The St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks punched their tickets to the postseason while the New York Rangers locked up the Metropolitan Division with a win over the Minnesota Wild. Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings aren't looking like the sure thing they once were following their latest setback.
Here's how the playoff picture looks after a busy Thursday (X - clinched playoff spot, Y - clinched division):
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| X - Montreal | 78 | 103 |
| X - Tampa Bay | 79 | 102 |
| Detroit | 77 | 93 |
Detroit, which is 3-5-2 in its last 10 games, lost to the Boston Bruins on Thursday, allowing the Bruins to tie them in points. The Red Wings still have a game in hand, but their position is far more precarious than it was a month ago.
Metropolitan
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Y - N.Y. Rangers | 77 | 105 |
| Washington | 78 | 96 |
| N.Y. Islanders | 78 | 96 |
The Washington Capitals moved into the Metropolitan Division race with their overtime victory over the Montreal Canadiens, displacing the idle Pittsburgh Penguins, who have three wins in their last 10 like the Red Wings.
Wild Card
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | 77 | 95 |
| Boston | 78 | 93 |
| Ottawa | 77 | 90 |
The Ottawa Senators kept pace with Boston by defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in overtime.
Current Matchups
Montreal (A1) vs. Pittsburgh (WC1)
Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Detroit (A3)
NY Rangers (M1) vs. Boston (WC2)
Washington (M2) vs. NY Islanders (M3)
Western Conference
Central
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| X - Nashville | 78 | 103 |
| X - St. Louis | 77 | 101 |
| X - Chicago | 77 | 100 |
The Nashville Predators hold the tiebreaker in the race to clinch the division, but both the Blues and the Blackhawks have a game in hand.
Pacific
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Y - Anaheim | 79 | 107 |
| Vancouver | 78 | 95 |
| Calgary | 78 | 91 |
The Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames are smarting after their latest losses. Both teams will face the Edmonton Oilers, Arizona Coyotes, Winnipeg Jets and Los Angeles Kings for their final four games.
Wild Card
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 77 | 95 |
| Los Angeles | 77 | 90 |
| Winnipeg | 77 | 90 |
The Kings hold the tiebreaker over Winnipeg following their rout of Edmonton.
Current Matchups
Nashville (C1) vs. Minnesota (WC1)
St. Louis (C2) vs. Chicago (C3)
Anaheim (P1) vs. Los Angeles (WC2)
Vancouver (P2) vs. Calgary (P3)
Race for Last
| Team | GP | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 77 | 52 |
| Arizona | 77 | 54 |
| Edmonton | 78 | 59 |
| Toronto | 78 | 64 |
| Carolina | 77 | 67 |
The Oilers lost in a big way to remain five points clear in third-last.
