The NHL season resumes Wednesday after a 20-day Olympic break that saw 143 players compete in Italy, with Team USA capturing gold in dramatic overtime fashion. As the league returns, the Tampa Bay Lightning enter as the clear Stanley Cup favorites, riding a five-game winning streak and holding a 99% playoff probability. Their surge has been driven by Nikita Kucherov's league-leading 91 points and Andrei Vasilevskiy's .920 save percentage.

Several teams face uncertainty after Olympic participation. The Montreal Canadiens hold an 86.5% playoff chance with their eighth-best points percentage since 2026 (.667), fueled by Jakub Dobes' recent six wins in seven starts. The Detroit Red Wings have overcome secondary scoring issues, with 13 different players recording goals since January and James van Riemsdyk contributing 14 points in 17 games. The Buffalo Sabres enter at 70.1% playoff probability but may have been most affected by the break.

The Lightning's path faces potential obstacles with injuries to key players. Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli were too injured to compete for Team Canada, while Victor Hedman suffered an injury in warmups for Sweden. These health concerns, combined with the emotional toll of Olympic competition, could impact Tampa's dominance as the playoff race intensifies.