The defending champion Florida Panthers can move into the Atlantic Division lead Friday night and could have a new face in the lineup.
Former Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand is expected to make his Panthers debut after arriving in a deadline day trade. He was injured at the time.
The Montreal Canadiens (75 points) get another another chance to boost their slim lead in the race for the second wild card in the East. The New York Rangers (74) and Columbus Blue Jackets (73) are also playing Friday.
The NHL playoff standings are a jumble with many teams in contention. Here’s a look at the playoff picture:
Eastern Conference: Washington Capitals
Western Conference: Winnipeg Jets
No team can clinch a playoff berth.
All times p.m. ET
(as of March 27)
Metropolitan Division
x-Washington Capitals (103 points)
Carolina Hurricanes (90)
New Jersey Devils (83)
Atlantic Division
Toronto Maple Leafs (90)
Florida Panthers (89)
Tampa Bay Lightning (89)
Wild card
Ottawa Senators (81)
Montreal Canadiens (75)
Sitting outside playoff position: New York Islanders (74), New York Rangers (74), Columbus Blue Jackets (73), Detroit Red Wings (72), Boston Bruins (69), Pittsburgh Penguins (69), Philadelphia Flyers (67), Buffalo Sabres (66)
(as of March 27)
Central Division
x-Winnipeg Jets (102)
Dallas Stars (98)
Colorado Avalanche (93)
Pacific Division
Vegas Golden Knights (94)
Los Angeles Kings (89)
Edmonton Oilers (87)
Wild card
Minnesota Wild (87)
St. Louis Blues (85)
Sitting outside playoff spot: Vancouver Canucks (80), Calgary Flames (79), Utah Hockey Club (75), Anaheim Ducks (70), Seattle Kraken (68), z-Nashville Predators (62), z-Chicago Blackhawks (51), z-San Jose Sharks (49)
x-clinched playoff spot; z-eliminated
Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended March 27:
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: M – Metropolitan Division. A – Atlantic Division. WC – wild card
Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended March 27:
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: C – Central Division. P – Pacific Division. WC – wild card
If two or more teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:
The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 17, with six games.
The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 19.
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