NHL playoff picture: Bruins rise, Senators falter in tight East wild card race
The Boston Bruins spoiled Henrik Lundqvist's return by defeating the New York Rangers on Saturday, moving them into the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference ahead of the Ottawa Senators, who lost in overtime to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Here's where all the teams in the playoff race stand after Saturday's action
(X - clinched playoff spot):
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| X - Montreal | 76 | 102 |
| Tampa Bay | 76 | 99 |
| Detroit | 74 | 92 |
The Montreal Canadiens clinched a playoff spot with a victory over the Florida Panthers, while the Detroit Red Wings blanked the Tampa Bay Lightning in a possible postseason preview.
Metropolitan
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| X - N.Y. Rangers | 74 | 101 |
| Pittsburgh | 75 | 93 |
| N.Y. Islanders | 76 | 93 |
The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Arizona Coyotes to move in front of the struggling New York Islanders, who have two wins in their last 10 games (2-6-2).
Wild Card
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 75 | 90 |
| Boston | 75 | 87 |
| Ottawa | 74 | 86 |
| Florida | 75 | 83 |
Ottawa still has a game in hand on Boston and can end Florida's playoff push when the teams meet Sunday. The Washington Capitals are still within striking distance after losing to the Nashville Predators.
Current Matchups
Montreal (A1) vs. Boston (WC2)
Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Detroit (A3)
NY Rangers (M1) vs. Washington (WC1)
Pittsburgh (M2) vs. NY Islanders (M3)
Western Conference
Central
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| X - Nashville | 76 | 102 |
| St. Louis | 75 | 99 |
| Minnesota | 76 | 95 |
Nashville clinched a playoff spot with its victory over Washington. The Minnesota Wild moved into the third spot in the Central Division after defeating the Los Angeles Kings, displacing the idle Chicago Blackhawks.
Pacific
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| X - Anaheim | 77 | 103 |
| Vancouver | 75 | 91 |
| Los Angeles | 75 | 88 |
The Anaheim Ducks secured a playoff berth by defeating the Islanders and are within three points of clinching the Pacific Division following the Vancouver Canucks' overtime loss to the Dallas Stars.
Wild Card
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 74 | 94 |
| Winnipeg | 75 | 90 |
| Calgary | 75 | 87 |
| Dallas | 76 | 84 |
Dallas is hanging by a thread but stayed alive thanks to their victory over Vancouver. Chicago visits the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday.
Current Matchups
Nashville (C1) vs. Chicago (WC1)
St. Louis (C2) vs. Minnesota (C3)
Anaheim (P1) vs. Winnipeg (WC2)
Vancouver (P2) vs. Los Angeles (P3)
Race for Last
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 75 | 48 |
| Arizona | 76 | 54 |
| Edmonton | 75 | 57 |
| Toronto | 76 | 62 |
| Carolina | 74 | 66 |
The Buffalo Sabres have a six-point advantage over the Coyotes after another loss, while Toronto snapped a seven-game losing skid with a win that moves them five points away from the Edmonton Oilers in third-last.