Road to the Playoffs: What teams are playing for this weekend

It's a quiet Friday night in the NHL with zero games on the schedule, but it gives us all time to refresh and get set for a huge weekend of games filled with playoff implications that will set up the final four days of regular season action next week.

At this point in the schedule it's most important to keep in mind the tiebreakers. The first column you should be concerned with is regulation wins (RW) as that will be the first tiebreaker used. If teams are tied in RW, the next most important column is ROW, wins in regulation and overtime which excludes shootout victories. Then it's total wins (W) and, finally, the head-to-head record between two teams in an even number of home and away games.

With how tight so many of these races are, whether it's to just get into the playoffs, for a division title, or seeding, we may need a tiebreaker to determine finish.

As we get set for the last weekend of this regular season, we take a look at what each relevant team is still playing for.

Buffalo: Idle this weekend, the Sabres could nonetheless clinch home-ice advantage in the first round if Montreal loses both of its games in regulation, since the Canadiens then wouldn't be able to pass Buffalo in points, or in the tiebreaker. If Tampa were to lose its one weekend game in regulation, it would put Buffalo on the precipice of winning the division. If both of these results happen to the Lightning and Canadiens, the Sabres would need just one point in its final two games next week to do so. They are in control of their destiny.

Montreal: During The Masters golf tournament this weekend, Saturday will be regarded as "moving day" where players position themselves to take a run at winning the green jacket on Sunday. For the Canadiens, you could consider this their "moving weekend." With games on Saturday and Sunday, they'll come out of this weekend with just one left to play and on Monday Tampa and Buffalo will both have one game in hand. Win twice and the Canadiens will be ahead, which is crucial considering they won't be able to top either division rival in the tiebreaker. And these won't be soft touches as both of Montreal's opponents — Columbus and the Islanders — have their playoff hopes on the line.

Tampa Bay: The Lightning's tiebreaker scenario against Buffalo is interesting. They could still pass the Sabres in regulation wins, but if they fail to put another RW on the board in Saturday's matinee in Boston, they would then only be able to tie the Sabres there. The second and third tiebreakers (ROW, total wins) are also still up in the air. But there exists the possibility that a Sabres-Lightning standings tie would require a fourth tiebreaker — the head-to-head result — which the Sabres have already clinched. A loss against the Bruins would put the Lightning in a tough spot in its last two games next week against Detroit and the Rangers.

Carolina: With the division already clinched, the Hurricanes are only playing for the Eastern Conference's top seed now and home-ice advantage through at least the first three rounds. They have one game this weekend in Utah and a win would put them in great position to do so. The Hurricanes must stay ahead of the Sabres in points since Buffalo would top them in the first tiebreaker.

Pittsburgh: The Penguins clinched their playoff spot Thursday night and they are also locked into the Metropolitan Division's second seed so there is no more standings movement for them. Pittsburgh has a home-and-home series with Washington this weekend and so are playing to be the spoiler in its rival's playoff push.

Philadelphia: The NHL's third-best team since the trade deadline, the Flyers could still have a route into the post-season through the wild card, but their best bet is to hang on to third in the Metro because they start the weekend ahead of their competition for that spot, but behind everyone chasing a playoff spot in regulation wins. Philadelphia must stay ahead of the Islanders, Blue Jackets and Capitals in standings points since the tiebreaker is out of reach (it could still pass the Blue Jackets in RW, but trail them by two). Philly's one weekend game is Saturday night in Winnipeg before it finishes up with a tough back-to-back at home against Carolina and Montreal next week.

Boston: The Bruins play twice this weekend against tough or playoff-desperate competition (Saturday vs. Tampa Bay, Sunday at Columbus) but all they need is two points to clinch a playoff spot. They're also still trying to hold off the hard-charging Senators, who are right behind them in the second wild-card spot.

Ottawa: The Senators could clinch as early as Saturday if they beat the Islanders on the road in their afternoon game and Detroit follows up with a loss of any sort later that night. If the Sens lose Saturday in extra time and Detroit wins, the Senators could still clinch a playoff spot with a win Sunday in New Jersey. They're in full control of the tiebreaker, so are in a great spot to finish the job soon.

Detroit: Without the ability to still get in through a top-three division spot, the Red Wings' path to the playoffs is extremely narrow and out of their control. Detroit has one game this weekend Saturday at home to New Jersey, which is a must-win situation. Even if Detroit wins every one of its final three games on the schedule it'd still need Boston or Ottawa to stumble to squeak in.

NY Islanders: There are still two routes the Islanders have to the post-season: they could track down the Flyers for third in the Metro, or catch Ottawa for the wild card. Boston is mathematically still within reach, but a long shot at best. Their best chance is through the Metro since they would win a tiebreaker over the Flyers and have a decided advantage there over the Blue Jackets with three games left. New York's first game with Peter DeBoer behind the bench was a 5-3 win over Toronto in which it outshot the Leafs 44-16. Can it continue to benefit from a coaching bump this weekend where it has back-to-back home games against Ottawa and Montreal?

Columbus: Like the Islanders, Columbus' best chance is through the Metro since it also holds a tiebreaker advantage over the Flyers. However, the Blue Jackets enter the weekend having lost momentum, with a 2-7-1 record over their past 10 after making a charge from the East's basement in the second half of the season. The Blue Jackets play in Montreal Saturday, then home to Boston on Sunday and need to get some points on the board. If they can, there would be a potential huge finale next week — but the odds are against the Jackets now.

