Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Penguins, Rangers meet in divisional clash

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2023 NHL postseason. There are 30 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 11 games on the NHL schedule on Thursday, 10 with playoff implications.
Colorado Avalanche at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; ALT, TSN5, RDS2, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Avalanche (38-22-6) are coming off a 2-1 shootout win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday and can move to within two points of the Minnesota Wild for second place in the Central Division with a victory. If the Senators (33-30-4) can end their three-game losing streak (in which they have been outscored 16-6), they'll move within six points of the New York Islanders for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference with two games in hand.
Montreal Canadiens at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; BSFLX, TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Panthers (33-27-7) have won both previous meetings against the Canadiens this season by a combined score of 13-4 and can move within three points of the Islanders for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference with a win. The Canadiens (27-35-6) defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-4 on Tuesday to end a seven-game skid (0-5-2).
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; MSG, ATTSN-PT, SNE, SNO, SNP, SN360, TVAS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Penguins (34-23-10) and Rangers (38-19-10) meet for the first of consecutive games at Madison Square Garden and for the third time in a week, the Penguins winning 3-2 in overtime at home Sunday. Pittsburgh can move two points ahead of the Islanders for the first wild card from the East with a win, and within six points of the Rangers for third in the Metro with a regulation win. The Rangers, who have won three of four, can move within six points of the New Jersey Devils for second in the Metropolitan Division with a win and a Devils regulation loss on Thursday.
Tampa Bay Lightning at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN, BSSUN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Lightning (40-22-6) defeated the Devils 4-1 on Tuesday in the first of back-to-back games at Prudential Center and can pull within one point of the Maple Leafs for second in the Atlantic Division by completing the sweep of the two-game set. A win would pull the Devils (44-17-6) into a first-place tie with the Carolina Hurricanes in the Metropolitan Division.
Boston Bruins at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; NESN, TSN3, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Bruins (50-11-5) have already clinched a playoff berth and can widen their lead over the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs in the Atlantic Division to 18 points with a win. The Jets (38-27-3) are 21-11-2 at home and can pull into a tie with the Seattle Kraken for the first wild card from the Western Conference with a victory and a Kraken regulation loss against the San Jose Sharks.
Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN NOW)
Despite dealing away defenseman Mattias Ekholm to the Edmonton Oilers and forward Tanner Jeannot to the Lightning, the Predators (34-24-7) are 4-1-1 since the NHL Trade Deadline on March 3 and can move to within two points of the Jets for the second wild card from the West with a win and Winnipeg regulation loss against Boston. Chicago (23-38-6) can be eliminated from playoff contention if they lose in regulation or if they get one point and the Jets defeat the Bruins.
Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET; BSSW, SNW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Stars (37-18-13) are 3-1-0 on their current road trip and can widen their Central Division lead over the second-place Wild to three points by defeating the Oilers. Edmonton (37-23-8), which has won three consecutive home games, can pull within three points of the Los Angeles Kings for second in the Pacific Division with a victory and Kings regulation loss to the Blue Jackets.
Calgary Flames at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; ATTSN-RM, SN1, SN 360, TVAS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Flames (30-24-14) have gone 3-1-1 in their past five to put themselves back into the postseason conversation and can move within three points of the Jets for the second wild card from the West with a win and Jets regulation loss. Vegas (42-20-6) is three points ahead of Dallas and Los Angeles for the top seed in the Western Conference and can extend its Pacific Division lead. The Golden Knights have won four straight. With a victory, Vegas goalie Jonathan Quick can pass John Vanbiesbrouck (374 wins each) for sole possession of second place on the NHL all-time list among United States-born goalies; Ryan Miller holds the record with 391 victories.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Blue Jackets (21-38-7) and Kings (39-20-9) meet for the first time since Columbus traded goalie Joonas Korpisalo and defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to Los Angeles on March 1. Los Angeles can pull within one point of Vegas for first place in the Pacific Division with a win and Golden Knights regulation loss.
Seattle Kraken at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn will attempt to extend his career-high point streak to 11 games (three goals, 12 assists, 15 points) when Seattle visits the Sharks (19-36-13), who have been eliminated from playoff contention. Seattle (37-23-7) can leapfrog Edmonton and move into third in the Pacific Division with a victory and an Oilers regulation loss.

If playoffs started Thursday

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

About last night

There were four games Wednesday, each with playoff implications:
:The Capitals overcame a 4-2 deficit in the third period to remain remain five points behind the New York Islanders for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Sabres are six points behind the Islanders with three games in hand.
:Nathan MacKinnon scored the lone goal in the shootout for the Avalanche, who moved three points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets for third in the Central Division and remained four points behind the second-place Minnesota Wild. The Maple Leafs moved three points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning for second in the Atlantic Division.
Minnesota Wild 8, St. Louis Blues 5: A five-goal second period helped the Wild extend their point streak to a team-record 14 games (11-0-3) and move within one point of the first-place Dallas Stars in the Central Division.
New York Islanders 6, Anaheim Ducks 3:Kyle Palmieri's NHL career-high four points (one goal, three assists) helped the Islanders pull into a tie with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first wild card from the East. The Penguins have three games in hand.