Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Maple Leafs can clinch prime seed in North

Clinching Eventualities

The Toronto Maple Leafs will clinch the No. 1 seed in the Scotia North Division if they gain as a minimum one point in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens or if the Vancouver Canucks defeat the Edmonton Oilers.

The Canadiens will clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs if they defeat the Maple Leafs and the Oilers defeat the Canucks OR if they gain one point in opposition to the Maple Leafs and the Oilers defeat the Canucks in regulation.

The Nashville Predators will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will clinch the No. 1 seed in the MassMutual East Division if they defeat the Buffalo Sabres in regulation and the Washington Capitals cease no longer defeat the Flyers in regulation OR if they defeat the Sabres and the Flyers defeat the Capitals OR if they gain one point in opposition to the Sabres and the Flyers defeat in the Capitals in regulation and the Contemporary York Rangers defeat the Boston Bruins.

The Capitals will 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 defeat the Bruins in regulation.

On Faucet 

There are 14 video games on NHL time table Saturday, 12 with playoff implications:

Contemporary York Rangers at Boston Bruins (3 p.m. ET; NBC, NESN, MSG): The Bruins are two aspects leisurely the Washington Capitals for second in the East and four aspects leisurely the indispensable-state Pittsburgh Penguins. They’ve one sport in hand on the Capitals and two on the Penguins. Boston is three aspects forward of the fourth-state Contemporary York Islanders. Each of the prime four teams possess clinched a playoff berth in the division. The Rangers were eradicated from playoff competitors. 

Buffalo Sabres at Pittsburgh Penguins (3 p.m. ET; NBC, ATTSN-PIT, MSG-B): The Penguins will seemingly be without goalies Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith for their traditional-season finale. They lead the Capitals by two aspects for first in the East and the third-state Bruins by four aspects, and would possibly perhaps perhaps clinch the No. 1 seed in one amongst several ways Saturday. The Sabres were eradicated from playoff competitors. 

Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA+, NBCSP, NHL.TV): The second-state Capitals are two aspects leisurely the Penguins for first in the East with a sport in hand. The Capitals will 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 defeat the Bruins in regulation. Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin, who has overlooked six of their previous seven video games, would possibly perhaps perhaps return to the lineup. The Flyers were eradicated from playoff competitors. 

Contemporary Jersey Devils at Contemporary York Islanders (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, MSG+ 2, NHL.TV): The fourth-state Islanders are three aspects leisurely the Bruins for third in the East. Contemporary York can cease no better than third and will initiating the playoffs on the road. The Devils were eradicated from playoff competitors. 

Ottawa Senators at Winnipeg Jets (7 p.m. ET; SN360, CITY, SNW, NHL.TV): The Jets are third in the North, two aspects forward of the fourth-state Montreal Canadiens with one sport in hand, and 7 aspects leisurely the second-state Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers and Jets every possess four video games final. The Senators were eradicated from playoff competitors. 

Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, NHL.TV): The Maple Leafs can clinch the prime seed in the North with one point or a loss by the second-state Oilers. The fourth-state Canadiens, who can clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Maple Leafs and the Oilers defeat the Vancouver Canucks or if they gain one point in opposition to the Maple Leafs and the Oilers defeat the Canucks in regulation, are two aspects leisurely the Jets for third in the division but possess performed one extra sport. If Montreal gets one point Saturday, the indolent Calgary Flames would possibly perhaps perhaps be eradicated from playoff competitors. 

Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ESPN+, BSSUN, BSFL, NHL.TV): The two Florida-based mostly fully NHL teams will face every varied in the indispensable spherical of the playoffs after the Carolina Hurricanes clinched first state in the Central on Friday. The Lightning and Panthers are tied for second in the division and play their final two video games in opposition to every varied. Within the occasion that they cease the season tied in aspects, the Lightning would gain the second seed and residential-ice profit because they’d possess extra regulation wins. 

Carolina Hurricanes at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSSO, NHL.TV): The Predators, who’re fourth in the Central, overlooked a huge gamble to clinch a playoff berth Friday when the fifth-state Dallas Stars defeated the Lightning. Nashville can lock up a situation in the playoffs and gain rid of indolent Dallas from playoff competitors with a clutch in opposition to Carolina, which clinched the division Friday. 

