Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Wild look to stay in 1st in Central

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2023 NHL postseason. There are 19 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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Here are the Stanley Cup Playoffs clinching scenarios for March 27:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
The Toronto Maple Leafs, who do not play Monday, will clinch a playoff berth if the Florida Panthers lose to the Ottawa Senators in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; SN1, SNO, SNW, RDS2, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW).
The New York Rangers, who do not play Monday, will clinch a playoff berth if the Buffalo Sabres lose to the Montreal Canadiens in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNP, MSG-B, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW) AND the Panthers lose to the Senators in regulation.

On Tap

There are six games on the NHL schedule on Monday, all with playoff implications.
Florida Panthers at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET; SN1, SNO, SNW, RDS2, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW): The Panthers (36-30-7), who've lost three straight, can move within one point of the idle Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Senators (35-33-5) can move within five points of Pittsburgh with a win.
Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNP, MSG-B, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW): The Sabres (35-31-6) have won two in a row to keep their playoff hopes alive. A win will move them to within four points of the Penguins for the second wild card from the East. Buffalo has a game in hand on Pittsburgh, which it will make up with this game. The Canadiens (29-38-6) defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 8-2 on Saturday but are 3-8-2 in their past 13 games.
New Jersey Devils at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, MSGSN2, ESPN+, SN NOW): The Devils (46-19-8) come in having clinched a playoff berth over the weekend and look to move to within one point of the Carolina Hurricanes for first place in the Metropolitan Division with a win. The Islanders (37-28-9), who hold the first wild card into the playoffs from the East, got one of a possible four points against the Sabres and Blue Jackets in their past two games. So, a victory would help pad their one-point lead over the Penguins and keep them at least four points ahead of the Panthers, who visit the Senators on Monday.
Seattle Kraken at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, TVAS): The Kraken (40-24-8) have allowed just one goal against the Wild in their season series (which is tied 1-1-0) and will be looking to try to slow them down again. But it won't be easy. Minnesota (42-22-9) has surged to first place in the Central Division and is on a 14-1-4 run. The Wild have a one-point lead on the second-place Colorado Avalanche, who visit the Anaheim Ducks on Monday, and Dallas Stars. Seattle, which holds the first wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference, can move within one point of the Edmonton Oilers for third place in the Pacific Division, also contingent on Edmonton's result against the Arizona Coyotes on Monday.
Colorado Avalanche at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; SN1, BSW, ALT2, ESPN+, SN NOW): Colorado (43-23-6), which defeated Arizona 4-3 in a shootout Sunday, has won eight of its past nine games and can move into first place in the Central with a victory and a Minnesota regulation loss to Seattle. Anaheim (23-40-10) has lost four in a row and has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Edmonton Oilers at Arizona Coyotes (10 p.m. ET; TVAS, BSAZX, SNW, ESPN+): Connor McDavid needs 10 goals in the final nine games to reach 70 this season for the Oilers (41-23-9), who can move within three points of the Los Angels Kings for second in the Pacific Division with a win. The Kings will have a game in hand on Edmonton after play Monday. Arizona (27-34-13) is on a four-game skid (0-2-2) and has been eliminated from playoff contention.

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) Minnesota Wild vs. (WC1) Seattle Kraken
(2C) Colorado Avalanche vs. (3C) Dallas Stars
(2P) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3P) Edmonton Oilers

About last night

There were five games Sunday, four with playoff implications:
Colorado Avalanche 4, Arizona Coyotes 3 (SO): Mikko Rantanen had a goal and assist for the Avalanche, who overcame a blown 2-0 lead in the third period to win in the shootout. Colorado has won eight of its past nine games and moved into a tie with Dallas for second place in the Central Division, one point behind Minnesota.
Boston Bruins 4, Carolina Hurricanes 3 (SO): The Bruins won their seventh straight game thanks in part to forward David Pastrnak, who scored his 50th and 51st goals of the season. Boston has already clinched the Atlantic Division. Carolina picked up a point and moved three points of New Jersey for first in the Metropolitan Division and has a game in hand.
Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Nashville Predators 2: John Tavares had three points (two goals, one assist) and Joseph Woll made 23 saves in his first start since March 2 to pace the Maple Leafs, who moved seven points ahead of the Lightning for second place in the Atlantic. Toronto has a game in hand on Tampa Bay. The Predators are 2-4-1 in their past seven and remain five points behind the Jets for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference. Nashville has two games in hand on Winnipeg.
Los Angeles Kings 7, St. Louis Blues 6: Viktor Arvidsson had three points (two goals, one assist) to help the Kings extend their franchise-record point streak to 12 games (10-0-2) and move to within two points of the Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division. The Blues are 13 points behind the Jets for the second wild card from the West.