Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Lightning look to pick up ground in Atlantic

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2022 NHL postseason. There are 27 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.

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On Tap

There are seven games on the NHL schedule Sunday, six with playoff implications.
Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres (1 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, MSG-B, NESN, ESPN+)
The Sabres (33-29-6) are looking to avenge a 7-1 loss to the Bruins (52-11-5) on March 2, as they attempt to move up in the race for a wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. They are six points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs and 2-6-2 in their past 10 games. The Bruins are the only team to have clinched a playoff berth and lead the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs by 16 points in the Atlantic Division.
Washington Capitals at Minnesota Wild (2 p.m. ET; NHLN, BSN, BSWIX, NBCSWA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
After their 14-game point streak (11-0-3) ended in a 5-2 loss to the Bruins on Saturday, the Wild (39-22-8) will try to break their tie with the Colorado Avalanche for second in the Central Division. Each has 86 points, though the Avalanche have a game in hand. A win would also move the Wild one point behind the Dallas Stars for first in the division. The Capitals (33-30-7) are five points behind the Penguins for the second wild card from the East and will try to make up ground. Washington could be without goalie Darcy Kuemper, who left practice early Saturday with an upper-body injury.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Vegas Golden Knights (4 p.m. ET; SN, ATTSN-RM, BSOH, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Golden Knights (42-21-6) are trying to take sole posession of the top spot in both the Pacific Division and Western Conference. They are tied with the Los Angeles Kings in each, though they have a game in hand. Vegas is coming off a loss Thursday that ended its four-game winning streak and was goalie Jonathan Quick's first loss since being acquired in a trade with Columbus on March 2. The Blue Jackets (21-40-7) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues (7 p.m. ET; BSMW, TSN3, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Jets (39-28-3) are coming off a crucial 3-2 overtime win against the Nashville Predators on Saturday, when they opened a four-point lead on the Calgary Flames for the second wild card from the Western Conference and a five-point lead on Nashville. They'll be looking to close the gap on the Seattle Kraken, who two points ahead of the Jets for the first wild card. The Blues (30-33-5) have won three of five (3-2-0) but are 16 points behind the Jets.
Nashville Predators at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; MSG, BSSO, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Rangers (40-19-10) are hoping to gain ground on the New Jersey Devils, who they trail by five points for second in the Metropolitan Division. They have won three straight and are 5-0-1 in their past six after a 6-0 win against the Penguins on Saturday. The Predators (34-25-8) try to rebound after the overtime loss to the Jets on Saturday. They are now five points behind the Jets for the second wild card from the West.
New Jersey Devils at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, BSSUNX, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Devils (44-18-7) and Lightning (42-22-6) are playing for the third time in the past six days, with the Lightning winning each game. Tampa Bay has won three in a row and can move to one point behind the Maple Leafs for second in the Atlantic Division. The Devils are three points behind the Hurricanes for first in the Metropolitan and five ahead of the third-place Rangers.

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If playoffs started Monday

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

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About last night

There were 13 games Saturday, 12 with playoff implications:
Colorado Avalanche 5, Detroit Red Wings 1: The Avalanche earned their fifth straight win when Nathan MacKinnon (one goal, two assists) and Cale Makar (three assists) each had three points. Makar has 16 points (three goals, 13 assists) in an eight-game point streak. The Avalanche moved into second in the Central Division, tied in points with the third-place Wild, and are three points behind the first-place Stars.
Boston Bruins 5, Minnesota Wild 2: The Bruins ended the Wild's point streak at 14 games (11-0-3). Minnesota had not lost in regulation since Feb. 15. The Bruins are first in the Atlantic Division, 16 points ahead of the second-place Maple Leafs. The Wild are third in the Central, tied in points with the Avalanche, who have one game in hand.
Winnipeg Jets 3, Nashville Predators 2 (OT): Neal Pionk scored 55 seconds into overtime for the Jets, after Winnipeg lost its previous two games. The Jets hold the second wild card in the West, increasing their lead to four points ahead of the Calgary Flames and five ahead of the Predators.
Edmonton Oilers 6, Seattle Kraken 4: Evander Kane had a hat trick for the Oilers, his second of the season and sixth in the NHL. The Oilers have won three straight and are third in the Pacific Division, three points ahead of the Kraken, who hold the first wild card from the West, two points ahead of the Jets.
Carolina Hurricanes 5, Philadelphia Flyers 4 (OT): Martin Necas scored with 0.3 seconds left in the third period to tie the game, and Sebastian Aho scored 28 seconds into overtime for the Hurricanes in their come-from-behind win. The Hurricanes lead the Metropolitan Division by three points over the Devils. The Flyers have lost five of their past six.
Florida Panthers 4, New Jersey Devils 2: The Panthers moved to within one point of the Penguins for the second wild card from the East. They scored three goals in a span of 2:30 in the third period to defeat the Devils. New Jersey remains second in the Metropolitan, three points back of first-place Carolina. The Devils are five points ahead of the third-place Rangers.
Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Montreal Canadiens 3: Brandon Hagel scored three goals for the Lightning, who have won three straight games. The Lightning are in third in the Atlantic, three points behind the Maple Leafs and 13 points ahead of the Panthers. The Canadiens are 1-7-2 in their past 10 games.
Toronto Maple Leafs 5, Ottawa Senators 4 (SO): Matt Murray made 48 saves for the Maple Leafs, who are 4-1-1 in their past six games. The Maple Leafs are second in the Atlantic Division, three points ahead of the Lightning and 16 points behind the Bruins. The Senators have lost five in a row (0-4-1) and are seven points behind the Penguins for the second wild card from the East.
New York Rangers 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 0: Igor Shesterkin had 33 saves for his second shutout of the season and Artemi Panarin scored twice for the Rangers, who won their third straight game and are third in the Metropolitan, five points behind the second-place Devils and 10 points ahead of the fourth-place New York Islanders. The Penguins trail the Islanders by two points for the first wild card from the East.
Vancouver Canucks 3, Los Angeles Kings 2 (SO): The Kings have a nine-game point streak (7-0-2) despite losing to the Canucks. The Kings are tied with the Golden Knights atop the Pacific Division and Western Conference, though the Golden Knights have a game in hand. The Kings are four points ahead of the third-place Oilers in the Pacific.
Dallas Stars 5, Calgary Flames 5 (OT): Jason Robertson scored his second goal of the game with 13 seconds left in overtime for the Stars, who lead the Central Division by three points, ahead of the Avalanche and Wild. The Flames have points in four straight games (2-0-2) and are four points behind the Jets for the second wild card from the West.
New York Islanders 4, San Jose Sharks 1: Jean-Gabriel Pageau had a goal and an assist for the Islanders, who are 6-2-1 in their past nine games and passed the Penguins for the first wild card from the East. They are two points ahead of the Penguins, who have two games in hand.