The race for first place in the Pacific Division got even tighter Saturday when the Edmonton Oilers
defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-1
to set up a three-way tie.
Edmonton has 91 points, the same total as the San Jose Sharks, who were defeated, 7-2, by the Nashville Predators, and the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks have eight games remaining, one more than the Oilers and Sharks, who have lost six in a row.
The Calgary Flames, who defeated the St. Louis Blues, 3-2, in overtime have 88 points, and lead the Blues by two points for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.
The Blues trail the Predators by one point for third in the Central. The Minnesota Wild, second in the Central, were defeated by the Vancouver Canucks, 4-2, but clinched a playoff berth when the Los Angeles Kings were defeated by the New York Rangers, 3-0.
\[Related: Five reasons Minnesota Wild clinched berth in postseason\]
The Rangers play Sunday at the Ducks (9 p.m. ET; PRIME, MSG, NHL.TV), who will try to take sole possession of first in the Pacific.
New York would clinch a playoff berth with a win of any kind against Anaheim.
The Montreal Canadiens took a three-point lead in the Atlantic Division with a 3-1 win against the second-place Ottawa Senators. It was Montreal's third win over Ottawa in eight days.
\[Related: Playoff clinching scenarios for March 26\]
Ottawa remained five points ahead of the third-place Toronto Maple Leafs, who were defeated, 5-2, at the Buffalo Sabres. The Boston Bruins moved to within one point Toronto in the Atlantic and regained the lead in the race for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference with a 2-1 win at the New York Islanders.
In the race for the Presidents' Trophy, the Washington Capitals defeated the Arizona Coyotes, 4-1, and lead the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets by three points, and the Chicago Blackhawks by four points.
If the playoffs started today, the Capitals would play the Bruins in the first round.
Here is the
playoff bracket
as of March 26.
