With the NHL playoff race heating up, we track the teams impacted by last night’s results and which of tonight’s games will affect the playoff picture.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
If the season ended today…
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (1) vs. NEW YORK RANGERS (8)
MONTREAL CANADIENS (2) vs. NEW YORK ISLANDERS (7)
WASHINGTON CAPITALS (3) vs. OTTAWA SENATORS (6)
BOSTON BRUINS (4) vs. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (5)
Who’s already clinched? Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens
Who can clinch tonight? The Boston Bruins will clinch their sixth straight post-season berth with a win or overtime loss.
What’d I miss? Despite a busy night Tuesday, things stayed status quo in the East standings.
The Toronto Maple Leafs had a chance to clinch a playoff spot with a win coupled with a Winnipeg Jets loss, however neither of those things happened. The Washington Capitals trounced the Leafs 5-1 for their eighth straight win, while the Jets topped the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in a shootout.
Jared Cowen had a big impact in his season debut for Ottawa as the Senators picked up their third straight win in regulation to remain one point ahead of the New York Islanders for sixth in the conference.
The New York Islanders continued their hot streak with a 5-2 drubbing of the Florida Panthers to remain seventh in the East, while their cross-town rival Rangers, eighth in the conference, lost a key matchup with the Philadelphia Flyers. The Rangers are now tied with Winnipeg with 46 points and would be in ninth were it not for their game in hand over the Jets.
Wednesday’s game to watch:
Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Even though they currently sit second in the conference, there is growing concern in Montreal as the team has lost three of its last four and start goalie Carey Price has allowed nine goals on his last 33 shots faced.
The Penguins remain hot despite their captain Sidney Crosby and sniper James Neal being on the shelf recovering from a broken jaw and concussion, respectively.
The two times these teams have met this season they’ve been close, exciting contests that the Penguins have won. The Pens won a 7-6 OT thriller March 2 and shut out the Habs 1-0 on March 26.
Tonight’s sked:
Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins – It will undoubtedly be an emotional night in Beantown since it’s the first game the team has played since Monday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon. If the Bruins can muster a win it will lift the spirits of Bruins fans in the city and clinch them a playoff spot; an overtime loss would also clinch a spot.
The 10th place Sabres, meanwhile are hanging on by a thread and virtually need to sweep their remaining five games to even have a realistic chance at making the playoffs.
Fun fact: The last third place team in the East to finish with more points than the fourth place team was the 2008-09 New Jersey Devils.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
If the season ended today…
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (1) vs. DETROIT RED WINGS (8)
ANAHEIM DUCKS (2) vs. ST. LOUIS BLUES (7)
VANCOUVER CANUCKS (3) vs. MINNESOTA WILD (6)
LOS ANGELES KINGS (4) vs. SAN JOSE SHARKS (5)
Who’s already clinched? Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks
Who can clinch tonight? No team can clinch a playoff spot, but the Blackhawks will clinch the top spot in the Western Conference if the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Ducks.
What’d I miss? The Minnesota Wild moved one spot ahead of the St. Louis Blues with a 5-3 win over the struggling Edmonton Oilers, who dropped their sixth straight game and their first since firing GM Steve Tambellini Monday.
The Vancouver Canucks were beaten in a shootout by the Blues but picked up one point to stay four points ahead of the Wild for the Northwest Division lead.
The San Jose Sharks beat the Los Angeles Kings 3-2 in a shootout. The Sharks pulled even with the Kings at 53 points, but the Kings still sit in fourth place since they currently own the tiebreak over the fifth place Sharks.
Wednesday’s game to watch:
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Anaheim Ducks
When the Blue Jackets started the season 5-12-3 and sat in last place in the NHL at the beginning of March, people thought this would be yet another year where the Blue Jackets would land a lottery pick in the NHL Draft.
However, the team has turned things around drastically and find themselves fighting tooth and nail for the eighth spot in the West. A win tonight, coupled with a Detroit loss, will see the Blue Jackets at No. 8 on Thursday morning.
Anaheim, on the other hand, locked up their spot in the post-season earlier this month but look to continue their momentum heading into the playoffs. A win over a streaking Columbus team would certainly be a way to do that.
Tonight’s sked:
Detroit Red Wings vs. Calgary Flames – Much like the Blue Jackets, the Red Wings desperately need a win. Their 21-season playoff streak is in serious jeopardy and a win over the lowly Flames is a must.
Fun fact: Prior to this year, the Red Wings had finished with at least at 102 points in the regular season standings for 12 consecutive seasons.
