NHL playoff picture: Jets' loss opens door for Kings; Bruins, Senators both win
The Winnipeg Jets are in a precarious position after losing to the New York Rangers, leaving the Los Angeles Kings with an opportunity to overtake them in the Western Conference wild card race. In the East, the Boston Bruins all but eliminated the Florida Panthers while the Ottawa Senators kept pace.
Here's how the playoff picture looks after Tuesday's action:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
Team | GP | Points |
---|---|---|
X - Montreal | 77 | 102 |
X - Tampa Bay | 78 | 101 |
Detroit | 76 | 93 |
The Tampa Bay Lightning had an ideal chance to claim the division lead but lost to the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs instead, while the Detroit Red Wings lost to the Ottawa Senators in a shootout.
Metropolitan
Team | GP | Points |
---|---|---|
X - N.Y. Rangers | 76 | 103 |
Pittsburgh | 76 | 95 |
N.Y. Islanders | 77 | 95 |
The Rangers are back on top of the Eastern Conference after their victory against the Jets. A loss by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday would put the Rangers within two points of clinching the division.
Wild Card
Team | GP | Points |
---|---|---|
Washington | 77 | 94 |
Boston | 77 | 91 |
Ottawa | 76 | 88 |
Boston, Ottawa and the Washington Capitals all won. Washington is only a point away from matching the Penguins and the New York Islanders in the Metropolitan Division, while Boston is two points behind Detroit.
Current Matchups
Montreal (A1) vs. Washington (WC1)
Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Detroit (A3)
NY Rangers (M1) vs. Boston (WC2)
Pittsburgh (M2) vs. NY Islanders (M3)
Western Conference
Central
Team | GP | Points |
---|---|---|
X - Nashville | 78 | 103 |
St. Louis | 76 | 99 |
Chicago | 76 | 98 |
The Nashville Predators earned a point from their shootout loss against the Vancouver Canucks. The St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks are idle until Thursday.
Pacific
Team | GP | Points |
---|---|---|
X - Anaheim | 78 | 105 |
Vancouver | 77 | 95 |
Calgary | 77 | 91 |
Vancouver's win prevented the idle Anaheim Ducks from clinching the division for the third straight season.
Wild Card
Team | GP | Points |
---|---|---|
Minnesota | 76 | 95 |
Winnipeg | 77 | 90 |
Los Angeles | 76 | 88 |
The Kings play the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday and a victory would move them ahead of the Jets because they have more regulation and overtime victories.
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 | 77 | 64 |
Carolina | 76 | 67 |
The Maple Leafs are five points away from Edmonton after their latest unnecessary win. Toronto faces the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday.