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As the NHL moves to the second half of its season, there is a prominent absence from the league’s playoff picture: Canada. Entering the second half, none of the seven Canadian franchises is in position to make the playoffs. Consider this: The 1970 Stanley Cup playoffs are the only NHL postseason not to have a Canadian team (Toronto and Montreal were the only Canadian franchises). The last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup was 1993 (Montreal Canadiens). Canadian teams have made baseball's playoffs (Toronto Blue Jays) and the NBA playoffs (Toronto Raptors) in the past year. Five Canadian teams made the Stanley Cup playoffs last season (Canadiens, Senators, Canucks, Flames and Jets). Here's a look at each Canadian team's woes, with some help from war-on-ice.com. Montreal Canadiens
52 points, five points behind Penguins for second wild-card spot The Canadiens finished last season second in the NHL with 110 points, behind Carey Price, who won the Hart and Vezina trophies. They won nine consecutive games in regulation to start the season, a franchise record to open a season. Not much has gone right since. Price has played in 12 of Montreal’s 50 games (24 percent), and he is not expected back soon. Stat to know: Price led the NHL with a .931 adjusted save percentage last season (among goalies with at least 2,500 minutes of ice time). Mike Condon had a .907 adjusted save percentage in the first half this season, third lowest among goalies to play at least 30 games. Ottawa Senators
52 points, five points behind Penguins for second wild-card spot Andrew Hammond had a .941 save percentage in 23 starts last season as he led the Senators’ surge to the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. This season, the Senators have allowed 161 goals, second most in the NHL. Stat to know: The Senators had a minus-181 even-strength shots on goal differential in the first half of the season, worst in the NHL.
Vancouver Canucks
51 points, two points behind Ducks for third Pacific Division playoff spot The Canucks were eighth in the NHL with 236 goals last season. At the All-Star break this season, they had 118 goals, tied for 24th in the NHL. The Canucks are an aging team; their roster’s average age of 29.3 years is second oldest in the NHL. Three of their top four skaters in points (Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin and Radim Vrbata) and starting goaltender Ryan Miller are 34 or older. Winnipeg Jets
47 points, nine points behind Predators for second wild-card spot Last season the Jets had two goalies (Ondrej Pavelec and Michael Hutchinson) combine for a .917 save percentage and seven shutouts. This season, neither goalie has a shutout, and rookie Connor Hellebuyck leads the team with 21 starts. Stat to know: The Jets won 47.9 percent of their faceoffs in the first half of the season, third fewest in the NHL.
Calgary Flames
45 points, eight points behind Ducks for third Pacific Division playoff spot Johnny Gaudreau burst onto the scene last season with 64 points in 80 games, finishing third in the Calder Trophy voting. Gaudreau has 20 goals, nearly as many as he had last season (24), but his teammates have taken a massive step back defensively. The Flames are on pace for a minus-34 goal differential after finishing last season at plus-25. Stat to know: In the first half this season, the Flames allowed 58.2 even-strength shot attempts per 60 minutes, third most in the NHL. Edmonton Oilers
45 points, eight points behind Ducks for third Pacific Division playoff spot Connor McDavid was supposed to be the answer for the Oilers, but he spent most of the first half of the season on injured reserve. McDavid scored 12 points in 13 games before breaking his clavicle against the Flyers in November. Even with McDavid returning from injury this week, the Oilers might draft No. 1 overall for what would be the fifth time in seven years. The prize of the 2016 draft is center Auston Matthews. Stat to know: The Oilers had a minus-80 even-strength high-danger scoring-chance differential in the first half this season, third worst in the NHL. Toronto Maple Leafs
45 points, 12 points behind Penguins for second wild-card spot Coach Mike Babcock left the Red Wings in the offseason, signing an eight-year, $50 million contract with the Maple Leafs. The team traded star forward Phil Kessel to the Penguins, dampening expectations. As expected, the Maple Leafs are struggling, their 45 points are tied for third fewest in the NHL. Stat to know: The Maple Leafs averaged 14.7 missed shots per game in the first half, most in the NHL.
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