Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Flames seek to move into wild card

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2023 NHL postseason. There are 14 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's a look at the NHL standings and everything else that could impact the playoff picture.

On Tap

There are four games on the NHL schedule Friday, each with playoff implications.
New York Rangers at Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, MSG-B, MSGSN, SN NOW)
The Rangers (44-21-10), who lost 2-1 at the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, look to move two points within idle New Jersey for second place in the Metropolitan Division. Buffalo (35-31-7) can pull within five points of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
Detroit Red Wings at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, BSDETX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Winnipeg (41-31-3) can pull within three points of the idle Seattle Kraken for the first wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference. The Jets, who have lost two straight, are two points ahead of the Calgary Flames. Detroit (33-32-9) is nine points out of a playoff spot with eight games to play.
Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SN, SN1, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Flames (34-26-15) seek a third straight victory and could move into a tie for the second wild card into the playoffs from the West. The Canucks (34-34-6) are 10-2-1 in their past 13 games and are 11 points behind the Jets for the second wild card.
Dallas Stars at Arizona Coyotes (10:30 p.m. ET; BSAZX, BSSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Dallas (40-20-14) seeks a second straight win and chance to move within one point of the idle Minnesota Wild for first in the Central Division. Arizona (27-35-13) has lost five straight (0-3-2) and has been eliminated from playoff contention.

If playoffs started Thursday

Here is a look at the
matchups for the first round
as they stand entering games Friday:
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) Dallas Stars vs. (3C) Colorado Avalanche
(2P) Edmonton Oilers vs. (3P) Los Angeles Kings

About Last Night

There were 11 games Thursday, 10 with playoff implications.
David Pastrnak scored 41 seconds into overtime for the Bruins (58-12-5), who set a new team record for wins in a season and won the Presidents' Trophy, awarded to the NHL team with the best record in the regular season. Columbus (23-43-8) has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Florida Panthers 5, Montreal Canadiens 2:Matthew Tkachuk had four points (three goals, one assist) to reach 100 points for the second straight season for Florida (38-31-7), which is one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens (30-40-6) have been eliminated from postseason contention.
New Jersey Devils 2, New York Rangers 1: Erik Haula and Timo Meier scored in the first period for the Devils (47-20-8), who are second in the Metropolitan Division, four points ahead of the Rangers and one point behind the first-place Carolina Hurricanes. Chris Kreider scored for the Rangers, who are 9-2-1 in their past 12 games.
Pittsburgh Penguins 2, Nashville Predators 0:Tristan Jarry made 28 saves in his 200th NHL game for the Penguins (37-28-10), who pulled within three points of the New York Islanders for the first wild card in the East. Nashville (37-29-8) remained three points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card from the Western Conference.
Alex DeBrincat scored 1:36 into overtime for the Senators (37-33-5), who won their second straight game to remain five points behind the Penguins for the second wild card in the East. The Flyers (29-32-13) are 5-0-2 in their past seven games but are 13 points out of a playoff spot with eight games to play.
Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Washington Capitals 1: Andrei Vasilevskiy made 30 saves for Tampa Bay (44-26-6), who moved within four points of the Toronto Maple Leafs for second in the Atlantic Division. Washington (34-33-9) has lost six of seven (1-4-2) and is seven points behind the Penguins for the second wild card from the East.
Detroit Red Wings 3, Carolina Hurricanes 2: The Hurricanes (47-18-9) have lost four of five (1-3-1) and are one point ahead of the Devils for first in the Metropolitan Division. Jake Walman scored with four seconds left in the third period for the Red Wings (33-32-9), who are nine points behind the Penguins for the second wild card from the East.
Edmonton Oilers 2, Los Angeles Kings 0: Stuart Skinner made 43 saves for Edmonton (44-23-9), which moved into second place in the Pacific Division, one point ahead of the Kings and two behind the first-place Vegas Golden Knights. Skinner finished 10-1-1 in 12 games in March to become the first goaltender in Oilers history to have 10 wins in a single month. Oilers captain Connor McDavid scored to become the fifth player in NHL history with 300 goals and 500 assists (300 goals, 541 assists; 563 games) prior to his 600th game, joining Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Peter Stastny and Bryan Trottier. Los Angeles (43-22-10) has lost two straight games following a 12-game point streak (10-0-2).
Seattle Kraken 4, Anaheim Ducks 1: Jaden Schwartz and Matty Beniers each had a goal and an assist for Seattle (41-25-8), which holds the first wild card into the playoffs from the West, five points ahead of the Jets, with eight games remaining. Anaheim (23-42-10), which lost its sixth straight game in regulation, has been eliminated from playoff contention.
The Golden Knights (46-22-7) became the first Western Conference team to clinch a playoff berth by virtue of Pittsburgh's regulation win against Nashville. Vegas is two points ahead of Edmonton for first place in the Pacific Division. Logan Couture scored on a breakaway 50 seconds into overtime for the Sharks (21-39-15), who have been eliminated from playoff contention.