NHL playoff picture: Flames widen lead on Kings; Lightning clinch
The Calgary Flames are three points clear in the Pacific Division after defeating the Dallas Stars and watching the Los Angeles Kings lose to the Chicago Blackhawks. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning became the latest team to clinch a playoff berth by completing a season-series sweep against the Montreal Canadiens.
Here's how the playoff picture looks after six Monday contests (X - clinched playoff spot):
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| X - Montreal | 77 | 102 |
| X - Tampa Bay | 77 | 101 |
| Detroit | 75 | 92 |
Tampa Bay's victory moves it within a point of the Atlantic Division lead. The Lightning have four more regulation and overtime wins than the Canadiens.
Metropolitan
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| X - N.Y. Rangers | 75 | 101 |
| Pittsburgh | 76 | 95 |
| N.Y. Islanders | 77 | 95 |
All teams in the Metropolitan Division race were idle Monday.
Wild Card
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 76 | 92 |
| Boston | 76 | 89 |
| Ottawa | 75 | 86 |
| Florida | 76 | 85 |
The Eastern Conference wild-card race was idle Monday. The Boston Bruins can knock off the Florida Panthers when the two teams play Tuesday, while the Ottawa Senators face the Detroit Red Wings.
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 | 77 | 102 |
| St. Louis | 76 | 99 |
| Chicago | 76 | 98 |
The St. Louis Blues lost to the Vancouver Canucks, squandering an opportunity to keep pace with the idle Nashville Predators. The Blackhawks have the division lead in sight after defeating Los Angeles.
Pacific
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| X - Anaheim | 78 | 105 |
| Vancouver | 76 | 93 |
| Calgary | 77 | 91 |
Vancouver's victory keeps it ahead of the Flames, who decimated the Stars' playoff hopes with a 5-3 win.
Wild Card
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 76 | 95 |
| Winnipeg | 76 | 90 |
| Los Angeles | 76 | 88 |
The Kings play three of their next four games against the Edmonton Oilers and the Colorado Avalanche, which should help them make up whatever ground they lost on their road trip.
Current Matchups
Nashville (C1) vs. Minnesota (WC1)
St. Louis (C2) vs. Chicago (C3)
Anaheim (P1) vs. Winnipeg (WC2)
Vancouver (P2) vs. Calgary (P3)
Race for Last
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 76 | 50 |
| Arizona | 77 | 54 |
| Edmonton | 76 | 59 |
| Toronto | 76 | 62 |
| Carolina | 75 | 67 |
The Buffalo Sabres posted a costly 4-1 victory over the Arizona Coyotes, giving the Coyotes a fighting chance at falling to last place. The Edmonton Oilers also earned two points with their win over Colorado, which is great news for the idle Toronto Maple Leafs.