But the past eight weeks have seen things tighten up.
Pacific Division clubs like Vegas and San Jose, believed to be Cup contenders entering the season, have pushed their way up the standings, pushing down teams like Vancouver and Anaheim in the process.
And while Central Division clubs currently hold the two wild-card sports, Anaheim, Edmonton, Vancouver and even Arizona have nosed their way back into the postseason conversation, which promises to make things a dog fight until the very end.
Inside the Central, that competition will continue.
While the Wild has been up and down for much of the past month, its hardly been alone in that regard.
Entering the day Sunday, no team in the division had won more than six games in its past 10. Just 11 points separate Central-leading Winnipeg from Minnesota, which holds the second and final wild card spot in the West.
Between them are three other teams: Nashville, Dallas and Colorado.
The Jets and Predators have been going back and forth for the top spot in the division. Both clubs enter Sunday with 58 points, but Winnipeg has two games in hand and has posted a 6-4-0 record in its past 10.
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Nashville is 5-3-2 during that same stretch, while Dallas -- in third place with 50 points -- is 5-4-1.
Colorado, which looked like it would be a serious division title contender early, has struggled to a 1-7-2 record over its past 10, while the Wild had seemingly righted its ship until a
5-2 loss
to the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
It wasn't long ago that the Wild sat 10th in the West, well behind the Avs and Stars for wild-card and third place positioning. But a 3-1 road trip followed by a gutsy win over Winnipeg vaulted the Wild right back into the heart of the postseason picture.
And don't forget about St. Louis, which has recovered from a brutal start and now sits just five points back of a playoff spot. While it has five teams to climb over before it reaches a postseason position, the Blues' 6-4-0 record over their past 10 has St. Louis more confident. At 43 games heading into Sunday, it also has games in hand on every team in the West.
The Blackhawks are one point behind the Blues, but have already played 47 games and have been unable to find a way to win close games this season: Chicago's nine overtime/shootout losses are more than any other team in the League.
Had the Hawks found a way to win just four of those nine games, they would sit just two points out of a playoff spot.
Regardless of where the teams stand as the second half commences, expect a tight race until the very end -- especially if the slog through divisional play continues down the stretch.
Related:
- Early-season coaching changes inside the division
- Rantanen finishes off historic first month