Washington: Another team trying to get in through the Metro, the Capitals has the most work to do here but, interestingly, they have already clinched the first tiebreaker over any other team vying for the Metro's third spot. Just a tie for third with anyone will get them in. Starting the weekend three points out, how fitting that a Saturday-Sunday home-and-home with Pittsburgh will determine if Washington is still in the race come Monday.

Colorado: There isn't anything left to play for as the Avalanche clinched the Presidents' Trophy already this week. The main goal for them, then, will be to stay healthy and prepare for Round 1 against whichever wild card team is "unlucky" enough to earn their way into the last playoff spot. Colorado's only weekend game is against Vegas, which has lots left to play for.

Dallas: The Stars' first-round series with Minnesota is the only locked-in matchup so far, but who gets home-ice advantage is still to be determined. For that, Dallas is firmly in control after defeating Minnesota in regulation on Thursday, but it still needs to take care of business. The Stars host the lowly Rangers on Saturday and can clinch second in the Central with a win in any fashion.

Minnesota: Thursday's loss to Dallas will likely be the decisive game that puts the Wild third in the Central, but there's an outside shot they could still catch the Stars. Minnesota will need a lot of help from Dallas, of course, but if the Stars lose to the Rangers and the Wild beat Nashville on Saturday, it will at least make it interesting heading into the final week. Minnesota would have to pass Dallas in points outright since the Stars have already clinched the tiebreaker between the two.

Edmonton: Winners of eight of their past 12, the Oilers have been the NHL's third-best team by points percentage since March 15 and, the hope is they're turning a corner in preparation for the playoffs. After beating Vegas in OT last month, a regulation loss to the Golden Knights last weekend made this a three-team race for the Pacific Division title instead of a showdown between Edmonton and Anaheim. Still, the Oilers are in full control here, having already clinched a tiebreaker over the Ducks (by way of RW) and Golden Knights (by way of ROW since Vegas can only tie Edmonton in RW). The Oilers play one game this weekend, in Los Angeles. Edmonton can't clinch the division this weekend, but a win would keep it in the driver's seat and do a lot of damage to the Kings' playoff chances, a team the Oilers have met in the first round four years in a row.

Vegas: Like Edmonton, the playoff-tested Golden Knights might be getting hot at just the right time, earning 11 of a possible 14 points in their past seven games. They will need to pass the Oilers in standings points if they are to win the Pacific, though, as the tiebreaker is out of reach. Vegas' only weekend game is on the road in Colorado.

Anaheim: In control of this division not all that long ago, the Ducks went on a six-game losing streak they snapped on Thursday night when they won 6-1 over San Jose. That win kept them in this race, but they're in an unfavourable tiebreaker scenario. The Ducks host Vancouver on Sunday, so anything short of two points this weekend would be a massive disappointment. They haven't clinched a playoff spot yet, but would do so with a win and a regulation Kings loss this weekend. Anaheim is still fighting for three different things: the Pacific Division title, home-ice advantage in Round 1 with the divisional two-seed, or a third-place spot in the division to avoid the wild card and a first-round matchup against Colorado.

Utah: The Mammoth clinched a playoff spot this week (congratulations), but still have one thing left to play for. Utah can't catch Minnesota for a divisional spot ahead of it, but with one more point it will lock itself into the West's first wild-card spot. That would ensure the Mammoth a Round 1 matchup against the winner of the Pacific instead of the Presidents' Trophy-winning Avalanche. Utah hosts Carolina Saturday and plays in Calgary on Sunday.

Los Angeles: The Kings come into the weekend in control of the West's second wild card, one point up on Nashville with one game in hand as well. However, with only 20 regulation wins their tiebreaker situation is terrible — the fewest regulation wins a team has made the playoffs with is 29. The Kings just have to be on par with Nashville the rest of the way, but have a tough home matchup against Edmonton on Saturday. Los Angeles does, however, have the second-easiest remaining strength of schedule, with Seattle, Vancouver and Calgary on deck next week — all on the road.

Nashville: We laid it out for you above, but the Predators have played one more game than the Kings and trail them by a point. However, they just need to tie Los Angeles to get in. Nashville, like Los Angeles, has a tough Saturday matchup when it hosts Minnesota. After that, the Preds' schedule finish is also more difficult than Los Angeles', with San Jose and Anaheim up next week.

Winnipeg: Three straight regulation wins have kept the Jets hanging on for dear life in the playoff race, though hopes are fading. If there's a silver lining it's that their 28 regulation wins are currently the most of any team wrestling for a wild-card spot, so they have a good tiebreak setup. Still, three points back of the Kings and two back of the Predators, Winnipeg's going to need some help. The Jets host the Flyers on Saturday in what should be a playoff atmosphere for both. You'd also think they'll need to win at least three of their last four games. Vegas, Utah and San Jose are up after Philadelphia next week.

San Jose: A run of inconsistency has put the Sharks on the back foot. A six-game losing streak in March seemed to knock them out, but then they followed that with five wins in six games to get back in the running. However, two more regulation losses this week to Edmonton and Anaheim have the Sharks chasing from a four-point deficit that will be difficult to climb out of in their last four games. San Jose hosts Vancouver on Saturday in a must-win game. A loss can't mathematically eliminate them, but it would put them on the edge and basically force them to win out in all three road games next week to even have a chance.