Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2019 NHL postseason. There are 20 days left in the regular season and the races in each conference are wide open.
Here is a look at the NHL Standings and everything else that could impact the playoff picture.
Stanley Cup Playoff clinching scenarios
The Tampa Bay Lightning will clinch the Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference and Presidents’ Trophy if they defeat the Arizona Coyotes (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, TVAS, SUN, FS-A Plus, NHL.TV) in any fashion.
The San Jose Sharks will clinch a playoff berth if they get at least one point against the Vegas Golden Knights (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, NBCSCA, ATTSN-RM, NHL.TV).
On Tap
There are four games on the Monday schedule, all with playoff implications.
Arizona Coyotes at Tampa Bay Lightning (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, TVAS, SUN, FS-A PLUS, NHL.TV) — The Lightning, who have 19 points more than any other team in the NHL, can clinch the Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference and the Presidents’ Trophy with a victory of any kind. The Coyotes start a four-game Eastern road trip with a one-point lead on the Minnesota Wild for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference, and are two points behind the Dallas Stars for the first wild card.
Vancouver Canucks at Chicago Blackhawks (8:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, NBCSCH, NHL.TV) — The Blackhawks, who have won five straight games, are five points behind the Coyotes for the second wild card from the West. The Canucks are 2-0-1 in their past three games, including a 3-2 shootout win against the Stars at American Airlines Center on Sunday, and are eight points behind Arizona.
Winnipeg Jets at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, TSN3, NHL.TV) — The Jets, who have won two straight games, start a three-game road trip to California with a one-point lead on the Nashville Predators for first place in the Central Division. The Kings can be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss of any kind.
Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, NBCSCA, ATTSN-RM, NHL.TV) — The Sharks, who are one point behind the Calgary Flames, can take the lead in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference with a victory, and clinch a playoff berth with one point. The Golden Knights, who are 8-1-0 in their past nine games, are third the Pacific, seven points ahead of the fourth-place Coyotes, and nine points behind the second-place Sharks.
If playoffs started Monday
Here is a look at the matchups for the first round as they stand entering games Monday:
Eastern Conference
(1A) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (WC2) Columbus Blue Jackets
(1M) New York Islanders vs. (WC1) Carolina Hurricanes
(2A) Boston Bruins vs. (3A) Toronto Maple Leafs
(2M) Washington Capitals vs. (3M) Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference
(1P) Calgary Flames vs. (WC2) Arizona Coyotes
(1C) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC1) Dallas Stars
(2P) San Jose Sharks vs. (3P) Vegas Golden Knights
(2C) Nashville Predators vs. (3C) St. Louis Blues
About last night
All seven games on the schedule Sunday had playoff implications:
Colorado Avalanche 3, New Jersey Devils 0: The Avalanche moved to within four points of the Arizona Coyotes for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference when they won for the first time in three games. The Devils were eliminated from playoff contention on Friday.
Buffalo Sabres 4, St. Louis Blues 3 (SO): The Blues lost for the fourth time in five games (1-2-2) but pulled within five points of the Nashville Predators for second place in the Central Division and remained two points ahead of the Dallas Stars for third place in the Central. The Sabres are 13 points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
New York Islanders 3, Minnesota Wild 2 (OT): The Islanders moved into a tie with the Washington Capitals for first place in the Metropolitan Division. The Wild are one point behind the Coyotes for the first wild card in the West. The Wild loss allowed the Calgary Flames to become the first team in the Western Conference to clinch a playoff berth.
Vancouver Canucks 3, Dallas Stars 2 (SO): The Stars lost their second straight game but moved two points ahead of the Coyotes for the first wild card in the West. The Canucks are eight points behind Arizona.
Philadelphia Flyers 2, Pittsburgh Penguins 1 (OT): The Flyers ended a two-game losing streak to move within six points of the Blue Jackets for the second wild card in the East. The Penguins, who have lost two in a row after going 6-2-0 in their previous eight games, are third in the Metropolitan, three points behind the Islanders and Capitals.
Anaheim Ducks 3, Florida Panthers 2: The Ducks, who have won six of their past nine, kept their slim playoff hopes alive. They are nine points behind the Coyotes for the second wild card in the West but have five teams ahead of them. The Panthers, who lost for the first time in five games, remained eight points behind the Blue Jackets for the first wild card in the East.
Vegas Golden Knights 6, Edmonton Oilers 3: The Oilers missed a chance to move within five points of the Coyotes for the second wild card in the West and remained seven points back with 10 games to go. The Golden Knights move seven points ahead of the Coyotes for third in the Pacific Division.
Video: Marchessault scores twice in Golden Knights’ 6-3 win
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