Which NHL Teams on the Playoff Bubble Will Reach the 2015 Postseason?

The NHL season is at the halfway point, and for several teams, it's already life and death for the playoffs.

A long losing streak or an injury to an impact player could mean buyers turn into sellers at the trade deadline. Managers in those cities have to be ready for a buying spree if things break right in the next six weeks.

Which teams will find a way? Is your team going to be on the outside looking in? It's an open question, but there are some indications that can guide us to making an educated guess.

Here are the NHL teams on the playoff bubble, including those who will make it and why.

Boston Bruins

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Where Do They Stand?

The Boston Bruins are No. 8 in the Eastern Conference this season. They are in a tough spot because of the surging Florida Panthers. Boston has a three-point lead, but Florida has four games in hand.

Are They Trending?

The team is 5-2-3 in its last 10 and has won two in a row. After a period where several of its important players were either injured or playing their way back into game shape, the team seems to be heading in a good direction.

Will They Make It?

The Bruins will not make the playoffs without a major trade at the deadline bringing in a scoring winger. The team is still shy offensively, owing mostly to an inability to replace Jarome Iginla's goals this year. The big worry is Milan Lucic, who hasn't been scoring at his usual levels. It's going to be close, but the other bubble teams in the Eastern Conference are not going away.

Calgary Flames

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Where Do They Stand?

The Calgary Flames are in ninth place, just shy of the playoffs in the Western Conference. The team is two points out of a playoff spot and has played the same number of games as the Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets—the two teams in a wild-card spot.

Are They Trending?

The Flames are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games and have lost ground on the teams in front of them. Calgary is also vulnerable to teams like the Dallas Stars, who are surging from behind and may pass the Flames in the race.

Will They Make It?

Calgary is unlikely to keep pace with the rest of the Western Conference. Despite a phenomenal season that saw enormous progress with its young players and some exceptional first-half performances, the team doesn't have enough talent to stay in the race.

One major area of concern: The Flames don't get enough shots on net each game. If they aren't generating shots, it is impossible to create offense. Credit to this team for getting so much out of its first half, but the recent struggles will continue and it will fade from the playoff race.

Dallas Stars

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Where Do They Stand?

The Dallas Stars are the No. 10 team in the Western Conference. They have a game in hand on the Los Angeles Kings and the Winnipeg Jets, who hold down the final playoff spots. The Stars trail those teams by four points.

Are They Trending?

One of the hottest teams in the NHL currently, Dallas is 6-2-2 in its last 10 games and is on the trail of a playoff spot.

Will They Make It?

The Stars will fall shy of the postseason unless they can improve defensively. They are currently No. 28 out of 30 teams in goals-against per game, and that's a big reason for their struggles. General manager Jim Nill has been aggressive in improving Dallas since his arrival, but there's still defensive work to be done. The team will be on the outside of the playoffs this year.

Florida Panthers

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Where Do They Stand?

The Florida Panthers are the No. 9 team in the Eastern Conference at this time. They trail by three points in the race for the final playoff spot.

Are They Trending?

The Panthers are trending in a strong way. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and have four games in hand on the Boston Bruins. 

Will They Make It?

Florida will make the playoffs this season, turning the Eastern Conference on its ear. One of the main reasons is the team's goals allowed, which is currently No. 9 overall. It represents an incredible turnaround—the team was No. 29 a year ago—and points to the importance of Roberto Luongo.

Los Angeles Kings

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Where Do They Stand?

The Los Angeles Kings are currently in a tie for No. 7 overall in the Western Conference. The club is two points behind the San Jose Sharks for third place in the Pacific Division and has a game in hand on them.

Are They Trending?

The Kings are treading water, going 4-3-3 in their last 10, and they have been unable to separate from the pack in the west.

Will They Make It?

Los Angeles ranks No. 13 overall in goals scored, and that should be enough for it to get into the postseason. Its ace in the hole is general manager Dean Lombardi, who is exceptional at addressing needs at the deadline.

Last season, the team's game was offensively challenged, and Lombardi traded for Marian Gaborik, who was key to its Stanley Cup victory. Expect the Kings to make a similar move toward the deadline.

Toronto Maple Leafs

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Where Do They Stand?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are the No. 10 team in the Eastern Conference. They are technically tied with the Florida Panthers for ninth, but Florida has three games in hand.

Are They Trending?

Toronto has been up and down all year and is currently in a downward spiral that cost coach Randy Carlyle his job. The team is 2-8-0 in its last 10 games.

Will They Make It?

The Leafs are unlikely to make the postseason this year. Curtis Rush of The Toronto Star reported on the latest media availability, this time from President Brendan Shanahan.

The team is on watch for the rest of the year, and the feeling is change will occur over the summer. It's hard to imagine the Leafs players responding with a long winning streak, but stranger things have happened.

Washington Capitals

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Where Do They Stand?

The Washington Capitals are the No. 7 team in the Eastern Conference entering weekend play. The club has a two-point lead on the No. 8 Boston Bruins and two games in hand on them.

Are They Trending?

The Capitals are one of the hottest teams in the NHL currently, going 7-1-2 in their last 10 games. It's a very good indicator for the stretch run.

Will They Make It?

Washington will make the postseason this year, mostly because coach Barry Trotz has the team playing a sound defensive style. The Capitals are tied for No. 11 in the entire league for goals-against per game, marking huge progress from a year ago when they were No. 21 overall.

Winnipeg Jets

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Where Do They Stand?

The Winnipeg Jets are currently in a playoff position for 2014-15. They are tied with the Los Angeles Kings for the No. 7 spot, two points ahead of Calgary. All three teams have played 41 games.

Are They Trending?

Winnipeg isn't trending in a good or bad way. The team is 5-4-1 in its last 10 games but has lost two in a row entering weekend action, offering its fans mixed signals for the future.

Will They Make It?

The Jets are a strong club and will make the playoffs this season. They endured an incredible number of injuries during the first half of the year and maintained a playoff position during tough times.

Patrick Williams of NHL.com details the period where the Jets lost most of their defensemen and continued to flourish. The goaltending has been a key element in the team's success, and with those injured players coming back, it should be a fun spring in Winnipeg.