Playoff Percentages: Bruins zapped, Predators prevail
Through the remainder of the regular season, we'll take a look at how the night's action impacts the playoff race, highlighting which teams' postseason odds went up or down significantly.
Flip a coin.
The Boston Bruins' shot at the postseason fell to nearly even odds following a 6-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.
With the victory, the Lightning climbed to within three points of the East's second wild-card slot, held by the Bruins, while Tampa Bay also holds a game in hand.
The Western Conference didn't see as much movement. A 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames pushed the Nashville Predators closer to a playoff lock. Nashville has nine games remaining on the season and is back in action Saturday against the San Jose Sharks.
Here are the notable swings following Thursday's busy schedule:
Eastern Conference
| Team | Result | Playoff Chances | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | W 6-3 vs. Bruins | 13.9% | +6.5% |
| Maple Leafs | W 4-2 vs. Devils | 90.5% | +5.6% |
| Hurricanes | W 4-1 vs. Canadiens | 6.3% | +3.5% |
| Islanders | Off | 38.9% | +3.2% |
| Bruins | L 3-6 vs. Lightning | 50.4% | -20.2% |
Western Conference
| Team | Result | Playoff Chances | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings | W 5-2 vs. Jets | 5.1% | +0.9% |
| Predators | W 3-1 vs. Flames | 98% | +0.8% |
| Flames | L 1-3 vs. Predators | 97.3% | -1.7% |
To see percentages for the entire NHL, visit Sports Club Stats.
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