With the NHL playoffs quickly approaching, every day of the regular season has gained increased importance. Here at Sporting News we’ll keep you updated with the latest playoff positioning, the teams in the hunt, the previous days games and a look forward to tonight’s action.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Y- Boston Bruins (110 pts, 7 games remaining)
Montreal Canadiens (93pts, 6 games remaining)
Tampa Bay Lighting (91 pts, 7 games remaining)
Metropolitan Division
X-Pittsburgh Penguins (101 pts, 7 games remaining)
New York Rangers (88 pts, 6 games remaining)
Philadelphia Flyers (86 pts, 8 games remaining)
Wild Card
Detroit Red Wings (84 pts, 7 games remaining)
Columbus Blue Jackets (82 points, 8 games remaining)
In the hunt
Washington Capitals (81 pts, 7 games remaining), Toronto Maple Leafs (80 pts, 6 games remaining), New Jersey Devils (79 pts, 7 games remaining)
Toast
Ottawa Senators (78 pts, 7 games remaining)
Western Conference
Central Division
X-St. Louis Blues (107 pts, 8 games remaining)
X- Colorado Avalanche (100 pts, 8 games remaining)
X-Chicago Blackhawks (99 pts, 6 games remaining)
Pacific Division
X-Anaheim Ducks (106 pts, 7 games remaining)
X-San Jose Sharks (103 pts, 6 games remaining)
Los Angeles Kings (94 pts, 6 games remaining)
Wild Card
Minnesota Wild (89 pts, 6 games remaining)
Phoenix Coyotes (84 pts, 7 games remaining)
In the hunt
Dallas Stars (83 pts, 8 games remaining)
Toast
Vancouver Canucks (79 pts, 6 games remaining ), Nashville Predators (77 pts, 6 games remaining)
Monday recap
Ottawa Senators 2, Carolina Hurricanes 1 (SO)
Ottawa's stayed alive in the playoff hunt with a whole bunch of caveats. Yes, the Senators won, but they didn’t get help from the Panthers against the Devils. Ottawa shrunk Columbus’ lead in the wild-card hunt to four points though the Blue Jackets have a game in hand. But it's better to be the Senators than the Hurricanes right now. While not eliminated, realistically, Carolina is done.
New Jersey Devils 6, Florida Panthers 3
Short story- the Devils took care of business at home against a bad team. Long story, it took Martin Brodeur nearly setting fire to the Devils’ playoff chances for Cory Schneider to be put in. Brodeur allowed three goals on just nine shots before getting lifted. Schneider stopped all 13 shots he faced. So, we’ll see if the Devils finally wise up and start Schneider from here on out, or if sentimentality creeps in to kill their season, if it hasn’t already.
One other note for the Devils— winger Ryane Clowe was hit hard and forced to leave the contest in the second period. Clowe, who has missed 32 games with a concussion this season, did not return. It was unfortunate timing for Clowe, who had netted a goal and two assists in the game.
Anaheim Ducks 5, Winnipeg Jets 4 (OT)
The Ducks fell behind 4-1 after two periods but stormed back for a 5-4 victory in overtime. The win solidifies the Ducks position in the Pacific and puts them just a point behind the Blues for the top spot in the West, though St. Louis has a game in hand.
Meanwhile the point isn’t enough for the Jets to keep any realistic hope of the playoffs alive.
Minnesota Wild 3, Los Angeles Kings 2
The Wild solidified their hold on the first wild-card spot Monday night with their win over the Kings, snapping Los Angeles’ six game win streak. That puts Minnesota five points clear of Phoenix and six clear of the first team out of the postseason, Dallas. The Wild also got a potential boost of another kind, signing highly-touted NCAA prospect Christian Folin yesterday.
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Tuesday preview
New Jersey Devils at Buffalo Sabres
Depending on how other games go tonight, the Devils could pass both the Maple Leafs and Capitals. Facing the lowly Sabres, even on the road, two points is a necessity. You’d think Schneider gets the start tonight, but you never know.
Calgary Flames at Toronto Maple Leafs
Eight straight losses and counting, this is one of the Leafs most winnable remaining games. If they can’t pick up the two points tonight, it would be hard not to bury them, even if mathematically, they aren’t far off the pace.
Dallas Stars at Washington Capitals
It’s key game for both teams in the nation’s capital. If the Coyotes lose tonight, Dallas can seize control of the second wild-card spot in the West a win and move into a points tie (though it owns the tiebreaker) with an overtime or shootout loss. As for the Capitals, they can move into the second wild-card spot in the East with a win and Columbus regulation loss. Since Columbus already has a game in hand, a Capitals regulation loss, coupled by a Blue Jackets win, would be disastrous for Washington’s playoff hopes.
Colorado Avalanche at Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets control their playoff destiny, owing a points lead and games in hand on all their chasers for the second wild-card spot. But Columbus has a tough slate upcoming as six of its final eight games come against teams either in the playoffs or battling for a spot.
The Avs are in the playoffs and will play Chicago in the first round of the playoffs. The only question is who has home ice, though whether it matters or not with the injury to Matt Duchene, is debatable.
Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning
Speaking of home-ice advantage in the first round, the Canadiens and Lightning meet in Tampa tonight in a game that would give the winner a substantial leg up in that battle. The Habs have won five straight and maintain a two-point hold on second place in the Atlantic over the Lightning but Tampa has a game in hand.
Philadelphia Flyers at St. Louis Blues
Two teams headed for the postseason meet in St. Louis looking to improve their seedings. The Flyers trail the Rangers for two points for the second spot in the Metropolitan division though Philadelphia owns two games in hand. The Blues can extend their lead for the top spot in the West to three points with a win.
New York Rangers at Vancouver Canucks
Plenty of storylines in this matchup of two teams on opposite ends of the continent. Former Canucks coach Alain Vigneault can drive a steak in his former team’s playoff chances with a win tonight. Former Rangers coach John Tortorella can hurt his old team’s chances at securing home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Will Martin St. Louis ever score a goal for the Rangers?
Winnipeg Jets at Phoenix Coyotes
Eight points back with six to play the Jets are realistically finished. The Coyotes are not though, and can hold the final wild-card spot for now with a win tonight. A loss gives Dallas the opportunity to pass them.
Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks
Trailing the Ducks by three points in the battle for the Pacific title and having played one more game than Anaheim, the Sharks need two points tonight. Otherwise, they can start booking their flights to Los Angeles for a first-round matchup against the Kings.