Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals can clinch divisions Saturday

The Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals can all clinch their respective divisions on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators and Montreal Canadiens can clinch playoff spots.

For the Leafs, they can clinch top spot in the North Division through two scenarios: they get at least one point against the Montreal Canadiens, or if the Vancouver Canucks beat the Edmonton Oilers in any fashion.

In the East Division, however, things are a little more interesting.

The Penguins can clinch three ways:

• The Penguins defeat the Buffalo Sabres in regulation and the Washington Capitals do not defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in regulation.
• The Penguins defeat the Buffalo Sabres in any fashion and the Flyers defeat the Capitals in any fashion.
• Lastly, the Penguins could get one point vs. the Sabres, have the Flyers defeat the Capitals in regulation and the New York Rangers beat the Boston Bruins in any fashion.

The Capitals can clinch the No. 1 seed in the East if they defeat the Flyers in regulation, the Sabres defeat the Penguins in regulation and the Rangers beat the Bruins in regulation.

The Nasvhille Predators can clinch a playoff spot with any kind of win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Habs, meanwhile, can clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Maple Leafs in any fashion, the Oilers beat the Canucks in any fashion OR if they get one point vs. the Leafs and the Oilers beat the Canucks in regulation.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.