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…
Who’s already clinched? Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers
Who can clinch tonight? The Flyers would clinch a playoff spot if they defeat the Florida Panthers in any fashion.
What’d I miss? The New Jersey Devils’ playoff chances took a significant hit with a 1-0 loss to the Calgary Flames at home. It was a crucial two points to give up as the Devils sit three points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets and four behind the Detroit Red Wings in the wild card standings with just three games to play. Both Columbus and Detroit have a game in hand. The New Jersey loss did at least help a division rival, as the New York Rangers were able to lock up a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season.
Tuesday’s game to watch: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Tampa Bay Lightning — The Leafs’ playoff chances are on life support after Saturday’s ugly loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Essentially, they need to run the table (three games to play) with Columbus losing three of their final four games in regulation (Phoenix, at Dallas, at Tampa Bay and at Florida) to make the playoffs. Good luck with all that. Tampa Bay, on the other hand, still has playoff implications left to play for, despite already clinching a spot. The Bolts are primed for a first-round matchup with the Montreal Canadiens and hope they can steal home ice. It will be tough as Tampa — which only has four games left on its schedule — remains four points behind Montreal with a game in hand, and the Habs own the tiebreaker.
Fun fact: Leafs goalie James Reimer has not registered a win in a game he has started since Jan. 21.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
If the season ended today…
Who’s already clinched? St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks, Los Angeles Kings
Who can clinch tonight? The Wild would clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs if they get at least one point against the Boston Bruins OR if Phoenix Coyotes lose to the Columbus Blue Jackets in any fashion or defeat the Blue Jackets in a shootout OR if the Dallas Stars lose to the Nashville Predators in any fashion. Simple, right?
What’d I miss? The Anaheim Ducks rebounded from a poor effort in Edmonton to shut out the Vancouver Canucks in John Gibson’s first career NHL start. He made 18 saves in a 3-0 victory. Anaheim’s win ended hope for Vancouver; the Canucks are mathematically eliminated, sitting six points out of a playoff spot with three games left to play. With the win, the Ducks matched a franchise record in points (110 in 2006-07), while Vancouver will not qualify for the post-season for the first time in six seasons. Like Anaheim, The Minnesota Wild relied on a strong goaltending in a 1-0 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Ilya Bryzgalov registered his second consecutive shutout and is now 6-0-3 as a member of the Wild. He has a .929 save percentage and a goals-against average of 1.67 since he was acquired from Edmonton for a fourth-round pick at the trade deadline. Somewhere, Paul Holmgren just punched his computer. The victory gave Minnesota a serious cushion in the wild card standings. The Wild are on the verge of clinching a playoff spot, with a seven-point lead over the Dallas Stars, who currently hold the final wild card position.
Tuesday’s game to watch: Nashville Predators @ Dallas Stars — The Preds are still mathematically alive, but their playoff chances would officially expire with a regulation loss. Dallas enters the game six points up on the Preds with four games left on its schedule, but the Stars’ bigger concern is the looming Coyotes. Phoenix is just one point behind Dallas in the standings, and the Stars cannot afford to waste another opportunity after blowing a two-goal lead in a loss to the lowly Florida Panthers. The Stars will be pleased to return home, where they are 6-0-1 in their past seven games.
Fun fact: Gibson became the youngest goalie since Daren Puppa (20 years, 223 days) to record a shutout in his NHL debut.
The rest of tonight’s schedule:
Phoenix @ Columbus: Both teams in the midst of contested wild card battles.
Boston @ Minnesota: Can the Wild beat the East’s top team on a back end of a back-to-back?
Washington @ St. Louis: Blues in Presidents’ Trophy race while Caps hoping to keep slim playoff hopes alive.
Philadelphia @ Florida: Columbus closing on Flyers, so they cannot take the Panthers lightly.
Colorado @ Edmonton: One rebuild has worked far better than the other.
Detroit @ Buffalo: The Sabres have lost their last six games to Detroit.
Carolina @ N.Y. Rangers: Hurricanes to miss playoffs for fifth straight year.
