Stanley Cup Playoff Buzz: Oilers can take over second in North Division

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2021 NHL postseason. There are 28 days left in the regular season and the races in each of the four divisions -- the seven-team Scotia North and eight-team MassMutual East, Discover Central and Honda West -- are tight. The top four teams in each of the four divisions reach the playoffs.
Here is a look at the NHL standings and everything else that could impact the playoff picture.

Clinching scenario for Wednesday
The Vegas Golden Knights will clinch a Stanley Cup Playoff berth if they get at least one point vs. the San Jose Sharks (9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, ATTSN-RM).
On Tap
There are four games on the NHL schedule Wednesday, all of them with playoff implications:
Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVAS):The Predators are fourth in the Central Division, one point ahead of the Dallas Stars, and defeated the Blackhawks 5-2 on Monday after losing their previous two games. This is the second of three straight games between the teams. Chicago is sixth in the Central, four points behind Nashville.
Minnesota Wild at Arizona Coyotes (9 p.m. ET; BSAZX, BSN, BSWI+, NHL.TV):The Coyotes are fourth in the West, one point ahead of the St. Louis Blues, but the Blues will have four games in hand after the Coyotes play the Wild. Arizona has lost six of its past seven games (1-6-0), including 5-2 to Minnesota on Monday. The Wild are third in the division, five points behind the Colorado Avalanche and 14 ahead of the Coyotes. They have won four in a row.
San Jose Sharks at Vegas Golden Knights (9:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, ATTSN-RM):The Golden Knights can become the first team this season to clinch a playoff berth and make the postseason for the fourth time in each of their first four seasons in the NHL. A victory will tie their record for the longest winning streak in their history, eight in a row set from Dec. 14, 2017 to Jan. 2, 2018 and Feb. 13-28, 2020. The Sharks are four points behind the fourth-place Coyotes.
Montreal Canadiens at Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. ET; SNW, TSN2, RDS, NHL.TV): The third-place Oilers are one point behind the second-place Winnipeg Jets in the North. Edmonton is 9-2-2 since March 17, including a 4-1 win against Montreal on Monday. The Canadiens are fourth in the division, six points ahead of the Calgary Flames, but have lost two in a row and six of their past eight (2-6-0). Montreal also won't have goalie Carey Price, who is out at least a week while in concussion protocol.

About last night

There were eight games Tuesday, each with playoff implications:
Boston Bruins 2, Buffalo Sabres 0: Tuukka Rask made 32 saves and the Bruins won their fifth straight game to increase their lead for fourth place in the East to six points over the New York Rangers. They also stayed three points behind the third-place Pittsburgh Penguins.
Pittsburgh Penguins 7, New Jersey Devils 6: The Penguins led 6-0 in the second period before giving up six goals in the third. Sidney Crosby's goal at 11:15 of the third was the difference for Pittsburgh, which is one point behind the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders for first in the East. The Devils were eliminated from playoff contention.
New York Islanders 6, New York Rangers 1: Forward Anthony Beauvillier scored four points (one goal, three assists) and the Islanders moved into a tie with the Capitals for first place in the East. The Rangers had their four-game winning streak end and fell six points behind the fourth-place Bruins.
Carolina Hurricanes 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 1: Alex Nedeljkovic made 26 saves and the Hurricanes stayed in a tie for first in the Central with the Florida Panthers. The third-place Lightning fell three points behind the Hurricanes and Panthers.
Florida Panthers 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 1: Spencer Knight made 33 saves in his NHL debut and the Panthers kept pace with the Hurricanes for first in the Central.
Dallas Stars 5, Detroit Red Wings 2: The Stars are 6-0-2 in their past eight games and one point of the fourth-place Nashville Predators in the Central. The Red Wings are 12 points behind the Predators.
Vancouver Canucks 6, Toronto Maple Leafs 3: The Canucks won their second straight against the Maple Leafs and are two points behind the fifth-place Calgary Flames and eight behind the fourth-place Montreal Canadiens in the North. Vancouver has six games in hand on Calgary and four on Montreal. The Maple Leafs are in first place, four points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets.
Los Angeles Kings 4, Anaheim Ducks 1: Cal Petersen made 24 saves for the seventh-place Kings, who moved within five points of the fourth-place Arizona Coyotes with three games in hand. The victory by the Kings prevented the Vegas Golden Knights, who were off, from clinching a playoff berth. The Ducks are in last place, 10 points behind the Coyotes.

If playoffs started Wednesday

Here is a look at the matchups for the first round as they stand entering games Wednesday:
North Division
1. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. 4. Montreal Canadiens
2. Winnipeg Jets vs. 3. Edmonton Oilers
East Division
1. Washington Capitals vs. 4. Boston Bruins
2. New York Islanders vs. 3. Pittsburgh Penguins
Central Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes vs. 4. Nashville Predators
2. Florida Panthers vs. 3. Tampa Bay Lightning
West Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights vs. 4. Arizona Coyotes
2. Colorado Avalanche vs. 3. Minnesota Wild