Playoff Percentages: Here comes Tampa Bay; Isles and Kings backslide
Through the remainder of the regular season, we'll take a look at how the night's action impacts the playoff race, highlighting which teams' postseason odds went up or down significantly.
If the New York Islanders want to make the second season, they're going to have to beat the Carolina Hurricanes. Like, at least once. They've got two more tries, including a rematch Tuesday after an 8-4 whipping - their third loss to the 'Canes this season - in Brooklyn.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, meanwhile, are now a point out of a wild-card spot and have quietly picked up points in six of seven games since the trade deadline. So much for selling, eh?
Out west, the Los Angeles Kings' playoff aspirations may be in serious doubt after the St. Louis Blues secured two huge points in regulation in Hollywood.
An uncharacteristically busy Monday night saw some major swings as the race to the Stanley Cup Playoffs continues to heat up. Here they are:
Eastern Conference
| Team | Result | Playoff Chances | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | W 3-2 vs. Rangers | 29.9% | +10.2% |
| Bruins | W 6-3 vs. Canucks | 84.6% | +8.2% |
| Islanders | L 8-4 vs. Hurricanes | 26.2% | -19.5% |
Western Conference
| Team | Result | Playoff Chances | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blues | W 3-1 vs. Kings | 94.7% | +7.4% |
| Predators | W 5-4 (OT) vs. Jets | 89.6% | +7.4% |
| Kings | L 3-1 vs. Blues | 23.8% | -18.1% |
To see percentages for each team in the league, visit Sports Club Stats.