What’s at Stake in the NHL: Jets seek one magic point to clinch playoff spot
The NHL season is winding down, with four days of games remaining on the regular-season schedule. We’ve reached the point of the campaign at which some clinching or elimination scenario is seemingly in play every night, so we’ll keep you abreast on what to watch for each day between now and the end of the regular season.
With 20 teams in action tonight: what’s at stake in the standings for Tuesday, April 11?
– The Boston Bruins (63-12-5) have already taken down the NHL’s single-season team wins record. With two games to play, they get two chances at the single-season points record, starting tonight at home against a banged-up, eliminated Washington Capitals team that has nothing to play for. The Bruins sit at 131 points, one back of the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens’ record mark of 132. The Bruins need just two points in their final two games to break the record.
– The Winnipeg Jets (45-32-3) can almost taste that final Western Conference Wildcard spot. After they won last night and the Calgary Flames lost in a shootout to the Nashville Predators (41-31-8), the Preds are the lone team that can catch Winnipeg. The Jets control their destiny, however. All they need is one point – tonight against the Minnesota Wild or Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche – to clinch a playoff berth.
– The Carolina Hurricanes (50-21-9) can clinch the Metropolitan Division title with a win over the Detroit Red Wings tonight IF the New Jersey Devils (50-22-8) lose in regulation to the Buffalo Sabres tonight
– The Vegas Golden Knights (49-22-9) can clinch the Pacific Division title tonight (a) if they defeat the Seattle Kraken and the Edmonton Oilers (48-23-9) lose to the Colorado Avalanche in any fashion OR (b) if they get a single point and the Oilers lose in regulation.
– With the Florida Panthers and New York Islanders idle, the last two Eastern Conference Wildcard spots cannot be decided Tuesday. Even if the Pittsburgh Penguins (40-30-10) lose in regulation tonight, they won’t be mathematically eliminated. The Buffalo Sabres (40-32-7), however, will be mathematically eliminated if (a) They lose to the Devils in regulation or (b) The Penguins win and the Sabres get one or fewer points.
– The Florida Panthers (42-31-8) will clinch a playoff spot if the Penguins lose in regulation AND the Sabres lose in any fashion.
IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY…
Western Conference
(P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC2) Winnipeg Jets
(C1) Colorado Avalanche (WC1) Seattle Kraken
(P2) Edmonton Oilers vs. (P3) Los Angeles Kings
(C2) Dallas Stars vs. (C3) Minnesota Wild
Eastern Conference
(A1) Boston Bruins vs. (WC2) New York Islanders
(M1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC1) Florida Panthers
(M2) New Jersey Devils vs. (M3) New York Rangers
(A2) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Tampa Bay Lightning