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NHL playoff picture: Kings take Jets' wild card spot; Bruins keep winning

Anne-Marie Sorvin / USA Today

The Los Angeles Kings are back in a playoff spot after their victory and a loss by the Winnipeg Jets vaulted the defending Stanley Cup champions into the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. The Boston Bruins meanwhile maintained their wild card cushion in the East with their fourth straight win.

Here's how the playoff picture looks after a busy Thursday night:

Eastern Conference

Atlantic

Team GP Points
Montreal 68 91
Tampa Bay 69 91
Detroit 66 85

The Montreal Canadiens lost to the Ottawa Senators, but the Tampa Bay Lightning only gained a point in a shootout loss to Boston.

Metropolitan

Team GP Points
N.Y. Rangers 66 91
N.Y. Islanders 69 90
Pittsburgh 67 88

The Pittsburgh Penguins moved closer to the idle New York Rangers and Islanders with a victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

Wild Card

Team GP Points
Washington 68 82
Boston 67 80
Florida 67 74
Ottawa 66 73

The Senators and the Florida Panthers also won their games to match Boston's successful evening.

Western Conference

Central

Team GP Points
St. Louis 67 91
Nashville 69 91
Chicago 67 86

The St. Louis Blues defeated the Philadelphia Flyers to pull even with the Nashville Predators, who lost to the San Jose Sharks. St. Louis has two games in hand.

Pacific

Team GP Points
Anaheim 69 91
Vancouver 67 80
Calgary 67 79

The Vancouver Canucks are in danger of dropping to third in the division after being blanked by Los Angeles.

Wild Card

Team GP Points
Minnesota 67 81
Los Angeles 67 79
Winnipeg 68 78
San Jose 68 76
Colorado 68 73

The Jets lost to the Panthers, opening the door for the Kings. The Sharks are two points behind Winnipeg after their victory over Nashville.

Race for Last

Team GP Points
Buffalo 67 44
Edmonton 68 47
Arizona 68 50
Carolina 66 58
Toronto 68 60
Columbus 67 62

Edmonton, the Arizona Coyotes and the Carolina Hurricanes all lost to maintain their draft lottery positions. The Columbus Blue Jackets moved closer to purgatory with a win over the Detroit Red Wings.

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