NHL Playoff Scenarios (updated 4/9)

Tonight we have some key matchups. Montreal plays Boston hoping to clinch a playoff spot with a win or overtime loss. Buffalo plays Carolina, trying to do thier part in getting a playoff spot. The Rangers are playing the Flyers, hoping to put the last spot out of the Panthers reach while Florida plays Atlanta to keep their playoff hopes alive.

In the West things are a little quieter. Nashville is playing Detroit. With a win here against the toughest of their remaining two opponents things are looking up for the Predators. Another win against Minnesota coupled, most likely, with a St. Louis loss to Columbus and the Predators will be playoff bound.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

The Atlantic Division comes down to two teams. In order to clinch the Philadelphia Flyers would have to register three wins against the Rangers (twice) and the Islanders while the New Jersey Devils would need to loses their two games against Ottawa and Carolina.

The Montreal Canadiens can clinch a playoff spot with a win or overtime loss in either of their last two games against the Bruins and Penguins OR a Florida loss of any kind OR two New York regulation losses.

The New York Rangers can clinch a playoff spot with a win or two overtime losses in their last two games against Philadelphia OR at least an overtime loss AND a Florida loss of any kind OR a Florida regulation loss or pair of overtime losses AND one Buffalo loss of any kind.

The Florida Panthers can clinch a playoff spot with a win and at least an overtime loss in their last two games against Atlanta and Washington AND two New York regulation losses OR two wins AND EITHER (two Montreal regulation losses OR a New York regulation loss and second loss of any kind).

The Buffalo Sabres can clinch a playoff spot with two wins in thei last two games against Carolina and Boston AND two New York regulation losses AND a Florida regulation loss or pair of overtime losses.

New York will most likely not drop both games to Philadelphia in regulation so they are a shoe in. Florida might catch up to Montreal, however. They need to win both games and have Montreal drop both games (to tough opponents: Boston and Pittsburgh) in regulation.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Northwest division comes down to two teams tied for the lead. The Calgary Flames have two games remaining against Edmonton. The Vancouver Canucks have games against Los Angeles and Colorado. The team scoring the most points in these last two games will get the title, with Calgary holding the tie-breaker.

The Anaheim Ducks can clinch with a win in either of their last two games against Dallas and Phoenix OR at least a overtime loss AND EITHER (a St. Louis regulation loss and second loss of any kind OR a Nashville loss of any kind) OR TWO OF (two St. Louis regulation losses OR a Nashville regulation loss or pair of overtime losses OR a Minnesota loss of any kind).

The St. Louis Blues can clinch a playoff spot with a win in either of their last two games against Columbus and Colorado OR at least a overtime loss AND EITHER (two Anaheim regulation losses OR a Nashville regulation loss of pair of overtime losses) OR two Nashville losses of any kind AND a Minnesota loss of any kind.

The Nashville Predators can clinch a playoff spot with a win in either of their last two games against Detroit or Minnesota AND two St. Louis regulation losses AND a Minnesota loss of any kind OR a win and overtime loss AND EITHER (two St. Louis regulation losses OR two Anaheim regulation losses) OR two wins AND EITHER (two Anaheim losses of any kind OR a St. Louis regulation loss or pair of overtime losses.

The Minnesota Wild can clinch a playoff spot with a win and at least an overtime loss in their last two games against Nashville and Columbus AND two St. Louis regulation losses AND two Nashville losses of any kind OR two wins AND a St. Louis regulation loss and second loss of any kind AND EITHER (a Nashville loss to Detroit or a Nashville loss to Minnesota in regulation)

Minnesota has only a prayer. The Wild would probably need two wins against playoff fighting opponents (including defeating Nashville in regulation) and two St. Louis losses in order to qualify. They probably have a greater chance, though, than Buffalo has in the East.

Anaheim, St. Louis, and Nashville are all fighting for the last two spots. Nashville has a better chance of knocking out St. Louis. If the Predators win both of their games and the Blues only manage 2 points in their last 2 games then Nashville is in. Anaheim only needs a win against eliminated Dallas or Phoenix.