The Washington Capitals and New York Islanders can clinch playoff spots with wins on Saturday.
Washington visits the Ottawa Senators in the second of a three-game road trip. The Capitals are looking to get back to the post-season after missing the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons last year.
The Capitals need a regulation win tonight to clinch.
A win in Ottawa won’t be easy though. The Senators are in a fight for their own playoff lives and sit three points back of the Boston Bruins for the second wild card seed in the Eastern Conference with one game in hand.
Washington won both meetings between the two clubs by identical 2-1 margins and will look for the season series sweep tonight.
The Capitals enter tonight’s action as the second seed in the Metropolitan Division.
A Washington regulation win coupled with a New York victory over the Buffalo Sabres will clinch a playoff spot for the Islanders.
The Islanders enter tonight’s action with just one win in their last five.
New York and Buffalo have split the first two games in the season series.
The Islanders are looking to clinch a postseason berth for the second time in three seasons.
New York is currently third in the Metropolitan Division.
The Minnesota Wild can clinch if they beat the Red Wings in regulation or overtime and the Flames lose in regulation.
If the Flames lose to Oilers in a shootout or overtime, the Wild would also require the Jets or Kings to lose in regulation. Minnesota can also clinch if the Jets and Kings lose in regulation and the Wild beat the Wings in regulation or overtime.
Minny can also clinch with a shootout win if the Flames lose in any fashion and the Jets or Kings lose in regulation. The Wild will also clinch with a shootout victory if both the Kings and Jets lose in regulation.
The Wild cannot clinch a playoff berth Saturday if they lose in any fashion.
Vancouver would clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Jets in regulation and either the Flames lose in any fashion or the Kings lose in regulation.
The Canucks can also clinch if they beat the Jets in overtime and the Flames lose in any fashion and the Kings lose in regulation.
If the Canucks defeat the Jets in a shootout, both the Flames and Kings would need to lose in regulation in order for Vancouver to clinch.
Vancouver cannot clinch tonight if they lose to the Jets.