With the NHL playoffs quickly approaching, every day of the regular season has gained increased importance. Sporting News will keep you updated with the latest playoff positioning, the teams in the hunt, the previous day's games and a look forward to tonight’s action.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
X- Boston Bruins (104 pts, 10 games remaining)
Montreal Canadiens (89 pts, 8 games remaining)
Tampa Bay Lightning (87 pts, 10 games remaining)
Metropolitan Division
Pittsburgh Penguins (97 pts, 10 games remaining)
New York Rangers (86 pts, 8 games remaining)
Philadelphia Flyers (83 pts, 10 games remaining)
Wild Card
Columbus Blue Jackets (80 points, 10 games remaining)
Detroit Red Wings (80 pts, 10 games remaining)
In the hunt
Washington Capitals (80 pts, 9 games remaining), Toronto Maple Leafs (80 pts, 9 games remaining), New Jersey Devils (75 pts, 10 games remaining)
Toast
Ottawa Senators (72 pts, 10 games remaining), Carolina Hurricanes (71 pts, 10 games remaining)
Western Conference
Central Division
X-St. Louis Blues (105 pts, 10 games remaining)
Chicago Blackhawks (99 pts, 9 games remaining)
Colorado Avalanche (96 pts, 10 games remaining)
Pacific Division
X-San Jose Sharks (103 pts, 8 games remaining)
X-Anaheim Ducks (101 pts, 10 games remaining)
Los Angeles Kings (90 pts, 9 games remaining)
Wild Card
Minnesota Wild (85 pts, 9 games remaining)
Phoenix Coyotes (82 pts, 9 games remaining)
In the hunt
Dallas Stars (79 pts, 10 games remaining), Vancouver Canucks (78 pts, 8 games remaining)
Toast
Winnipeg Jets (73 points, 9 games remaining), Nashville Predators (73 pts, 9 games remaining)
Wednesday recap
New York Rangers 3, Philadelphia 1: The Rangers solidified their playoff chances with the 3-1 win, their fifth straight, moving six points clear of the four-way points tie for the Eastern Conference wild-card spots. The Flyers have now dropped two straight games, but still have some cushion in the playoff hunt. Philadelphia has a three-point edge on the four-way tie, with none of the chasers owning games in hand.
Vancouver Canucks 5, Minnesota Wild 2: The Canucks, all but written off at the trade deadline, won their third straight Wednesday and are clawing their way back into the race for the last Western Conference wild-card spot. Vancouver still has a tough road ahead as it trails Phoenix by four points and has played one more game than the Coyotes. The Stars, who are three points back of the last spot themselves, are still a point ahead of the Canucks with two games in hand.
The Wild are still likely to make the postseason- owning a six-point lead on the Stars at this point. But they could fall to the second wild-card spot as the Coyotes trail Minnesota by just three points
Anaheim Ducks 3, Calgary Flames 2: The Ducks did what they had to against the Flames, picking up the one-goal victory and shrinking the Sharks’ lead in the Pacific to two points. Anaheim still has two games in hand over San Jose.
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Thursday games
Chicago Blackhawks at Boston Bruins
This rematch of last season’s Stanley Cup finals is all about seeding. The Bruins are cruising towards the top spot in the East and can clinch the Atlantic with a win (and some help) tonight. The Blackhawks try to keep pace with the Blues, who own a six-point edge in the standings with a game in hand.
Phoenix Coyotes at New Jersey Devils
The Coyotes pulled off a solid win in Pittsburgh on Tuesday and look to continue their solid play (6-3-1 in their last 10) in New Jersey. Phoenix currently has a three-point lead on Dallas for the final wild-card spot in the West.
The Devils are on the fringes of the playoff race in the East. New Jersey finds itself five points back of the four-way tie for the wild-card spots, and does have games in hand on Toronto and Washington (but not on Columbus or Detroit). With little margin for error, the Devils need the two points tonight.
Los Angeles Kings at Pittsburgh Penguins
Two playoff teams headed in opposite directions meet in Pittsburgh Thursday. The Kings have won four straight and while they aren’t going to catch either the Ducks or Sharks for the Pacific crown, Los Angeles sits comfortably in the third spot in the division.
The Penguins are going to with the Metropolitian division, but they will probably not catch Boston for the East’s top spot. The Penguins have dropped two straight, are still banged up and need to use the final weeks of the regular season to right themselves.
Montreal Canadiens at Detroit Red Wings
The Canadiens are one of the teams in the East with the fewest games remaining, but they already have those points banked over the teams in the wild-card hunt. That means Montreal is likely playing for seeding at this point.
The Red Wings however, are fighting for the playoffs as Detroit finds itself in the four-way tie for the final spots in the East and currently sits in the second wild card due to tie breakers. The Wings can move up to the first wild card with a win. While battling numerous injuries to key players, the Wings have had others step up, including winger Gustav Nyquist, who has scored in six straight games, totaling nine goals in that span.
New York Islanders at Tampa Bay Lightning
Barring a total collapse, the Lightning are just fighting for seeding at this point.Tampa trails the Canadiens by two but have two games in hand.
Carolina Hurricanes at Florida Panthers
The Hurricanes have little chance at making the postseason, but if they want to keep those slim hopes alive, they will need to beat the Panthers tonight. Carolina blew a chance to help its cause earlier in the week, dropping a home game to the Islanders.
Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues
Depending on how the season ends, these two teams could end up opponents in the first round. This game could actually go a long way to helping that along - a Blues win would move them closer to the top seed in the West while a Wild loss could drop them closer to Phoenix, and that last wild-card spot.
Buffalo Sabres at Nashville Predators
Like the Hurricanes, the Predators’ chances at the postseason are small. And also like the ‘Canes, if the Predators want to have any hope, they will need a win against one of the league’s worst teams.
Vancouver Canucks at Colorado Avalanche
With the points and games-remaining situation Vancouver faces, it can afford no slip-ups, even against solid competition. The Avalanche are just that, having pretty much sewn up a top-three position in the Central Division. If the Canucks pull off another two points tonight, it may be time to once against take them seriously in the playoff chase.
Winnipeg Jets at San Jose Sharks
Speaking of teams on the fringes of the playoff race, the Jets could fall 11 points back of the last playoff spot with a loss and Coyotes win tonight. Unfortunately, they will have their work cut out for them against the Sharks in San Jose. The Sharks look to push their lead over the Ducks in the Pacific back to four points.
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