The NHL playoff push is our regular look at the post-season picture as the battle to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs intensifies.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
If the season ended today…
(M1) vs. 
(WC2)
(A1) vs. 
(WC1)
(M2) vs. 
(M3)
(A2) vs. 
(A3)
More: How the Stanley Cup Playoffs format works
Series we’d love to see: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings. What impact will Jonathan Drouin have on the Lightning this time around in the playoffs? The disgruntled 2013 third-overall pick was recalled by Tampa Bay on Thursday morning with the hope that he’ll add an offensive boost after a recent rash of injuries to the Lightning.
The 21-year-old Drouin was scoreless in six playoff games last season for Tampa Bay and posted a minus-six rating. With Steven Stamkos out of the lineup for one to three months due to a blood clot in his right arm, this is the time to shine for Drouin should they match up against the red-hot Red Wings.
What’d I miss? Detroit won its third straight game Wednesday night, shutting out the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0. The win gave the Red Wings a cushion for third place in the Atlantic with two games remaining. Detroit is now two points ahead of the Bruins.
Thursday’s game to watch: Detroit Red Wings vs. Boston Bruins. A must-win game for the Bruins. A win over Detroit and a Flyers loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs puts Boston in the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. If the Bruins beat the Red Wings on Thursday, the two clubs would be tied with 93 points, although Detroit would have a higher regulation and overtime wins (ROW) and thus the edge in the Atlantic.
If any team has a slight advantage in the three-way race for the final two playoff spots, it’s the Flyers, who have three games remaining on their schedule. The Red Wings would clinch one of those two berths with a win over Boston.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
If the season ended today…
(C1) vs. 
(WC2)
(P1) vs. 
(WC1)
(C2) vs. 
(C3)
(P2) vs. 
(P3)
Thursday’s game to watch: St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks. As it stands right now, these two teams would face each other in the first round of the playoffs. A Blues win on Thursday and a Dallas Stars loss to the slumping Colorado Avalanche would move St. Louis into first place in the Central Division. The Blues, who have won two in a row, will have a tough task against Chicago, which has won five of its last six games and scored 17 goals in its last three games.
The Stars will clinch the Central and the West’s No. 1 seed with a win over Colorado and a Blues loss to Chicago in regulation.
What’d I miss? Colorado’s loss on Monday eliminated them from the NHL playoffs. All that’s left in the Western Conference is who plays who in the first round.
Tonight’s Games
