NHL playoff picture: Rangers 1st to clinch, Kings overtake Flames
The New York Rangers are the first team in the playoffs after they defeated the Ottawa Senators and watched the Anaheim Ducks down the Boston Bruins in overtime. In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Kings are back in a playoff spot after overtaking the idle Calgary Flames by one point.
Here's how the complete playoff picture looks after Thursday's action (X - clinched playoff spot):
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal | 75 | 100 |
| Tampa Bay | 75 | 99 |
| Detroit | 73 | 90 |
The Atlantic Division remained the same as all three teams suffered losses.
Metropolitan
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| X - N.Y. Rangers | 73 | 101 |
| N.Y. Islanders | 75 | 93 |
| Pittsburgh | 74 | 91 |
The Rangers are also six points away from clinching the Metropolitan Division title after the Islanders and Penguins both lost.
Wild Card
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 74 | 90 |
| Ottawa | 73 | 85 |
| Boston | 74 | 85 |
| Florida | 74 | 82 |
The Senators remained in the second wild-card spot despite losing to the Rangers because the Bruins were only able to earn a point in their home game against Anaheim. The Washington Capitals and the Florida Panthers both won their respective contests.
Current Matchups
Montreal (A1) vs. Washington (WC1)
Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Detroit (A3)
NY Rangers (M1) vs. Ottawa (WC2)
NY Islanders (M2) vs. Pittsburgh (M3)
Western Conference
Central
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville | 75 | 100 |
| St. Louis | 74 | 99 |
| Chicago | 73 | 94 |
The Nashville Predators moved back on top of the Central Division with a win over the Tampa Bay Lightning while the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks were idle.
Pacific
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Anaheim | 76 | 101 |
| Vancouver | 74 | 90 |
| Los Angeles | 74 | 88 |
The Ducks can guarantee a playoff spot if they get six more points after the Vancouver Canucks suffered a setback at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche.
Wild Card
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 74 | 91 |
| Winnipeg | 75 | 90 |
| Calgary | 74 | 87 |
| Dallas | 74 | 82 |
The Winnipeg Jets earned an important victory over the Montreal Canadiens, giving them a three-point cushion over Calgary, which has a game in hand.
Current Matchups
Nashville (C1) vs. Minnesota (WC1)
St. Louis (C2) vs. Chicago (C3)
Anaheim (P1) vs. Winnipeg (WC2)
Vancouver (P2) vs. Los Angeles (P3)
Race for Last
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 74 | 48 |
| Arizona | 75 | 54 |
| Edmonton | 74 | 55 |
| Toronto | 75 | 60 |
| Carolina | 73 | 64 |
The Arizona Coyotes defeated the Buffalo Sabres in overtime for a three-point game no one asked for, while the Toronto Maple Leafs lost their seventh straight contest and the Carolina Hurricanes won against Pittsburgh for some reason.