With the NHL playoffs quickly approaching, every day of the regular season has gained increased importance. Here at Sporting News well keep you updated with the latest playoff positioning, the teams in the hunt, the previous days games and a look forward to tonights action.Eastern ConferenceAtlantic DivisionX- Boston Bruins (106 pts, 9 games remaining)Montreal Canadiens (91pts, 7 games remaining)Tampa Bay Lighting (89 pts, 9 games remaining)Metropolitan DivisionPittsburgh Penguins (97 pts, 9 games remaining)New York Rangers (86 pts, 8 games remaining)Philadelphia Flyers (83 pts, 10 games
Keon Broxton Jersey remaining)Wild CardColumbus Blue Jackets (80 points, 10 games remaining)Detroit Red Wings (80 pts, 9 games remaining)In the huntWashington Capitals (80 pts, 9 games remaining), Toronto Maple Leafs (80 pts, 8 games remaining), New Jersey Devils (76 pts, 9 games remaining)ToastCarolina Hurricanes (73 pts, 9 games remaining), Ottawa Senators (72 pts, 10 games remaining),Western ConferenceCentral DivisionX-St. Louis Blues (107 pts, 9 games remaining)Chicago Blackhawks (99 pts, 8 games remaining)Colorado Avalanche (98 pts, 9 games remaining)Pacific DivisionX-San Jose Sharks (103 pts, 7 games remaining)X-Anaheim Ducks (101 pts, 10 games remaining)Los Angeles Kings (92 pts, 8 games remaining)Wild CardMinnesota Wild (85 pts, 8 games remaining)Phoenix Coyotes (84 pts, 8 games remaining)In the huntDallas Stars (79 pts, 10 games remaining), Vancouver Canucks (79 pts, 7 games remaining)ToastNashville Predators (75 pts, 8 games remaining), Winnipeg Jets (75 points, 8 games remaining)Thursday recapBoston Bruins 3, Chicago BlackhawksThe Bruins didnt quite clinch the Atlantic Division thanks to Tampa Bays shootout victory over the Islanders. But they still took another step towards locking up the top spot in the Eastern Conference with the win, moving nine points clear of Pittsburgh.The lo s severely hurts any chance the Blackhawks had at catching the Blues for the top spot in the Central. In fact, with the Avalanche just a point behind, the Blackhawks may not even have home-ice in the first round of the playoffs.Phoenix Coyotes 3, New Jersey Devils
Edwin Diaz Jersey 2 (SO)Thomas Grei s filled in admirably for the injured Mike Smith Thursday, stopping 26-of-28 shots and then all three in the shootout to help Phoenix to its seventh win in 10 games. The win moved the Coyotes five points clear of Dallas and Vancouver for the last playoff spot in the West and to within a point of Minnesota for the first wild-card spot.The Devils horrific shootout luck continues as they dropped to 0-9 in the shootout this year. Just a little bit more fortune would probably have the Devils in the
Pete Alonso Jersey playoffs. But dont feel too bad- Jerseys .Los Angeles Kings 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 2These teams entered the game heading in different directions and this result did nothing to change that narrative, despite . The Kings blew a 2-0 lead but Drew Doughty picked up the game winner in the third to take it 3-2. The Kings solidified their third position in the Pacific while the Penguins have e sentially put themselves into the second seed in the East.Montreal Canadiens 5, Detroit Red Wings 4Once again the Red Wings battled back after falling behind against an Atlantic Division foe but were unable to get over the hump against the Canadiens. The teams combined for an exciting five third-period goals but that will be little consolation to Wings fans as Detroit mi sed an opportunity to get out of the four-way tie for the wild-card.Meanwhile, the Canadiens stayed ahead of the Lightning for the second spot in the Atlantic.Tampa Bay Lightning 3, New York Islanders 2 (SO)In a shootout that went 13 rounds, the Lightning emerged victorious. Tampas win temporarily kept Boston from winning the Atlantic and kept it two points behind the Canadiens. The Lightning have two games in hand on Montreal.Carolina Hurricanes 3, Florida Panthers 0Unlike Tuesday against the Islanders, the Hurricanes had no problem with an Eastern Conference bottom feeder. The win keeps the Hurricanes slim hopes alive.St. Louis Blues 5, Minnesota Wild 1If the Blues wanted to face the Wild in the first round, they certainly helped that cause Thursday. The victory pushed the Blues four points clear of the Sharks for the top spot in the West while also owning two games in hand. Meanwhile, the Wild are just a point above the Coyotes for the first wild-card spot. The Wild still have some cushion over the playoff chasers, with a six-point edge on Dallas and Vancouver, but have now dropped two straight and are just 3-4-3 in their last 10 games.Nashville Predators 6, Buffalo Sabres 1The Predators kept the dream alive with four first-period goals against the Sabres and cruised to an easy win. The downside is that all the teams in front of them picked up at least a point, so the Predators merely kept pace rather
Lenny Dykstra Jersey than picked up any ground.Also the scoreline is a reminder the Sabres .Colorado Avalanche 3, Vancouver Canucks 2 (OT)This was a tough lo s for the Canucks, who had fought their way back into the playoff hunt. The point is better than nothing, but the Coyotes increased their lead on the Canucks to five points and own a game in hand on Vancouver. Meanwhile, even though the Canucks are in a points tie with the Stars, Dallas has three games in hand on them. So Vancouvers playoff
Tim Tebow Jersey hopes look grim at the moment.Winnipeg Jets 4, San Jose Sharks 3The Jets, like the Predators, kept their small chances at the playoffs alive with a nice win in San Jose. The biggest playoff impact of the night here is for the Sharks though as they still have just a two-point lead on the Ducks despite playing three more games than Anaheim. Help will be needed for the Sharks to win the Pacific.MORE: | Friday gamesToronto Maple Leafs at Philadelphia FlyersThe coldest team in the NHL still can turn it around and make the playoffs. If they dont soon, Riddick Bowe might have to deck someone.If the lose tomorrow im going to knock out Randy Carlyle. One punch between the eyes Riddick Bowe (@riddickbowe) The Flyers, despite a strong run lately, are just three points clear of the four-way tie for the wild card spots, which includes the Maple Leafs. This is e sentially a four-point contest for the clubs involved.Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue JacketsThe Penguins are going to be the second seed in the East, so at this point, its all about getting healthy or learning to adjust without their injured players. Columbus has everything to play for, cur