Anaheim Geese at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; BSN, BSWI+, KCOP-13. NHL.TV): The Wild are third in the West, one point leisurely the second-state Colorado Avalanche. Minnesota has performed one extra sport than Colorado. The Geese were eradicated from playoff competitors.  

St. Louis Blues at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ATTSN-RM, BSMW, NHL.TV): The Golden Knights look to create on their two-point lead on the Avalanche for first in the West. Vegas has performed one extra sport than Colorado, which owns the indispensable tiebreaker, having extra regulation wins. The Blues, who possess clinched a playoff berth, will cease fourth in the West and play the division winner in the indispensable spherical of the playoffs.  

Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles (10 p.m. ET; BSW, ALT, NHL.TV): The second-state Avalanche are two aspects leisurely the Golden Knights for first in the West with one sport in hand. As well they enjoy the indispensable tiebreaker, which is regulation wins. Colorado is one point forward of third-state Minnesota with a sport in hand and the regulation wins tiebreaker. 

Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. ET; NHLN, CBC, SN, TVAS, NHL.TV): Connor McDavid is four aspects from 100 on this 56-sport season for the Oilers, who’re seven aspects forward of the third-state Jets for second in the North, every with four video games to play. The Canucks can even be eradicated with a loss and a clutch by the Canadiens. 

About final evening

There had been seven video games Friday, 5 with playoff implications:

Dallas Stars 5, Tampa Bay Lightning 2: Joe Pavelski had two targets and two assists to aid the Stars attain ground in the Central bound. Dallas moved to within two aspects of the indolent fourth-state Nashville Predators; every has two video games final. The Stars fling to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday and Monday and the Predators are at home in opposition to the indispensable-state Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday and Monday. Tampa Bay’s loss allowed Carolina to clinch first in the division and contrivance that the Lightning will play the Florida Panthers in the indispensable spherical of the playoffs. Tampa Bay and Florida are tied for second and play their final two traditional-season video games at Florida on Saturday and Monday.

Philadelphia Flyers 4, Washington Capitals 2: The Capitals failed to attain ground on the indispensable-state Pittsburgh Penguins in the East, final in second, two aspects leisurely Pittsburgh and two aspects forward of the third-state Boston Bruins. Washington has two video games to play, net hosting the Flyers again Saturday and the Bruins on Tuesday. Pittsburgh has one sport final, at home in opposition to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. The Flyers were eradicated from playoff competitors.

Minnesota Wild 4, Anaheim Geese 3 (OT): Kirill Kaprizov scored 17 seconds into overtime to rob the Wild, who’re 3-0-1 of their previous four video games. Minnesota remained third in the West, one point leisurely the second-state Colorado Avalanche. The Wild possess three video games final; the Avalanche possess four. The Geese were eradicated from playoff competitors.

Colorado Avalanche 3, Los Angeles Kings 2: Cale Makar had a design and an support and Mikko Rantanen scored his 30th design of the season to aid the Avalanche live second in the West, four aspects leisurely the indispensable-state Vegas Golden Knights and one point forward of the third-state Wild with one sport in hand on every. Colorado has four video games to play; Vegas and Minnesota possess three every. The defeat, blended with the purpose obtained by the fourth-state St. Louis Blues in an overtime loss to the Golden Knights, eradicated the Kings from playoff competitors.

Vegas Golden Knights 4, St. Louis Blues 3 (OT): The Blues clinched a berth in the playoffs with the purpose for shedding in overtime, blended with the regulation loss by the Kings. St. Louis will cease fourth in the West and rallied with an eight-sport point race (5-0-3) to steady a berth in the postseason for the third straight season. The Golden Knights remained first in the division, four aspects forward of the second-state Avalanche.

If playoffs started Saturday

Here’s a look on the matchups for the indispensable spherical as they stand coming into video games Saturday:

North Division 

1. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. 4. Montreal Canadiens

2. Edmonton Oilers vs. 3. Winnipeg Jets

East Division 

1. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 4. Contemporary York Islanders

2. Washington Capitals vs. 3. Boston Bruins 

Central Division  

1. Carolina Hurricanes vs. 4. Nashville Predators  

2. Tampa Bay Lightning vs. 3. Florida Panthers

West Division  

1. Vegas Golden Knights vs. 4. St. Louis Blues 

2. Colorado Avalanche vs. 3. Minnesota Wild