WHAT EACH GAME MEANS IN THE FINAL DAY OF THE NHL SEASON
Senators at Flyers
The Senators sit
in the first wild card spot, 1 point ahead of Pittsburgh (@BUF) and 2 points
ahead of Boston (@TBL). They would clinch a playoff spot with at least one
point against the Flyers. They would also clinch if the Bruins fail to get two
points, or if the Bruins get two and the Penguins lose in regulation. They are
also only one point behind Detroit @CRL) for 3rd in the Atlantic. Possible
playoff opponents are the Lightning, the Canadiens, and the Rangers, all of
whom would host. If the Sens miss the playoffs, they are guaranteed the 14th
draft position.
The Flyers are
guaranteed the 7th draft position regardless of today’s games.
Rangers at Capitals
The Rangers are
guaranteed the top spot in the league and home ice throughout the playoffs
regardless of today’s games. They will host the 2nd Wild Card team
in the first round, which could be Ottawa, Pittsburgh, or Boston.
The Capitals are
2nd in the Metropolitan, 1 point ahead of the Islanders, who they
will play in the first round. Home ice is still undecided. The two teams are
equal in ROW and the Isles hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Caps would
need to get either more points than Isles today, or the same number of points
to hold onto home ice.
Flames at Jets
The Flames sit 3rd
in the Pacific. They can move into 2nd if they win and in regulation
or overtime and the Canucks (vs. EDM) lose in regulation. These two teams are
guaranteed to face each other in the first round, with home ice being
undecided.
The Jets are
guaranteed to finish in the second Wild Card position and will visit either
Anaheim or St. Louis.
Sharks at Kings
The Sharks in the
11th draft position will the able to move up to 9th or
down to the 12th. They are 1 point behind Dallas (vs NSH) and 2
points ahead of Colorado (vs CHI). They have the same number of points as
Florida (vs. NJD) but hold the ROW tiebreaker by 7 wins.
The Kings are in
the 13th draft position, two points behind Boston (@TBL). They would
drop to the 14th position with a regulation or overtime win and a
Bruins regulation loss.
Wild at Blues
The Wild sit in
the first Wild Card spot, where they would visit either St. Louis or Anaheim.
They are two points behind Chicago (@COL) in the Central, and would overtake
them with a win and a Hawks regulation loss, at which point they would visit
Nashville in the first round.
The Blues have
clinched the Central Division, but are still fighting Anaheim (@ARZ) for the
top spot in the conference and home ice through the conference final. The Blues
and Ducks have identical records, but Anaheim has the ROW tiebreaker. If bother
win in regulation or overtime, or if both gain one point, or if either get a
point, the Ducks would take the West. The Blues can only win the West by
getting more points than the Ducks today. The winner of the West would host
Winnipeg in the first round. The other would host either Chicago or Minnesota.
Penguins at Sabres
The Penguins
currently hold the second wild card position, one point behind Ottawa (@PHI)
and one ahead of Boston (@TBL). The Penguins will only miss the playoffs if
Boston wins in regulation and the Pens fail to get a point against Buffalo, as
they gold the ROW tiebreaker. By getting a point today, the Pens would clinch a
playoff spot, or by getting zero and the Bruins getting fewer than two. They
can also move into the first Wild Card spot if they more points than the
Senators today, as they hold that ROW tiebreaker as well. If the Sens were to
move into 3rd in the Atlantic, the Pens would also claim the first
Wild Card spot and a matchup with the Atlantic champ with a regulation win and
a Detroit (@CRL) regulation loss. Possible first round opponents are the
Rangers, the Lightning, and the Canadiens. If the Pens drop out of the
playoffs, they are guaranteed the 14th draft position.
The Sabres are
guaranteed the 1st draft position regardless of today’s games.
Canadiens at Maple Leafs
The Canadiens are
currently first in the Atlantic, two points ahead of Tampa Bay (vs. BOS). The
Lightning hold the tiebreaker, and could only pass the Habs for the division
title with a win and a Habs regulation loss. Montreal will host one of Boston,
Pittsburgh, Detroit or Ottawa in the first round.
The Maple Leafs
are guaranteed the 4th draft position regardless of today’s games.
Devils at Panthers
The Devils are
guaranteed the 6th draft position regardless of today’s games.
