NHL playoff picture: Brad Marchand lifts Bruins off the mat
The Boston Bruins have a knack for this sort of thing.
Brad Marchand was solely responsible for a three-point swing in the Eastern Conference wild-card standing, netting both a late equalizer and the overtime winner to effectively check the charging Philadelphia Flyers.
Here's how the postseason picture looks after a busy Saturday night:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
Team | GP | Points |
---|---|---|
Montreal | 66 | 90 |
Tampa Bay | 67 | 88 |
Detroit | 63 | 83 |
The Canadiens and Lightning gained on idle Detroit with wins over inferior competition and remain locked to within two points of each other atop the division.
Metropolitan
Team | GP | Points |
---|---|---|
N.Y. Islanders | 67 | 88 |
N.Y. Rangers | 63 | 85 |
Pittsburgh | 65 | 85 |
The Penguins earned a plucky win in Los Angeles and the Islanders pushed their lead atop the division to three. The Rangers remain in the driver's seat, though, with multiple games in hand in the log-jammed division.
Wild Card
Team | GP | Points |
---|---|---|
Washington | 67 | 82 |
Boston | 64 | 74 |
Florida | 66 | 72 |
Ottawa | 63 | 69 |
Philadelphia | 66 | 69 |
Boston held off Philadelphia, but the Panthers managed to keep pace with a huge shootout win over the Islanders. Meanwhile, the Capitals handled their business versus Buffalo, but remain three points back in the division.
Western Conference
Central
Team | GP | Points |
---|---|---|
Nashville | 67 | 89 |
St. Louis | 65 | 87 |
Chicago | 65 | 83 |
The Blues are within two points of the Predators with their win over Toronto, coupled with Nashville's loss.
Pacific
Team | GP | Points |
---|---|---|
Anaheim | 67 | 91 |
Vancouver | 65 | 78 |
Calgary | 65 | 76 |
The Canucks seized sole possession of second-place in the division with a comeback win over San Jose. The Kings moved within one point of the Flames despite carrying the play in an overtime loss to Pittsburgh.
Wild Card
Team | GP | Points |
---|---|---|
Minnesota | 65 | 79 |
Winnipeg | 66 | 78 |
Los Angeles | 65 | 75 |
San Jose | 66 | 72 |
The Jets inched to within a point of the Wild and gained on Los Angeles with a critical win in Nashville. The Sharks are now six back after losing to Vancouver.
Race for Last
Team | GP | Points |
---|---|---|
Buffalo | 66 | 43 |
Edmonton | 65 | 47 |
Arizona | 66 | 49 |
Carolina | 63 | 55 |
Toronto | 66 | 57 |
Columbus | 65 | 58 |
The Sabres, Coyotes, Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets lost by a combined score of 18-2, and thus, remain locked in at the Connor McDavid percentages they entered the night with.