Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Penguins try to end four-game losing streak

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2022 NHL postseason. There are 20 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.

On Tap

There are seven games on the NHL schedule Sunday, all with playoff implications
Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals (1:30 p.m. ET; TNT, SN360, TVAS, NHL LIVE)
Alex Ovechkin has scored eight goals in his past 11 games for the Capitals, who will try for their third consecutive win and gain ground on the Pittsburgh Penguins, whom they defeated 6-3 Saturday to move within four points of third place in the Metropolitan Division. Washington holds the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference and trails the Tampa Bay Lightning by six points for the first wild card. Forward David Pastrnak and defenseman Hampus Lindholm are injured and will not play for the Bruins, who are 8-2-0 in their past 10 games and third in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of the Lightning and five points behind the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs.
Nashville Predators at Pittsburgh Penguins (4 p.m. ET; TNT, SN360, TVAS, NHL LIVE)
The Penguins look to end a four-game losing streak and can bolster their hold on third place in the Metropolitan. They lead the Capitals by four points. The Predators have won four of their past six and hold the first wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference, two points ahead of the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights, who are tied for the second wild card.
Los Angeles Kings at Minnesota Wild (5 p.m. ET; BSNX, BSWIX, KCOP-13, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Minnesota can tie the St. Louis Blues for second in the Central Division with a win. Los Angeles, which has lost two straight, is third in the Pacific Division, two points ahead of the Golden Knights and four behind the second-place Edmonton Oilers.
Buffalo Sabres at Tampa Bay Lightning (5 p.m. ET; BSSUN, MSG-B, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Lightning will try to move into third in the Atlantic Division. They are one point behind the third-place Bruins and hold the first wild card from the East, six points ahead of the Capitals. The Sabres have lost two straight and have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Anaheim Ducks at Carolina Hurricanes (6 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSSC, ESPN+ NHL LIVE)
The Hurricanes, who are 1-3-0 in their past four games, are tied with the New York Rangers for first in the Metropolitan Division, eight points ahead of the Penguins. The Ducks are 14 points behind the Stars and Golden Knights for the second wild card from the West and can be eliminated from playoff contention if they lose in regulation and the Stars gets at least one point against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Dallas Stars at Chicago Blackhawks (7 p.m. ET; SN360, NBCSCH, BSSWX, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Dallas is tied with Vegas for the second wild card from the West and will try to tie Nashville for the first wild card. Chicago, 2-6-2 in its past 10 games, has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Winnipeg Jets at Ottawa Senators (7:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, TSN5, TSN3, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Jets have lost four straight (0-3-1) and are seven points behind the Stars and Golden Knights for the second wild card from the West. The Senators, who have lost two in a row, have been eliminated from playoff contention.

If the playoffs started Sunday

Eastern Conference
(1A) Florida Panthers vs. (WC2) Washington Capitals
(1M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC1) Tampa Bay Lightning
(2A) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3A) Boston Bruins
(2M) New York Rangers vs. (3M) Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference
(1C) Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC2) Dallas Stars
(1P) Calgary Flames vs. (WC1) Nashville Predators
(2C) St. Louis Blues vs. (3C) Minnesota Wild
(2P) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3P) Los Angeles Kings

About last night

There were 12 games, all with playoff implications:
Washington Capitals 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 3:Tom Wilson scored the go-ahead goal at 11:35 of the third period to help Washington move within four points of Pittsburgh for third in the Metropolitan Division and 13 points ahead of the New York Islanders for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference. The Penguins have lost four straight and are eight points behind the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers, who are tied for first in the Metropolitan.
New Jersey Devils 3, Dallas Stars 1:Dallas failed to maintain its lead for the second wild card from the Western Conference and is now tied with Vegas Golden Knights. The Stars remain two points behind the Nashville Predators for the first wild card. Nico Hischier scored at 18:39 in the third period for New Jersey and Pavel Zacha scored 10 seconds later, which tied for the second fastest back-to-back goals in franchise history. The Devils, who ended a five-game skid (0-4-1), have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Florida Panthers 4, Nashville Predators 1:Jonathan Huberdeau extended his points streak to 11 games to help the Panthers win their seventh straight and remain eight points ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs for first place in the Atlantic Division. The Predators still hold the first wild card from the West, two points ahead of the Stars and Golden Knights and are six points behind the Minnesota Wild for third in the Central Division.
Calgary Flames 4, Seattle Kraken 1:Noah Hanafin had four assists to help the Flames sweep a four-game road trip and extend their lead in the Pacific Division to seven points over the second-place Edmonton Oilers. The Kraken have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Montreal Canadiens 2:Toronto clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with the win and Auston Matthews scored his NHL-leading 57th and 58th goals 27 seconds apart in the first period. Toronto, 8-1-1 in its past 10 games, reached 100 points for the sixth time. The Maple Leafs trail the first-place Panthers by eight points in the Atlantic and are five points ahead of the third-place Boston Bruins. Montreal, 3-5-2 in its past 10, has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Columbus Blue Jackets 5, Detroit Red Wings 4 (OT):Jack Rosolovic scored three goals, including the game-winner at 3:19 of overtime for the Blue Jackets, who remain 14 points behind the Capitals for the second wild card from the East. The Red Wings have been eliminated from playoff contention.
New York Rangers 5, Ottawa Senators 1:Chris Kreider scored his 48th and 49th goals for the Rangers, who clinched a playoff berth. The Rangers moved into a tie for first place in the Metropolitan with the Hurricanes, each with 100 points. New York will host Carolina on Tuesday. The Senators have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Anaheim Ducks 5, Philadelphia Flyers 3:Trevor Zegras scored twice, giving him 20 goals this season, and Anthony Solarz made 30 saves against his former team to help the Ducks snap a two-game skid. Anaheim is 14 points behind the Stars and Golden Knights for the second wild card from the West. The Flyers have been eliminated from playoff contention.
St. Louis Blues 6, New York Islanders 1:The Blues won their fifth straight game and moved into second place in the Central, two points ahead of the third-place Wild. Justin Faulk had two goals and an assist to help extend the Blues' point streak to eight games (7-0-1). The Islanders, 5-2-0 in their past seven, fell 13 points behind the Capitals for the second wild card from the East.
Vancouver Canucks 4, San Jose Sharks 2:Alex Chiasson scored the go-ahead goal at 2:07 of the third period to help the Canucks win their third straight and move within four points of the Stars and Golden Knights for the second wild card from the West. San Jose is 17 points behind Dallas and Vegas.
Colorado Avalanche 2, Edmonton Oilers 1 (SO):Darcy Kuemper made an NHL career-high 49 saves and Nathan MacKinnon scored a goal and the shootout winner to help the Avalanche match their franchise records for wins (52-14-6) and end the Oilers' six-game win streak. The Avalanche remain two points ahead of the Florida Panthers for most points in the NHL. The Oilers are four points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings for second place in the Pacific Division and seven points behind the Calgary Flames for first.
Vegas Golden Knights 6, Arizona Coyotes 1:The Golden Knights moved into a tie with the Stars for the second wild card from the West, helped by a goal from Max Pacioretty, who returned after missing 12 games with an undisclosed injury. The Coyotes have lost three in a row and been eliminated from playoff contention.