NHL playoff race: What's at stake Friday

The Pittsburgh Penguins can clinch a playoff berth Friday if they win their home game against the New York Islanders.

A win also would move them past the idle Ottawa Senators for the first wild-card seed. With a non-shootout win, the Penguins could tie the third-place Islanders with 98 points and 39 regulation-overtime wins, but New York holds the second tiebreaker of head-to-head competition.

The Islanders could use the win in their long-shot bid to catch the Washington Capitals for home-ice advantage in the first round.

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Scoring race

The Islanders' John Tavares and Penguins' Sidney Crosby are going head-to-head. Both are tied atop the league (with Dallas' Jamie Benn) with 83 points. Crosby has two goals and three assists vs. the Islanders this season, and Tavares has a goal and three assists. Tavares leads Crosby and Benn in goals, so he would win the scoring title if they tie in points.

McDavid-Eichel sweepstakes

The Buffalo Sabres are in Columbus and would clinch 30th place with a loss.

Tonight's games

New York Islanders at Pittsburgh, 7

Buffalo at Columbus, 7

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