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.
X-clinched playoff, Y-clinched division
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Y- Boston Bruins (113 pts, 4 games remaining)
X-Montreal Canadiens (97pts, 3 games remaining)
X-Tampa Bay Lightning (93 pts, 4 games remaining)
Metropolitan Division
Y-Pittsburgh Penguins (105 pts, 3 games remaining)
X- New York Rangers (91 pts, 3 games remaining)
Philadelphia Flyers (89 pts, 4 games remaining)
Wild Card
Detroit Red Wings (88 pts, 4 games remaining)
Columbus Blue Jackets (87 points, 4 games remaining)
In the hunt
New Jersey Devils (84 pts, 3 games remaining), Toronto Maple Leafs (84 pts, 3 games remaining), Washington Capitals (83 pts, 4 games remaining)
Western Conference
Central Division
X-St. Louis Blues (111 pts, 4 games remaining)
X- Colorado Avalanche (107 pts, 4 games remaining)
X-Chicago Blackhawks (105 pts, 3 games remaining)
Pacific Division
X-Anaheim Ducks (110 pts, 3 games remaining)
X-San Jose Sharks (107 pts, 3 games remaining)
X-Los Angeles Kings (96 pts, 3 games remaining)
Wild Card
Minnesota Wild (94 pts, 3 games remaining)
Dallas Stars (87 pts, 4 games remaining)
In the hunt
Phoenix Coyotes (86 pts, 4 games remaining)
Monday recap
Calgary Flames 1, New Jersey Devils 0
The immediate impact of the Flames victory was felt across the river in Manhattan, where the Rangers officially clinched a playoff spot. It also gives a little bit of hope to the Maple Leafs, though they’ll need to actually win games to make the playoffs. The bottom line is the Devils trail the Blue Jackets for the final playoff spot in the East by three points with just three games remaining. Columbus also has a game in hand.
Minnesota Wild 1, Winnipeg Jets 0
The Wild got the one goal they needed to extend their lead on the Stars to seven points and the Coyotes to eight. While nothing has been clinched officially yet, the Wild are going to end up in the playoffs, likely as the first wild-card team.
Anaheim Ducks 3, Vancouver Canucks 0
The night of shutouts finished in Vancouver, which is appropriate since the Canucks now officially have been shut out of the playoffs for the first time 2007-08 season. Ducks goalie John Gibson, of the ripe old age of 20, made 18 saves in his NHL debut.
Ducks G John Gibson (20 yrs, 297 days) is youngest G since Darren Puppa (11/1/85, 20 years, 223 days) to record a shutout in his NHL debut.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) April 8, 2014
In terms of the standings, the Ducks move to within a point of the Blues, though St. Louis has a game in hand. The Ducks are also three clear of the Sharks with both teams having three to play.
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Tuesday preview
Detroit Red Wings at Buffalo Sabres
Despite all the injuries, the Red Wings are on the cusp of the postseason. With 88 points, four more than the Devils and Leafs and five more than the Capitals, Detroit will be in the playoffs barring a total collapse (and even then, it still might get in). Still, there’s no question the Wings will want to avoid the Bruins in the first round and with just a one-point lead on the Blue Jackets for the first wild-card spot, Detroit needs a win tonight against the lowly Sabres.
Carolina Hurricanes at New York Rangers
The Rangers are in thanks to the Devils’ loss yesterday. But where they’ll be in the first round is still very much up in the air. The Blueshirts could finish anywhere from second in the Metropolitan to the last wild-card spot in the East. A win against Carolina would put the onus on Philadelphia to keep pace tonight- the Rangers lead them by two points in the standings and the Blue Jackets by four.
Phoenix Coyotes at Columbus Blue Jackets
Speaking of Columbus, it hosts another playoff-hungry team tonight. The Blue Jackets have cushion now over the chasers for the last wild-card spot and, with a game in hand over the Devils and Maple Leafs, the Blue Jackets can all but eliminate them with a win tonight.
Phoenix is one point behind the Stars for the last spot in the West with both teams level on games played. The Stars are in action Tuesday as well, so it will be an important night in the hunt for the West’s final wild-card spot.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning
The Maple Leafs collapse could be completed tonight. A loss in regulation tonight, coupled with Columbus getting anything, and it’s curtains on the Leafs season. The Leafs could also be ousted with an overtime or shootout loss along with a Blue Jackets win and Detroit point.
The Lightning are chasing the Canadiens for home-ice advantage in the first round of their playoff series. Tampa trails the Canadiens by four points with a game in hand.
Philadelphia Flyers at Florida Panthers
The Flyers can make their playoff appearance official tonight with a win. But since the playoffs are likely anyway, the key here is seeding. The Flyers are two points back of home ice in the first round and two points up on the last wild-card spot. Philadelphia will be without center Zac Rinaldo for four games after his suspension on Monday.
Washington Capitals at St. Louis Blues
The Capitals are a point back of the Devils and Leafs yet because of their game in hand on those two teams, the Capitals are the best positioned of the chasers to make a run at Columbus. Unfortunately that game in hand is against the Blues, in St. Louis. The Caps can even be eliminated tonight with a regulation loss, depending on what happens with the Blue Jackets and Red Wings.
The Blues are fighting for the top seed in the West and can extend their lead over the Ducks back to three points with a win. Depending on what happens with the Bruins, a victory could also move the Blues into a tie for the President’s Trophy.
Boston Bruins at Minnesota Wild
The Wild can clinch a playoff spot and the first wild-card spot with a win. The Bruins already have the top spot in the East locked up but can definitely stay ahead of the Blues in the race for best record with a win Tuesday.
Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars
The Predators are all but eliminated and the Stars can make that official with a victory tonight. A win would also keep Dallas in front of the Coyotes for the final playoff spot in the West.
Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers
The Avalanche don’t have much shot at catching the Blues for the Central Division crown as they trail by four points with each team having four games to play. The Avs also lead the Blackhawks by two in the battle for home-ice advantage in the first round.