With Saturday's victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, the Ottawa Senators earned a beth in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Will the Boston Bruins or Pittsburgh Penguins get a chance to drink from the Cup? And what matchups will NHL fans see when the playoffs begin on April 15?
Saturday's final day of the 2014-15 regular season also will be the last day for many big-name players with their current teams. Trades and free agency await, the latter on July 1, and teams deemed failures will rattle their rosters in the offseason.
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We're looking at you, San Jose Sharks. Will Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau be in teal when the 2015-16 season begins?
One point and they're in. 2-1 @Senators through 40 minutes. #OTTvsPHI pic.twitter.com/moiCjP5a5e
— NHL (@NHL) April 11, 2015
Mark Stone. Again. @Senators lead 3-1... #OTTvsPHI
— NHL (@NHL) April 11, 2015
Stanley Cup Playoffs bound. See you when the postseason begins April 15, @Senators . pic.twitter.com/nbpIduvxod
— NHL (@NHL) April 11, 2015
Having lost to the New York Islanders at home on Friday, the Penguins catch a break only in playing the Buffalo Sabres at 7 p.m. ET in their finale.
Why? The Sabres have the NHL's worst record, clinched by Friday's loss . Tuesday's NHL draft lottery will decide which team gets the first overall pick on June 25. The worst finisher has the best odds of winning the pick, which likely will be used on OHL Erie stud Connor McDavid. The Sabres have the best odds of winning the McDavid derby. The Phoenix Coyotes could usurp them or settle for Jack Eichel, a Boston University standout.
But the Penguins can't expect the Sabres to roll over and play dead … nor would the NHL look favorably on that happening.
The other game that will complete the playoff field are:
Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30
The Senators clinched a playoff berth with their 3-1 victory. They can take third place in the Atlantic Division with regulation loss by the Detroit Red Wings, who visit the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. ET. The Wings would then become a wild-card team.
Simple situation for the Penguins and Bruins: win or else. They know what the Senators did. The hardest game and thus the longest odds of making the field? That would belong to the Bruins.
Other clinching scenarios involved playoff positions. Check NHL.com's set-up.
If the Stanley Cup playoffs began today, these would be the match-ups. (NOTE: First team listed has home-ice advantage; * - team has clinched playoff berth as of April 10.)
Eastern Conference
New York Rangers* vs. Pittburgh Penguins (wild card)
Montreal Canadiens* vs. Ottawa Senators (wild card)
Washington Capitals* vs. New York Islanders* (2 vs. 3, Metropolitan)
Tampa Bay Lightning* vs. Detroit Red Wings* (2 vs. 3, Atlantic)
Outside looking in: Boston Bruins
Western Conference
Anaheim Ducks* vs. Winnipeg Jets* (wild card)
St. Louis Blues* vs. Minnesota Wild* (wild card)
Nashville Predators* vs. Chicago Blackhawks* (2 vs. 3, Central)
Vancouver Canucks* vs. Calgary Flames* (2 vs. 3, Pacific)
The Blues won 4-2 Saturday, giving them 109 points. The Ducks must win or be the second seed in the West.
More
What's at stake in Saturday's games (USA Today)
For Penguins, it comes down to delivering under pressure (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
First round NHL playoff scenarios (New York Daily News)
Season on the line for Senators (Sportsnet.ca)
How Bruins' season went off course (Boston Herald)