NHL playoff race: What's at stake Saturday
All 30 teams are in action Saturday in the final day of the NHL regular season.
What's at stake:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Ottawa Senators
They clinch a playoff berth outright with a victory or an overtime/shootout loss. They also clinch if the Boston Bruins lose or Pittsburgh Penguins lose in regulation. The Senators also could jump to third in the Atlantic Division, depending on what the Detroit Red Wings do.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Beat the Buffalo Sabres and they're in. Or they get in if they get a point against the Sabres and the Bruins lose.
Boston Bruins
They must beat the Tampa Bay Lightning and hope that the Senators lose in regulation. Or they must win in regulation or overtime and hope that the Penguins lose to the Sabres.
Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning
The Canadiens will clinch the Atlantic Division title if they get a point against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Lightning will be division champions if they beat the Bruins and the Canadiens lose in regulation.
Washington Capitals and New York Islanders
They'll face other in the first round. At stake Saturday is who gets home-ice advantage. The Capitals (at home vs. the New York Rangers) lead in points and are tied with the Islanders (hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets) in regulation-overtime wins. Any combination that leaves Washington one point ahead gives them home ice. But the Islanders will prevail if they win in regulation or overtime and the Capitals lose.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
Anaheim Ducks and St. Louis Blues
This is complicated, so we'll quote the NHL.
"The Ducks would clinch the top seed in the Western Conference if they defeat the Coyotes in regulation or overtime OR if they defeat the Coyotes in a shootout AND the Blues fail to defeat the Wild in regulation or overtime OR if they get one point against the Coyotes AND the Blues lose to the Wild in any fashion OR if the Blues lose to the Wild in regulation.
"The Blues would clinch the top seed in the Western Conference if they defeat the Wild in regulation or overtime AND the Ducks post a shootout win or a loss of any kind against the Coyotes OR if they defeat the Wild in a shootout AND the Ducks lose to the Coyotes in any fashion OR if they get one point against the Wild AND the Ducks lose to the Coyotes in regulation."
Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks
Home-ice advantage is at stake. The Canucks (hosting the Edmonton Oilers) just need a point or a Flames loss. The Flames (visiting the Winnipeg Jets) would need to win in regulation or overtime and hope that the Canucks lose in overtime.
Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild
The Wild potentially could pass the Blackhawks for the third seed in the Central Division. The Wild (at the Blues) would have to win and hope the Blackhawks (visiting the Colorado Avalanche) lose in regulation. If the Wild win, they'd set an NHL record with 13 consecutive road victories.
ALSO SATURDAY
Scoring race
The Islanders' John Tavares and Penguins' Sidney Crosby are co-leaders at 84. Dallas' Jamie Benn has 83. Tavares has the most goals of the three and would win in the event of a tie. Washington's Alex Ovechkin (80) or Philadelphia's Jakub Voracek (81) could win with a big game.
McDavid-Eichel sweepstakes
It's settled. The Sabres won.
Today's games
Ottawa at Philadelphia, 12:30
N.Y. Rangers at Washington, 12:30
Calgary at Winnipeg, 3
San Jose at Los Angeles, 3
Pittsburgh at Buffalo, 7
Montreal at Toronto, 7
New Jersey at Florida, 7
Columbus at N.Y. Islanders, 7
Detroit at Carolina, 7
Boston at Tampa Bay, 7:30
Minnesota at St. Louis, 7:30
Nashville at Dallas, 8
Chicago at Colorado, 9
Anaheim at Arizona, 9
Edmonton at Vancouver, 10
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