What’s at Stake in the NHL: Capitals control destiny in Eastern Wildcard race
Welcome to the April leg of the 2023-24 NHL regular season. At this point in the calendar, the stakes are elevated. We’re starting to see teams clinch playoff spots. Players are hitting milestones. There’s seemingly something on the line every night.
So what’s at stake during the eight-game slate of action on Tues, April 16?
– The Atlantic Division will be decided Tuesday. The Boston Bruins (47-19-15) will win it if (a) they beat the Ottawa Senators, (b) the Florida Panthers lose to the Toronto Maple Leafs in regulation or (c) the Bruins and Panthers each collect a point. The Panthers (51-24-6) will snatch the crown away if (a) they beat the Leafs and the Bruins lose to the Sens or (b) the Panthers collect at least a point and the Bruins lose in regulation.
– The Atlantic division winner will face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 1 of the playoffs. The second-place finisher will face the Leafs. Both matchups will be cemented by night’s end.
– What a wild night it was for the Eastern Conference Wildcard race Monday, with the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals all pulling out wins. Detroit and Washington, as well the still-alive Philadelphia Flyers, are in action Tuesday.
– The Red Wings (40-32-9) will clinch the final Eastern Conference playoff spot Tuesday if they beat the Montreal Canadiens and the Capitals lose to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Wings’ season is over if they lose in regulation, if the Capitals win, or if the Capitals get a point and the Wings get one point or fewer.
– The Flyers (38-32-11) can’t clinch Tuesday as doing so depends on the Penguins’ result Wednesday. The Flyers will be eliminated Tuesday, however, if they lose in any fashion or if the Red Wings record a point or more.
– The Capitals (39-31-11) control their destiny tonight. They clinch the final East playoff spot if they defeat the Flyers in any fashion. Washington’s season ends if they lose to the Flyers in regulation or if they lose in overtime or a shootout and the Red Wings win.
– The Pittsburgh Penguins (38-31-12) will be eliminated from the playoffs if the Capitals or Red Wings win Tuesday.
– The Winnipeg Jets (50-24-6) will secure home ice for their locked-in matchup with the Colorado Avalanche by collecting a single point against the Seattle Kraken Tuesday.
– The Vancouver Canucks’ (49-22-9) magic number is one for the Pacific Division title. They clinch it if they tally at least a point against the Calgary Flames.
– The Leafs’ Auston Matthews sits at 69 goals. With one Tuesday, he’d become the first player since 1992-93 to score 70 in a season.
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