Playoffs Buzz: 6 series set, Central title undecided entering final day

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2023 NHL postseason. Today is the final day of the regular season and one division race has yet to be settled. 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 14:
WESTERN CONFERENCE
The Colorado Avalanche will clinch the Central Division title and a first-round matchup against the Seattle Kraken:
If they defeat the Nashville Predators in any fashion (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW).
Otherwise, the Avalanche finish second in the Central and will play the Minnesota Wild in the first round.
The Dallas Stars(idle) will clinch the Central Division title and a first-round matchup against the Seattle Kraken:
If the Avalanche lose to the Predators in any fashion.
Otherwise, the Stars finish second in the Central and will play the Minnesota Wild in the first round.

On Tap

There are two games on the NHL schedule Friday, one with playoff implications.
Colorado Avalanche at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, ALT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Avalanche (50-24-7) will win the Central Division for the second straight season if they defeat the Predators. They trail the first-place Dallas Stars by one point. The Stars have no games remaining. The Predators were eliminated from playoff contention when the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Tuesday. If Colorado wins, it will face the Seattle Kraken in the Western Conference First Round and Dallas will play the Minnesota Wild. If Colorado loses in any fashion, it will play Minnesota and Dallas will win the division and play Seattle.

First-round matchups

Six of the
eight first-round series have been set.
Here is a look at the matchups:
Eastern Conference
(1A) Boston Bruins vs. (WC2) Florida Panthers
(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) Dallas Stars/Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC1) Seattle Kraken
(2C) Colorado Avalanche/Dallas Stars vs. (3C) Minnesota Wild
(2P) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3P) Edmonton Oilers

About last night

There were 15 games Thursday, seven with playoff implications.
Carolina Hurricanes 6, Florida Panthers 4:Brent Burns scored two goals and the Hurricanes (52-21-9) won the Metropolitan Division for the third consecutive season. The Panthers missed a chance to take the first wild card in the East and will play the Boston Bruins in the first round.
New Jersey Devils 5, Washington Capitals 4 (OT): Defenseman Luke Hughes, who played his first NHL game Tuesday, scored his first NHL goal with 27 seconds remaining in overtime for the Devils (52-22-8), who finished second in the Metropolitan and will play the New York Rangers in the first round. The Capitals (35-37-10) had previously been eliminated from playoff contention.
Colorado Avalanche 4, Winnipeg Jets 2: Alexandar Georgiev made 18 saves for the Avalanche (50-24-7), who remain second in the Central Division behind the Dallas Stars, who also won on Thursday. The Avalanche need a win on Friday at the Nashville Predators to win Central. The Jets (46-33-3), the second wild card from the West, play the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round.
Dallas Stars 1, St. Louis Blues 0: Wyatt Johnston scored the lone goal for the Stars (47-21-14), who remained in first in the Central, one point ahead of the Avalanche. Colorado plays its final game Friday.
Edmonton Oilers 5, San Jose Sharks 2: Connor McDavid had an assist to run his point streak to 16 straight games and the Oilers (50-23-9), who won their ninth in a row, finished second in the Pacific Division. They will play the Los Angeles Kings in the first round for the second consecutive season. The Sharks (22-44-16) had been eliminated from playoff contention.
Los Angeles Kings 5, Anaheim Ducks 3: Adrian Kempe ended his regular season with a hat trick and the Kings (47-25-10) finished third in the Pacific. They'll play the Oilers in the first round. The Ducks (23-47-12) had been eliminated.
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Seattle Kraken 1: Reilly Smith scored his 200th career goal and the Golden Knights (51-22-9) won the Pacific Division and home-ice advantage for the Western Conference playoffs. They'll play the Jets in the first round. The Kraken (46-28-8) lost their final two regular-season games and are the first wild card from the West. They'll play either the Stars or the Avalanche in the first round.