games in California followed by a four-game homestand. They end March with a three-game trip to Western Canada.
Outlook: Bobrovsky gives the Blue Jackets a chance to win every night, but he needs help, particularly from his special teams. If the power play can find a way to get going down the stretch, the Blue Jackets' chances of clinching a playoff berth will be that much stronger.

Pittsburgh Penguins

27-21-3, 57 points, 3rd in division, 6th in conference
Remaining games:31 (16 home, 15 away)
Special teams:Power play: 27.1 percent (1st); penalty kill: 82.8 percent (7th)
What's gone right: Penguins center Sidney Crosby has been dominant in recent weeks after failing to score from Oct. 21-Nov. 11 (11 games) and Dec. 18-Jan. 4 (eight games). He has 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) during a nine-game point streak. Right wing Phil Kessel leads the Penguins with 58 points (21 goals, 37 assists).
What's gone wrong:Forward Carl Hagelin has four goals in 50 games. Hagelin, who has reached double digits in goals five times in his NHL career, has 10 goals in the past 112 games.

Needs: The Penguins aren't as deep at center as they have been the past two seasons following the losses of Nick Bonino and Matt Cullen in free agency last summer.
Trophy hopefuls:Crosby (Hart), Kessel (Ross)
Schedule: Pittsburgh will play 15 games in March. Thirteen of those games will be against Eastern Conference opponents.
Outlook:With Crosby finding his rhythm, it's tough to see the Penguins missing the playoffs. In goal, Tristan Jarry has performed well when called upon, and Matt Murray is battle tested.

New Jersey Devils

24-16-8, 56 points, 4th in division, 7th in conference
Remaining games: 34 (17 home, 17 away)
Special teams:Power play: 20.0 percent (14th); penalty kill: 83.6 percent (4th)
What's gone right:Left wing Taylor Hall has been outstanding in his second season with the Devils; he leads them in goals (17), assists (31) and points (48). Defenseman Will Butcher, signed as a free agent Aug. 27 after four seasons at the University of Denver, has fit in smoothly at the NHL level.

What's gone wrong:The Devils entered the All-Star break with four straight losses (0-4-0) and are 2-7-3 in their past 12 games. Center Pavel Zacha, a first-round pick (No. 6) at the 2015 NHL Draft, has three goals in 41 games.
Needs: The Devils could use another top-six forward; Drew Stafford, who signed as a free agent Aug. 25, has 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in 37 games.
Trophy hopefuls:Hall (Hart), Butcher (Calder)
Schedule:There's a six-game road trip (Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins) from March 10-23 before finishing the month with four straight home games.
Outlook:We've seen a regression to the mean from the Devils during the past few weeks after a remarkable start. If Hall doesn't get some help up front, their postseason hopes could be in jeopardy.

Philadelphia Flyers

24-17-8, 56 points, 5th in division, 8th in conference
Remaining games:33 (15 home, 18 away)
Special teams: Power play: 20.7 percent (9th); penalty kill: 75.3 percent (28th)

What's gone right:The Flyers have rebounded after a 10-game losing streak (0-5-5) from Nov. 11-Dec. 2. They are 16-6-1 since.
What's gone wrong:Forward Nolan Patrick, the No. 2 pick at the 2017 NHL Draft, has battled injuries during his rookie season and has nine points (three goals, six assists) in 40 games.
Needs:The Flyers could use another bottom-six forward to help balance their lines. They are extremely top-heavy.
Trophy hopefuls:Sean Couturier (Richard, Selke), Claude Giroux (Ross), Jakub Voracek (Ross)
Schedule:A three-game road trip from March 25-28 (Penguins, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche) could make or break the Flyers' playoff hopes. They'll play three of their final four at home, with their only road trip to the New York Islanders.
Outlook: The Flyers' chances ultimately may depend on the health of goaltender Michal Neuvirth, who has been limited to 12 starts this season because of a leg injury. Brian Elliott played well with a heavy workload in Neuvirth's absence, but finding a balance between the two will be key down the stretch.

New York Rangers

25-20-5, 55 points, 6th in division, 9th in conference
Remaining games: 32 (13 home, 19 away)
Special teams:Power play: 20.1 percent (13th); penalty kill: 81.6 percent (15th)
What's gone right: Pavel Buchnevich has emerged as a top-six NHL forward with 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 49 games.

What's gone wrong: Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, the Rangers' prized free agent signing last summer, is out indefinitely following surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee Jan. 22. Forward Chris Kreider is out indefinitely because of a blood clot in his right arm.
Needs: With Shattenkirk out the Rangers could use another defenseman to quarterback their power play. They're also thin at center beyond Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller.
Trophy hopefuls:None
Schedule: The Rangers have a four-game road trip from Feb. 11-17, then three games in Western Canada from Feb. 28-March 3. Their final four games of the regular season also are on the road.
Outlook: These aren't the Rangers we've been accustomed to seeing during the past decade. With half of their road schedule still to play and Shattenkirk injured, they could miss the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

New York Islanders

25-20-5, 55 points, 7th in division, 10th in conference
Remaining games: 32 (18 home, 14 away)
Special teams: Power play: 20.1 percent (12th); penalty kill: 73.5 percent (30th)
What's gone right:Mathew Barzal, the No. 16 pick of the 2015 NHL Draft, has been outstanding as the No. 2 center behind John Tavares. He leads NHL rookies with 51 points (16 goals, 35 assists) in 50 games.
What's gone wrong:The Islanders can't keep the puck out of their net, having allowed a League-high 179 goals. To make matters worse, they could be without defenseman Calvin de Haan for the remainder of the season because of an upper-body injury.
Needs: The Islanders are relying on inexperienced defensemen Adam Pelech, Scott Mayfield and Sebastian Aho. A veteran defenseman capable of playing top-four minutes is critical to their playoff hopes.
Trophy hopefuls:Barzal (Calder), Tavares (Hart, Richard, Ross)

Schedule:The Islanders have three games remaining outside the Eastern time zone, and finish the regular season with nine of 13 at home.
Outlook: With Tavares eligible to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, there has to be a ton of pressure on general manager Garth Snow to improve his roster before the NHL Trade Deadline. The Islanders have won one playoff series since Snow became GM in 2006.

Carolina Hurricanes

22-19-8, 52 points, 8th in division, 11th in conference
Remaining games: 33 (20 home, 13 away)
Special teams:Power play: 19.1 percent (19th); penalty kill: 77.3 percent (27th)
What's gone right:Defenseman Noah Hanifin, a first-round pick (No. 5) in 2015, has 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) in 49 games this season. He had 51 points in his first 160 NHL games.

What's gone wrong:Scott Darling has battled inconsistency in his first season as a No. 1 goaltender. Darling, who arrived via trade from the Chicago Blackhawks on April 28, has an .892 save percentage in 29 games.
Needs: Carolina could use a veteran defenseman to play alongside the likes of Hanifin, Justin Faulk, Jaccob Slavin and Trevor van Riemsdyk.
Trophy hopefuls: None
Schedule:Carolina has an eight-game homestand from Jan. 30-Feb. 13. Its longest road trip remaining is three games (Feb. 24-March 1 and March 6-12).
Outlook: The Hurricanes have a favorable schedule coming out of the break, but they're going to need more from their goaltending and young core on defense if they want to clinch a playoff berth.