Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Lightning can secure 1st round vs. Maple Leafs

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2023 NHL postseason. There are 13 days left in the regular season and the races in each of the four divisions are tight. The top three teams in each of the four divisions and the next two highest-place finishers in each conference reach the playoffs.

Here is a look at the NHL standings and everything else that could impact the playoff picture.
Here are the Stanley Cup Playoffs clinching scenarios for April 1:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Edmonton Oilers will clinch a playoff berth:
If they get at least one point against the Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, BSSC, ESPN+).
The Minnesota Wild will clinch a playoff berth:
If they defeat the Vegas Golden Knights in any fashion (10 p.m. ET; TVAS2, ATTSN-RM, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The Dallas Stars will clinch a playoff berth:
If they defeat the Colorado Avalanche in regulation (9 p.m. ET; ALT, BSSWX, ESPN+, SN NOW).

EASTERN CONFERENCE

The Tampa Bay Lightning will clinch a playoff berth:
If they defeat the New York Islanders in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; BSSUNX, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW).
OR
If they get one point against the Islanders AND the Florida Panthers lose to the Columbus Blue Jackets in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW).
OR
If the Buffalo Sabres lose to the Philadelphia Flyers in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, MSG-B, ESPN+, SN NOW) ANDthe Panthers lose to the Blue Jackets in regulation.

On Tap

There are 13 games on the NHL schedule Saturday, 12 with playoff implications.
St. Louis Blues at Nashville Predators (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, BSSO, BSMW, SN NOW)
The Predators (37-29-8) have lost three of their past four games but can climb within three points of the idle Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference. The Blues (35-34-6) trail the Jets by 11 points with seven games remaining despite going 6-1-1 in their past eight games.
Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins (3 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ABC, SN1, SN NOW)
It's a potential preview of a first-round matchup in the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Bruins (58-12-5), who clinched the Presidents' Trophy on Thursday, and the Penguins (37-28-10), who hold the second wild card into the playoffs in the East. Pittsburgh can close within one point of the New York Islanders for the first wild card in the East and add to its one-point lead on the Florida Panthers for the second wild card. Pittsburgh has a game in hand on each team. Boston (121 points) continues to chase the NHL records for wins (62) and points (132) with seven games remaining.
Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, MSG-B, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Sabres (36-31-7) will try to extend a 3-0-1 surge and move closer to the Penguins for the second wild card in the East. Buffalo trails Pittsburgh by five points with a game in hand. The Flyers (29-32-13) can be eliminated from playoff contention for the third straight season with a loss and a Penguins victory against the Bruins.
Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; CITY, SNE, TVAS, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Hurricanes (47-18-9) will try to end their three-game losing streak (0-2-1) and extend their one-point lead on the New Jersey Devils for first in the Metropolitan Division. The Canadiens (30-40-6) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Florida Panthers at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; BSOH, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Panthers (38-31-7) can overtake the Penguins for the second wild card in the East with a win against the Blue Jackets (23-43-8) and a Pittsburgh regulation loss to Boston. Columbus has been eliminated from playoff contention.
New York Islanders at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; BSSUNX, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Lightning (44-26-6) can clinch a playoff berth, cut into the Toronto Maple Leafs' four-point lead for second in the Atlantic Division and lock in a first-round matchup against Toronto. The Islanders (39-28-9) can move closer to clinching a playoff berth with a win. New York leads Pittsburgh by three points for the first wild card in the East and Florida by four points. Tampa Bay leads the NHL in scoring at home (3.97 goals per game).
Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, ESPN+, SN NOW)
In the final installment of the Battle of Ontario this season, the Maple Leafs (44-20-10) will try to add to their four-point lead on the Lightning for second in the Atlantic. The Senators (37-33-5) can close within three points of the Penguins for the second wild card in the East. Ottawa won two of the first three games with Toronto, including a 5-4 shootout victory in their last meeting March 18.
New Jersey Devils at Chicago Blackhawks (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Devils (47-20-8) can potentially take over first in the Metropolitan Division and move closer to securing home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. New Jersey, 3-4-2 in its past nine games, trails Carolina by one point for first in the Metropolitan and is three points ahead of the New York Rangers for third in the division. The Blackhawks (24-45-6), who have lost seven in a row, have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; ALT, BSSWX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Another potential first-round playoff matchup: The Stars (41-20-14), who lead the Avalanche (44-24-6) by two points for second in the Central Division, can clinch a playoff berth with a regulation win and potentially pass the Minnesota Wild for first in the Central. Colorado, 9-2-0 in its past 11, could tie Dallas for second in Central and move within one point of Minnesota.
Los Angeles Kings at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, KCOP-13, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Kings (43-22-10) have a chance to move a point ahead of the Edmonton Oilers into second in the Pacific Division with a victory. Seattle (41-25-8), which holds the first wild card in the West, can climb within four points of Los Angeles for third in the Pacific and move five points ahead of Winnipeg, which holds the second wild card.
Minnesota Wild at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; TVAS2, ATTSN-RM, BSN, BSWI, ESPN+, SN NOW)
It's a showdown between the Central Division-leading Wild (44-22-9) and Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights (46-22-7). Minnesota can clinch a playoff berth with a win. Vegas, which clinched a playoff berth Thursday, will look to add to its two-point lead on Minnesota and the Edmonton Oilers for first in the Western Conference.
Anaheim Ducks at Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, BSSC, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Oilers (44-23-9) can clinch a playoff berth for the fourth straight season with one point, and are looking to extend their nine-game point streak (8-0-1). Edmonton also can pull into a tie with Vegas for first in the Pacific Division and Western Conference. The Ducks (23-42-10) have been eliminated from playoff contention.

If playoffs started Saturday

Here is a look at the
matchups for the first round
as they stand entering games Saturday:
Eastern Conference
(1A) Boston Bruins vs. (WC2) Pittsburgh Penguins
(1M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC1) New York Islanders
(2A) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3A) Tampa Bay Lightning
(2M) New Jersey Devils vs. (3M) New York Rangers
Western Conference
(1P) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC2) Winnipeg Jets
(1C) Minnesota Wild vs. (WC1) Seattle Kraken
(2C) Dallas Stars vs. (3C) Colorado Avalanche
(2P) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3P) Los Angeles Kings

About last night

There were four games on the NHL schedule Friday, each with playoff implications.
Jeff Skinner scored 1:50 into overtime and Devon Levi made 31 saves in his NHL debut to help the Sabres (36-31-7) climb within five points of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Rangers (44-21-11) rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force overtime and earn a point that moved them within three of the idle New Jersey Devils for second in the Metropolitan Division.
Winnipeg Jets 6, Detroit Red Wings 2: Six different players scored goals for the Jets (42-31-3), who pulled within three points of the idle Seattle Kraken for the first wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference and maintained their two-point lead on the Calgary Flames for the second wild card. The Red Wings (33-33-9) remained nine points behind the Penguins for the second wild card in the East with seven games to play.
Tyler Toffoli scored his second goal of the game 3:27 into overtime and the Flames (35-26-15) kept pace with the Jets with their third straight victory. The Canucks (34-34-7) fell 12 points behind the Jets for the second wild card with seven games left.
Dallas Stars 5, Arizona Coyotes 2: Jason Robertson had four points (one goal, three assists) to help the Stars (41-20-14) win for the fourth time in six games (4-1-1) and move within one point of the idle Minnesota Wild for first in the Central Division. The Coyotes (27-36-13), who have been eliminated from playoff contention, have lost six in a row (0-4-2).