EASTERN CONFERENCE
Hurricanes hold on to first wild card; Islanders, Capitals
battle for top spot in Metropolitan
There are three weeks remaining in the NHL regular
season, and the race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in
the Eastern Conference is extremely tight. The Tampa Bay Lightning have
clinched the Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference and Presidents' Trophy,
while the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals are tied for first place
in the Metropolitan Division, each with 10 games remaining. And the Carolina
Hurricanes continue to hold the first wild card in the conference.
HERE IS WHERE THE EASTERN
CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PICTURE STANDS TODAY:
TAMPA BAY
LIGHTNING (56-13-4)
Where they stand: 116 points; clinched Presidents'
Trophy, Eastern Conference, Atlantic Division
Games remaining: nine (two home; seven road)
Key games: March 25 vs. Boston Bruins; April 6 at
Bruins
If playoffs started today: Would play the Columbus
Blue Jackets in first round
Need to know: The Lightning clinched the Atlantic
Division, Eastern Conference and Presidents' Trophy with a 4-1 victory against
the Arizona Coyotes on Monday.
BOSTON BRUINS
(43-20-9)
Where they stand: 95 points; second in Atlantic
Division
Games remaining: 10 (three home; seven road)
Key games: March 25 at Lightning; April 6 vs.
Lightning
If playoffs started today: Would play the Toronto
Maple Leafs in first round
Need to know: The Bruins are 12-3-1 since their
leading goal scorer (31) David Pastrnak had thumb surgery on Feb. 12. Pastrnak
is expected to return to the Boston lineup soon.
TORONTO MAPLE
LEAFS (43-24-5)
Where they stand: 91 points; third in Atlantic
Division
Games remaining: 10 (four home; six road)
Key game: April 6 at Montreal Canadiens
If playoffs started today: Would play the Bruins in
first round
Need to know: The Maple Leafs have allowed 23 goals
in their past four games (1-3-0).
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
(42-23-7)
Where they stand: 91 points; tied for first in
Metropolitan Division
Games remaining: 10 (four home, six road)
Key games: March 26 at Columbus Blue Jackets; April 6
at Capitals
If playoffs started today: Would play the Carolina
Hurricanes in first round
Need to know: The Islanders have won three of their
past four and five of seven (5-2-0) and own a tiebreak edge over the Washington
Capitals for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
WASHINGTON
CAPITALS (42-23-7)
Where they stand: 91 points; tied for first in
Metropolitan Division
Games remaining: 10 (six home, four road)
Key games: March 26 vs. Carolina Hurricanes; April 6
vs. New York Islanders
If playoffs started today: Would play the Pittsburgh
Penguins in first round
Need to know: The Capitals have five games remaining
against Metropolitan Division opponents. They are 15-6-2 within the division
this season.
PITTSBURGH
PENGUINS (39-24-10)
Where they stand: 88 points; third in Metropolitan
Division
Games remaining: 9 (four home; five road)
Key games: March 19 at Carolina Hurricanes; March 31
vs. Carolina Hurricanes
If playoffs started today: Would play the Capitals in
first round
Need to know: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is
fourth in the NHL with 92 points (33 goals, 59 assists), his most since he had
104 points (36 goals, 68 assists) in 2013-14.
CAROLINA
HURRICANES (39-25-7)
Where they stand: 85 points; first wild card
from Eastern Conference
Games remaining: 11 (seven home, four road)
Key games: March 19 vs. Penguins; March 26 at
Capitals
If playoffs started today: Would play the Islanders
in first round
Need to know: The Hurricanes allow an average of 34.8
shots on goal per game, most in the NHL. However, their 2.73 goals-against
average is seventh best in the League.
COLUMBUS BLUE
JACKETS (40-28-4)
Where they stand: 84 points; second wild card from
Eastern Conference
Games remaining: 10 (three home; seven road)
Key games: March 26 vs. Islanders; March 28 vs.
Montreal Canadiens
If playoffs started today: Would play the Lightning
in first round
Need to know: The Blue Jackets have allowed two goals
or fewer in five of their past seven games (4-2-1).
MONTREAL CANADIENS
(37-28-7)
Where they stand: 81 points; three points out of
second wild card
Games remaining: 10 (five home; five road)
Key games: March 21 vs. Islanders; April 6 vs. Maple
Leafs
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: The Canadiens have lost four of their
past five games and scored eight goals in that span.
PHILADELPHIA
FLYERS (35-29-8)
Where they stand: 78 points; six points out of
second wild card
Games remaining: 10 (five home, five road)
Key games: March 23 vs. Islanders; March 30 at
Hurricanes
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: The Flyers are 25th in the NHL in
penalty killing percentage (78.6) and tied for 24th on the power play (16.3).
FLORIDA PANTHERS
(32-28-12)
Where they stand: 76 points; eight points out of
second wild card
Games remaining: 10 (five home; five road)
Key games: March 26 at Canadiens; March 30 at Bruins
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: The Panthers had won four games in a
row and scored 20 goals in that span before a 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on
Sunday.
BUFFALO SABRES
(31-32-9)
Where they stand: 71 points; 13 points out of second
wild card
Games remaining: 10 (five home; five road)
Key games: March 20 vs. Maple Leafs; March 23 at
Canadiens
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: The Sabres have lost their past 10 road
games (0-8-2).
NEW YORK RANGERS
(28-31-13)
Where they stand: 69 points; 15 points out of second
wild card
Games remaining: 10 (five home; five road)
Key games: March 25 vs. Penguins; March 31 at Flyers
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: The Rangers have played 38 games
decided by one goal this season and are 16-9-13 in those games. They are 6-15
in games decided by three goals or more.
The New Jersey Devils, Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators
have been eliminated from playoff contention in the Eastern Conference.
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