If the playoffs began Monday: Ducks jump back atop Pacific mountain

by
Gary A. Vasquez / USA TODAY Sports

Here's what postseason matchups look like after play on Sunday, April 3:

Eastern Conference

Team Team Season Series
A1 Panthers W1 Islanders 1-1-1
A2 Lightning A3 Red Wings 2-2
M1 Capitals W2 Flyers 2-0-2 Capitals
M2 Penguins M3 Rangers 3-1 Penguins
  • Boston still controls its fate, but failed to move back into the Atlantic Division's third seed after a 6-4 loss to Chicago. The Bruins and Red Wings will meet in a critical game this week.
  • Pittsburgh became the second Eastern Conference team to hit 100 points, beating the Flyers 6-2.
  • The two Floridian teams were idle, but the Panthers did clinch a playoff spot.

Wild-Card Race

Team Points Games Remaining
1. Islanders 93 5
2. Flyers 91 4
Bruins 90 3
  • The Flyers, too, came up empty in a loss to the Penguins. They remain two points behind the Islanders, and are just one point ahead of the Bruins with a game in hand.

Western Conference

Team Team Season Series
C1 Stars W2 Wild 3-1 Stars
C2 Blues C3 Blackhawks 2-0-2 Blackhawks
P1 Ducks W1 Predators 2-1 Predators
P2 Kings P3 Sharks 3-1-1 Sharks
  • Anaheim did what the Kings couldn't this weekend, beating the Stars to retake the Pacific Division lead.
  • The Blues' 5-1 win over the Avalanche coupled with the Stars' loss moves them back to within two points in the Central Division with a game in hand.

Wild-Card Race

Team Points Games Remaining
1. Predators 92 3
2. Wild 87 2
Avalanche 82 3
  • The Wild are on the verge of backing into the postseason, losing for the third straight time right along with the ninth-seeded Avalanche.
  • With Minnesota's loss, Nashville clinched the first wild card, and will meet the Pacific Division winner in the first round.
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