NHL playoff picture: Wild win, Blackhawks lose as Minnesota narrows Central Division gap
The Minnesota Wild moved to within one point of the Chicago Blackhawks in the Central Division by virtue of a victory over the Calgary Flames and a Blackhawks' loss to the streaking Columbus Blue Jackets.
Here's how the playoff picture looks after a three-game Friday night slate:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal | 75 | 100 |
| Tampa Bay | 75 | 99 |
| Detroit | 73 | 90 |
The Montreal Canadiens host the Florida Panthers on Saturday. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings face each other in a critical Atlantic Division matinee matchup.
Metropolitan
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| X - N.Y. Rangers | 73 | 101 |
| N.Y. Islanders | 75 | 93 |
| Pittsburgh | 74 | 91 |
The New York Rangers face the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Saturday. The New York Islanders host the Anaheim Ducks and the Pittsburgh Penguins play host to the Arizona Coyotes.
Wild Card
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 74 | 90 |
| Ottawa | 73 | 85 |
| Boston | 74 | 85 |
| Florida | 74 | 82 |
The Washington Capitals face the Nashville Predators on Saturday, and the Ottawa Senators meet the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre.
Current Matchups
Montreal (A1) vs. Washington (WC1)
Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Detroit (A3)
New York Rangers (M1) vs. Ottawa (WC2)
New York Islanders (M2) vs. Pittsburgh (M3)
Western Conference
Central
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville | 75 | 100 |
| St. Louis | 74 | 99 |
| Chicago | 74 | 94 |
The Blackhawks fell 5-2 to the Blue Jackets and the Wild doubled up the Flames 4-2. Minnesota now has 93 points, but Chicago still has two games in hand.
Pacific
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Anaheim | 76 | 101 |
| Vancouver | 74 | 90 |
| Los Angeles | 74 | 88 |
The Ducks are on a two-game east coast road trip that will see them face the Islanders on Saturday and the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.
The Vancouver Canucks host the Dallas Stars on Saturday, and the Los Angeles Kings face the Minnesota Wild on road.
Wild Card
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 75 | 93 |
| Winnipeg | 75 | 90 |
| Calgary | 75 | 87 |
| Dallas | 75 | 82 |
The Wild maintained their hold on the top wild card spot, while the Flames failed to gain ground on the idle Winnipeg Jets by losing to Minnesota. The Dallas Stars lost to the Edmonton Oilers.
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 | 75 | 57 |
| Toronto | 75 | 60 |
| Carolina | 73 | 64 |
The Oilers defeated the Stars 4-0 and now sit three points clear of the Coyotes. Both teams have seven games remaining.