What’s at Stake in the NHL, April 8: Clinching scenarios, playoff matchups and more
The NHL season is winding down, with less than two weeks 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.
After a bizarre game-free Good Friday: we’ll see all 32 teams in action during an epic Saturday, setting an NHL record for most teams competing on one day.
What’s at stake in the standings for Saturday, April 8?
– Seven playoff spots are decided in the West and six in the East, and none of the remaining three berths can be clinched Saturday. The Winnipeg Jets (43-32-2), Calgary Flames (37-27-15) and Nashville Predators (40-30-8) are all within a point of each other as they battle for the last spot in the West. The Jets and Preds meet for a pivotal game Saturday night in Winnipeg. The Florida Panthers (41-31-7) and New York Islanders (40-30-9) occupy the Eastern Conference Wildcard spots with 89 points apiece, but the Pittsburgh Penguins (39-30-9) are just one point back. The Buffalo Sabres (38-32-7) are six points back but have two games in hand. Even if they lose and the Islanders and Panthers win, the Sabres could still theoretically catch the Isles if they won out and the Isles lost out.
– The Vegas Golden Knights (49-22-8) can clinch the Pacific Division crown, one year after missing the playoffs, if they win and the Edmonton Oilers lose in regulation.
– Vegas can clinch home ice in Round 1 with at least one point vs. Dallas OR if the Los Angeles Kings lose to the Colorado Avalanche in any fashion.
– The Edmonton Oilers can clinch Round 1 home ice if they defeat the San Jose Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings lose to the Avalanche.
– The Carolina Hurricanes will do it if they defeat the Sabres; if they get one point vs. the Sabres AND the New York Rangers lose to the Columbus Blue Jackets; OR if the Rangers lose to the Blue Jackets in regulation.
– The New Jersey Devils will do it if they beat the Boston Bruins in regulation; if they beat the Bruins in overtime or a shootout AND the Rangers do anything besides win in regulation over Columbus; if they get a point vs. the Bruins AND the Rangers lose; or if the Rangers lose to Blue Jackets in regulation.
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