Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Rangers, Maple Leafs can each earn berth

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2022 NHL postseason. There are 21 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.

Stanley Cup Playoffs clinching scenarios for Saturday:

Eastern Conference
The Toronto Maple Leafs will clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs if:
They defeat the Montreal Canadiens in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SNE, SNO, SNP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
OR
They get one point against the Canadiens AND the New York Islanders lose to the St. Louis Blues in any fashion (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).
OR
The Islanders lose to the Blues in regulation.
The New York Rangerswill clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup playoffs if:
They defeat the Ottawa Senators in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN360, CITY, TVAS2, MSG, NHL LIVE).
OR
They get one point against the Senators and the Islanders lose to the Blues in any fashion.
OR
The Islanders lose to the Blues in regulation.

On Tap

There are 12 games on the NHL schedule Saturday, all with playoff implications.
New Jersey Devils 3, Dallas Stars 1
The Stars failed to increase their hold on the second wild card in the Western Conference and remained two points ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights and two points behind the Nashville Predators for the first wild card. The Devils, who ended a five-game skid (0-4-1), have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Washington Capitals 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 3
The Capitals moved within four points of the Penguins for third in the Metropolitan Division and moved 13 points ahead of the New York Islanders for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Penguins remained six points behind the Rangers for second in the Metro.
Florida Panthers at Nashville Predators (6 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Panthers have won six straight and nine of 10 and are in first in the Atlantic Division, eight points ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Jonathan Huberdeau has points in 10 straight games (seven goals, 12 assists). The Predators hold the first wild card in the Western Conference, six points behind the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild for second in the Central Division and two points ahead of the Stars. Defenseman Roman Josi has a Predators single-season record 87 points this season (19 goals, 68 assists).
Calgary Flames at Seattle Kraken (7 p.m. ET; SN1, SNW, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Flames are first in the Pacific Division, six points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers and have won the first three games on their four-game road trip. Johnny Gaudreau is one point from becoming the ninth player in Flames history to score 100 in a season. He has 99 points (34 goals, 65 assists). The Kraken have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; CBC, TVAS, SNE, SNO, SNP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Maple Leafs are second in the Atlantic Division, eight points behind the Panthers and three points ahead of the Boston Bruins, and can clinch a playoff spot if they defeat the Canadiens. Auston Matthews set a Maple Leafs record Thursday against the Stars, scoring his 56th goal of the season. Toronto has a seven-game point streak (6-0-1). Montreal has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; BSDET, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Blue Jackets are 16 points behind the Capitals for the second wild card. The Red Wings were eliminated from playoff contention with the win by the Capitals.
Ottawa Senators at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN360, CITY, TVAS2, MSG)
The Rangers, who can clinch a playoff berth with a win, are second in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind the Carolina Hurricanes and six points ahead of the Penguins. They are 6-1-1 in their past eight games. The Senators have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Anaheim Ducks at Philadelphia Flyers (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSP, KCOP-13, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Ducks are 16 points behind the Stars for the second wild card in the West. The Flyers have been eliminated from playoff contention.
New York Islanders at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, MSG+, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Blues can move ahead of the Minnesota Wild for second in the Central Division with a point. The Islanders are 11 points behind the Capitals for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
San Jose Sharks at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SN1, CITY, SNP, NBCSCA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Canucks are six points behind the Stars for the second wild card spot, having played two more games. They have won their past two games after losing three straight. The Sharks are 17 points behind the Stars for the second wild card.
Arizona Coyotes at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, BSAZX, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Golden Knights are two points behind the Stars for the second wild card in the West, having played one more game. Vegas was defeated by Vancouver 5-1 on Wednesday, ending its five-game winning streak. The Coyotes have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SNE, SNO, SNW, TVAS2, ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Avalanche have clinched a berth in the playoffs and are two points ahead of the Panthers for the most points in the NHL. They are 16 points ahead of the Wild and Blues in the Central Division and have won 10 of their past 12 games (10-1-1). The Oilers are second in the Pacific Division, six points behind the Flames and three points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings. Edmonton has won six straight games.

If playoffs started Saturday

Here is a look at the matchups for the first round as they stand entering games Saturday:
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) Minnesota Wild vs. (3C) St. Louis Blues
(2P) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3P) Los Angeles Kings

About last night

There were five games Friday, all with playoff implications:
Boston Bruins 2, Tampa Bay Lightning 1 (OT):Forward Charlie Coyle scored with 1:23 remaining in overtime to help the Bruins take over third place in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of the Lightning. The Bruins have won four of their last five games, and are 13-3-1 in their past 17.
Florida Panthers 4, Buffalo Sabres 3: Forward Sam Bennett scored his 100th NHL goal with 38 seconds remaining in the third period to help the Panthers move eight points ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs for first in the Atlantic. It also was Bennett's 200th NHL point. The Panthers have already clinched a playoff berth. The Sabres have been eliminated from playoff contention.
New York Islanders 2, Carolina Hurricanes 1:Forward Kyle Palmieri scored with 15 seconds remaining in the third period to help the Islanders move within 11 points of the Washington Capitals for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Hurricanes, who already clinched a playoff berth, remained two points ahead of the New York Rangers for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
St. Louis Blues 4, Minnesota Wild 3 (OT):The Blues moved into a tie with the Wild for second in the Central Division when forward Robert Thomas scored 1:27 into overtime. The Blues are 6-0-1 in their past seven games; the Wild are 9-1-2 in their past 12.
Colorado Avalanche 5, Winnipeg Jets 4 (OT):Cale Makar scored 2:42 into overtime to give the NHL-leading Avalanche their fifth straight win and hand the Jets their fourth straight loss. The Avalanche have clinched a berth in the playoffs, while the Jets are seven points behind the Dallas Stars for the second wild card from the Western Conference.