NHL playoff picture: 2 spots available in East on final day
The Pittsburgh Penguins squandered their latest opportunity to clinch a playoff spot by losing 3-1 to the New York Islanders on Friday night, setting the stage for a regular-season finale with two Eastern Conference playoff berths on the line.
Here's how the playoff picture looks after two games on Friday:
(X - clinched playoff berth; Y - clinched division; P - clinched Presidents' Trophy)
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| X - Montreal | 81 | 108 |
| X - Tampa Bay | 81 | 106 |
| X - Detroit | 81 | 98 |
The Montreal Canadiens can clinch the division with a point, while the Detroit Red Wings need at least a point Saturday to ensure they hang onto third place. The Canadiens face the Toronto Maple Leafs on the final night of the regular season. The Red Wings visit the Carolina Hurricanes.
Metropolitan
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| P - N.Y. Rangers | 81 | 111 |
| X - Washington | 81 | 101 |
| X - N.Y. Islanders | 81 | 100 |
Home-ice advantage against the Washington Capitals is possible for the Islanders, who end their season against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Capitals face the New York Rangers.
Wild Card
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Ottawa | 81 | 97 |
| Pittsburgh | 81 | 96 |
| Boston | 81 | 95 |
The Boston Bruins have a must-win game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but the Penguins can put themselves out of reach if they defeat the Buffalo Sabres. The Ottawa Senators need one point against the Philadelphia Flyers to clinch.
Current Matchups
Montreal (A1) vs. Ottawa (WC1)
Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Detroit (A3)
NY Rangers (M1) vs. Pittsburgh (WC2)
Washington (M2) vs. NY Islanders (M3)
Western Conference
Central
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Y - St. Louis | 81 | 107 |
| X - Nashville | 81 | 104 |
| X - Chicago | 81 | 102 |
The Nashville Predators own the tiebreaker against the Chicago Blackhawks, who need a point against the Colorado Avalanche to ensure they finish third in the division. The St. Louis Blues are deadlocked with the Anaheim Ducks for top spot in the conference.
Pacific
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Y - Anaheim | 81 | 107 |
| X - Vancouver | 81 | 99 |
| X - Calgary | 81 | 97 |
Home-ice in the opening round of the playoffs is a possibility for the Calgary Flames, but only if the Vancouver Canucks lose in regulation in their season-finale against the Edmonton Oilers.
Wild Card
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| X - Minnesota | 81 | 100 |
| X - Winnipeg | 81 | 97 |
The Minnesota Wild are tied with Anaheim for the most regulation and overtime wins in the conference (42).
Current Matchups
St. Louis (C1) vs. Minnesota (WC1)
Nashville (C2) vs. Chicago (C3)
Anaheim (P1) vs. Winnipeg (WC2)
Vancouver (P2) vs. Calgary (P3)
Race for Last
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 81 | 54 |
| Arizona | 81 | 56 |
| Edmonton | 81 | 61 |
| Toronto | 81 | 67 |
| Carolina | 81 | 71 |
The bottom five positions are set after the Sabres lost to the Blue Jackets to clinch a top-two pick in the draft. Buffalo will have an opportunity to draft either Connor McDavid (if it wins the lottery) or Jack Eichel (if it loses), adding a silver lining to their historically awful season.