Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Sabres can stay alive in East wild card race

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2023 NHL postseason. There are five 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 10:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
The Florida Panthers will clinch a playoff berth:
If they defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs in regulation or overtime (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SNO, SNP, TVAS, SN NOW) AND the New York Islanders lose to the Washington Capitals in regulation (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW). The Panthers cannot clinch if they win in a shootout.
The Carolina Hurricanes will clinch home ice in the Eastern Conference First Round:
If they defeat the Ottawa Senators in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; SNE, RDS, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW).
OR
If they get one point against the Senators AND the New York Rangers lose to the Buffalo Sabres in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; MSG, MSG-B, ESPN+, SN NOW).
OR
If the Rangers lose to the Sabres in regulation.
The New Jersey Devils will clinch home ice in the first round:
If the Rangers lose to the Sabres in regulation.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
The Dallas Stars will clinch home ice in the Western Conference First Round:
If they defeat the Detroit Red Wings in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; BSDET, BSSWX, ESPN+, SN NOW) AND the Minnesota Wild lose to the Chicago Blackhawks in regulation (9 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN NOW).

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On Tap

There are 10 games on the NHL schedule Monday, all with playoff implications.
San Jose Sharks at Winnipeg Jets (7 p.m. ET; SNW, NBCSCA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Jets (44-32-3) will try to shore up their hold on the second wild card in the Western Conference. Winnipeg leads the Calgary Flames by one point in the wild card race, though the Jets have one game in hand, and is three points ahead of the Nashville Predators. The Sharks (22-41-16) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Buffalo Sabres at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; MSG, MSG-B, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Sabres (39-32-7) are trying to remain in the playoff race, while the Rangers can make gains on the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils in the Metropolitan Division. Buffalo is six points behind Florida and the New York Islanders in the Eastern Conference wild card race, but has two games in hand on each of them, and can be eliminated from contention with a regulation loss, an overtime or shootout loss and if the Panthers and Islanders each get a point, or wins from Florida or New York in any fashion. The Rangers (47-21-12) are two points behind the Devils for second place in the division and can tie them in the race for home-ice advantage in at least the first round of the playoffs with a win. New York trails first-place Carolina by three points.
Carolina Hurricanes at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; SNE, RDS, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Hurricanes (50-20-9) have a chance to build on their one-point lead in the Metropolitan with the second-place Devils not playing Monday. They also can clinch home-ice advantage through at least one round of the playoffs. The Senators (38-35-7) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
New York Islanders at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Islanders (41-30-9) are looking for their third straight win and a chance to take the lead in the East wild card race. They are tied with the Panthers, but trail in the regulation-wins tiebreaker (36-35). New York and Florida are one point ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Capitals (34-36-9) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SNO, SNP, TVAS, SN NOW)
While the Maple Leafs (47-21-11) know they will finish second in the Atlantic Division and face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs, the Panthers (42-31-7) are still battling for a spot. They have won a season-high six straight games and are tied with the Islanders in the East wild card race, one point ahead of the Penguins. Florida holds the first wild card because it has one more regulation win (36-35) than New York.
Dallas Stars at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; BSDET, BSSWX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Stars (44-21-14) remain in an extremely tight race in the Central Division, with the top three teams separated by four points. The Stars are in second in the division, two points behind the first-place Colorado Avalanche and two points ahead of the third-place Minnesota Wild, with each team having played 79 games. The Red Wings (35-34-10) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks (9 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN NOW)
It has been a tight race in the division and the Wild (45-24-10) find themselves in third, four points behind the first-place Avalanche and two behind the second-place Stars. Minnesota's 5-3 win against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday ended a three-game losing streak. The Blackhawks (25-48-6) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Nashville Predators at Calgary Flames (9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, SNW, TVAS, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Predators (40-31-8) and the Flames (37-27-16) each trail in the West wild card race. Calgary is one point behind Winnipeg for the second wild card, and Nashville is three points behind, so this qualifies as a must-win game for each team. Nashville can be eliminated from contention with a regulation loss and one point from Winnipeg, or an overtime or shootout loss and a Jets victory in any fashion. Calgary is out with a regulation loss and one point from Winnipeg, or an OT or shootout loss and a Jets victory in any fashion. The Predators have one game in hand on the Flames.
Seattle Kraken at Arizona Coyotes (10 p.m. ET; BSAZX, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Kraken (45-26-8) can pass the Los Angeles Kings for third in the Pacific Division with a win. Seattle, which has won four straight games, would tie Los Angeles in points, but leads in the regulation-wins tiebreaker (36-35). The Coyotes (28-39-13) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Vancouver Canucks at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, SNP, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Kings (45-25-10) are trying to end a three-game losing streak and hold on to third place in the Pacific. Los Angeles leads fourth-place Seattle by two points, but the Kraken have one game in hand. The Kings also can cut into their five-point deficit on the second-place Edmonton Oilers, who don't play Monday. The Canucks (36-36-7) have been eliminated from playoff contention.

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If playoffs started Monday

Here is a look at the
matchups for the first round
as they stand entering games Sunday:
Eastern Conference
(1A) Boston Bruins vs. (WC2) New York Islanders
(1M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC1) Florida Panthers
(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) Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC1) Seattle Kraken
(2C) Dallas Stars vs. (3C) Minnesota Wild
(2P) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3P) Los Angeles Kings

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About last night

There were two games Sunday, each with playoff implications:
Boston Bruins 5, Philadelphia Flyers 3: The Bruins (63-12-5) set the NHL single-season wins record, powered by a hat trick from David Pastrnak. The forward reached 60 goals this season and 300 goals in the NHL. Boston has clinched the Atlantic Division and the Presidents' Trophy. Philadelphia (29-38-13) has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Colorado Avalanche 5, Anaheim Ducks 4 (OT):The Ducks scored four straight goals to erase a 2-0 Avalanche lead, but Colorado came back with two goals in the third period to tie the game, and another at 4:15 of overtime by Nathan MacKinnon. The win put the Avalanche (49-24-6) two points ahead of the Stars for first place in the Central Division, and they are four points ahead of the third-place Wild. The Ducks (23-45-12) have been eliminated from playoff contention.