The Panthers are
currently in the 10th draft position. The could fall as far as the
12th spot or could move up to the 8th. They have two more points than Columbus
(@NYI), one more than Colorado (vs. CHI), the same number as San Jose (@LAK)
who holds the tiebreaker, and one fewer than Dallas (vs. NSH).
Blue Jackets at Islanders
The Blue Jackets
have the 8th draft position. They could fall as far as the 10th.
They have one fewer point than Colorado (vs. CHI) and two fewer than Florida
(vs. NJD).
The Islanders are
3rd in the Metro and will be facing Washington in the first round.
Home ice is still undecided. The Isles are a point behind the Caps (vs. NYR),
and each have 40 ROWs. The Islanders hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The
Isles can overtake the Caps with a win and the Caps getting fewer than two
points, or if they get one point and the Caps get none.
Red Wings at Hurricanes
The Red Wings
currently hold the 3rd spot in the Atlantic. They are one point
ahead of Ottawa (@PHI), who could overtake their Atlantic spot, and two ahead
of Pittsburgh (@BUF) who could finish ahead of them in the Wild Card if the
Sens pass the Wings. In order to lose their Atlantic spot, Ottawa would need to
win and Detroit would need to lose in regulation. If that were to happen,
Pittsburgh could also pass them with a regulation or overtime win, in which
case Detroit would visit the Rangers in the first round. In other scenarios,
the Wings will visit either Tampa or Montreal in the opening round.
The Hurricanes
are guaranteed the 5th draft position regardless of today’s games.
Bruins at Lightning
The Bruins are
currently out of a playoff spot. They are one point behind Pittsburgh (@BUF)
for the 2nd Wild Card spot, where they would visit the Rangers in
the first round. They are also two points behind Ottawa (@PHI) for the first
Wild Card spot, where they would visit Montreal (if the Bruins win, Tampa can’t
pass Montreal). To pass Pittsburgh, Boston would need a win and a Pitt
regulation loss, or a Boston ROW and a Pitt overtime or shootout loss. If Pitt
wins, Boston can’t pass them. Boston could also pass Ottawa with a regulation
win and a Sens regulation loss. Boston can’t pass Ottawa if the Sens get a
point today. Outside of the playoffs, the Bruins hold the 14th draft
position. They could move up to the 13th position with a regulation
loss and a regulation win for the Kings (vs. SJS).
The Lightning are
currently 2nd in the Atlantic, two points back of Montreal (@TOR).
They have the ROW tiebreaker, and to take the division crown would need a win
plus a Montreal regulation loss. They will host one of Detroit, Ottawa, Boston
or Pittsburgh in the opening round.
Predators at Stars
The Predators are
guaranteed to finish 2nd in the Central regardless of today’s games
and will host either Chicago or Minnesota in the first round.
The Stars
currently hold the 12th draft position, and could move as high as
the 10th. They are a point ahead of both San Jose (@LAK) and Florida
(vs. NJD).
Blackhawks at Avalanche
The Blackhawks
are currently 3rd in the Atlantic, two points ahead of Minnesota
(@STL). If they hold their position, they would visit Nashville in the opening
round. They could fall to the first Wild Card spot with a regulation loss plus
a win for the Wild, in which case they would visit either Anaheim or St. Louis.
The Avalanche
hold the 9th draft position. They could move up to the 8th,
or fall back to the 11th. They are a point ahead of Columbus (@NYI)
and a point behind both Florida (vs. NJD) and San Jose (@LAK).
Ducks at Coyotes
The Ducks are
guaranteed first in the Pacific, but are still fighting St. Louis (vs. MIN) for
the top spot in the West. The two teams have identical records, but Anaheim has
the ROW tiebreaker. The Ducks would take the conference and host the Jets in
the first round by getting more points today than the Blues. Otherwise they
will host Chicago or Minnesota.
The Coyotes are
guaranteed the 2nd draft position regardless of today’s games.
Oilers at Canucks
The Oilers are
guaranteed the 3rd draft position regardless of today’s games.
The Canucks currently
sit second in the Pacific, two points ahead of Calgary (@WPG), who they will
face in the first round with home ice still undecided. Calgary can pass
Vancouver with a ROW and a Vancouver regulation loss. If the Canucks get a
point, or if the Flames fail to get two points before a shootout, the Canucks
will secure home ice.
