The playoff races within divisions and conferences are heating up as no team in the league has more than 18 games remaining on their schedule.
It’s a light night on the ice with only two games Monday, but here are how things stand heading into a pivotal week of action:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
If the season ended today…
(A1) Boston vs. (WC2) Columbus
(A2) Tampa Bay vs. (A3) Toronto
(M1) Washington vs. (WC1) NY Islanders
(M2) Philadelphia vs. (M3) Pittsburgh
Game to watch tonight:
The lone team from the East in action tonight is the Detroit Red Wings, who happen to be the only team in the NHL already mathematically eliminated from post-season contention. They’re playing the Colorado Avalanche, but this rivalry is nowhere close to what it was 20-plus years ago as Colorado is vying for first in the West, while Detroit has their sights set on the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft.
What’d I miss?
The Philadelphia Flyers extended their winning streak to six games and continued gaining ground on the Washington Capitals for first in the Metropolitan. Helping their cause was the Penguins and Islanders being blanked by the Sharks and Bruins, respectively. Alex Ovechkin’s latest multi-goal effort in a 4-3 win over the Wild helped the Caps maintain their hold on the division.
The Tampa Bay Lightning picked up a win at home against the Flames but were dealt some tough news that Steven Stamkos will miss the next 6-8 weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a core muscle injury.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have now won three in a row after downing the Canucks and the consolation point the Carolina Hurricanes got for losing in OT in Montreal could prove vital as they continue closing in on the Blue Jackets and Isles in the Eastern wild-card race. Columbus had a massive confidence boost after an improbable four-goal, third-period comeback Sunday against the Canucks.
– The @NHLFlyers win their sixth straight game.
– Alex Ovechkin (@ovi8) scores two in a @Capitals victory.
– The @BlueJacketsNHL complete a wild comeback.The Metro Division was on yesterday! pic.twitter.com/JO88hIsh8R
— NHL (@NHL) March 2, 2020
WESTERN CONFERENCE
If the season ended today…
(C1) St. Louis vs. (WC2) Nashville
(C2) Colorado vs. (C3) Dallas
(P1) Vegas vs. (WC1) Vancouver
(P2) Edmonton vs. (P3) Calgary
Game to watch tonight: Edmonton Oilers at Nashville Predators
Nashville had been on the outside of the playoff picture looking in for the majority of the season yet they have gone 10-5-1 in the past month to move into a wild-card spot. This game marks the end of Nashville’s five-game homestand before flying out to Minnesota for a game Tuesday.
The Oilers, meanwhile, are beginning a three-game road trip that’ll see them also go through Dallas and Chicago. Leon Draisaitl became the first player to hit 100 points this season, the second time in as many seasons he has hit the century mark. Draisaitl has 10 goals in 16 career games against the Preds so he’s usually on his A-game when these teams meet.
What’d I miss?
The Canucks did themselves no favours by losing two games in regulation over the weekend, which allowed both the Flames and Oilers to leapfrog them in the standings. Vancouver now has Nashville, Winnipeg, and Arizona breathing down their necks in the wild-card race.
St. Louis and Colorado extended their impressive winning streaks as the two best teams in the West. If Edmonton can win the two games they have in hand on Vegas, they’ll be tied for first in the Pacific.
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