If the playoffs began Monday: Ducks jump back atop Pacific mountain
Gary A. Vasquez / USA TODAY Sports
Here's what postseason matchups look like after play on Sunday, April 3:
Eastern Conference
| Team | Team | Season Series |
|---|---|---|
| A1 Panthers | W1 Islanders | 1-1-1 |
| A2 Lightning | A3 Red Wings | 2-2 |
| M1 Capitals | W2 Flyers | 2-0-2 Capitals |
| M2 Penguins | M3 Rangers | 3-1 Penguins |
- Boston still controls its fate, but failed to move back into the Atlantic Division's third seed after a 6-4 loss to Chicago. The Bruins and Red Wings will meet in a critical game this week.
- Pittsburgh became the second Eastern Conference team to hit 100 points, beating the Flyers 6-2.
- The two Floridian teams were idle, but the Panthers did clinch a playoff spot.
Wild-Card Race
| Team | Points | Games Remaining |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Islanders | 93 | 5 |
| 2. Flyers | 91 | 4 |
| Bruins | 90 | 3 |
- The Flyers, too, came up empty in a loss to the Penguins. They remain two points behind the Islanders, and are just one point ahead of the Bruins with a game in hand.
Western Conference
| Team | Team | Season Series |
|---|---|---|
| C1 Stars | W2 Wild | 3-1 Stars |
| C2 Blues | C3 Blackhawks | 2-0-2 Blackhawks |
| P1 Ducks | W1 Predators | 2-1 Predators |
| P2 Kings | P3 Sharks | 3-1-1 Sharks |
- Anaheim did what the Kings couldn't this weekend, beating the Stars to retake the Pacific Division lead.
- The Blues' 5-1 win over the Avalanche coupled with the Stars' loss moves them back to within two points in the Central Division with a game in hand.
Wild-Card Race
| Team | Points | Games Remaining |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Predators | 92 | 3 |
| 2. Wild | 87 | 2 |
| Avalanche | 82 | 3 |
- The Wild are on the verge of backing into the postseason, losing for the third straight time right along with the ninth-seeded Avalanche.
- With Minnesota's loss, Nashville clinched the first wild card, and will meet the Pacific Division winner in the first round.
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