The NHL Playoff Push is our daily look back and ahead at the post-season picture as teams position themselves for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
If the season ended today…
(A1) vs. 
(WC2)
(M1) vs. 
(WC1)
(A2) vs. 
(A3)
(M2) vs. 
(M3)
Note: The NHL changed the playoff format last season. Click here for full details.
Series we’d love to see: New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins — The last time these two faced off in the post-season, the Penguins had to lean on backup goalie Tomas Vokoun to overcome a first round scare. Will Marc-Andre Fleury be up for the challenge this time around?
What’d I miss? The Philadelphia Flyers moved within nine points of the idle Senators with a 4-1 victory over the Blackhawks. The Flyers have just seven games left to play and remain a total long shot to qualify for the post-season.
Thursday’s game to watch: New York Rangers vs. Ottawa Senators — Andrew Hammond is looking to become the second goalie in NHL history to begin his NHL career with 16 games without a regulation loss. The Hamburglar has elevated the Senators into a wild card position with a 14-0-1 record along with a .946 save percentage. The Rangers are expected to have Henrik Lundqvist in the lineup, but Cam Talbot will start in net. Lundqvist is dressing for the first time since Feb. 2. In his absence, Talbot went 15-4-3.
The rest of tonight’s sked:
-Anaheim Ducks vs. Boston Bruins: The Bruins are winless (0-3-2) in their past five games.
-Los Angeles Kings vs. New York Islanders: The Islanders have lost five of their past six games.
-New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals: The Capitals have taken three of four from the Devils this season.
-Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Carolina Hurricanes: Injured forward Evgeni Malkin isn’t ready to return.
-Florida Panthers vs. Toronto Maple Leafs: The Panthers have nine games left to make a late playoff push.
-San Jose Sharks vs. Detroit Red Wings: Jimmy Howard has four wins in 14 career games against the Sharks.
-Nashville Predators vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: Tampa Bay is one point behind first-place Montreal.
-Montreal Canadiens vs. Winnipeg Jets: Goaltender Dustin Tokarski will start in net for the Canadiens.
Fun Fact: Ottawa is 26-13-6 under coach Dave Cameron this season. They were 11-11-5 under Paul MacLean.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
If the season ended today…
(C1) vs. 
(WC2)
(P1) vs. 
(WC1)
(C2) vs. 
(C3)
(P2) vs. 
(P3)
Series we’d love to see: Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks – It’s always a good matchup when these two western Canadian teams face off: Of four meetings this season, each team has won two games (one at home, one away), with three out of four games being won by just a single point.
What’d I miss? The Flames picked up a point in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars. They gained ground on the idle Canucks but still remain four points back of Vancouver in the standings…The Edmonton Oilers beat the Colorado Avalanche in a rather meaningless game in terms of playoff implications. The Avalanche have lost three in a row and are 10 points out of a playoff spot with nine games remaining.
Thursday’s game to watch: Colorado Avalanche vs. Vancouver Canucks — The Canucks enter Thursday in second place in the Pacific Division, but they still need to hold off the Flames and L.A. Kings. Vancouver is 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. Colorado, on the other hand, doesn’t have much of a playoff chance. They’re in a losing skid after falling to the lowly Oilers on Wednesday night.
The rest of tonight’s sked:
-Anaheim Ducks vs. Boston Bruins: Anaheim has lost their last two games by a combined score of 12-5.
-Los Angeles Kings vs. New York Islanders: The Kings are seeking their third straight victory.
-San Jose Sharks vs. Detroit Red Wings: Sharks goalie Antti Niemi has a 3.39 goals-against average in his past five games.
-Nashville Predators vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: Injured Predators forward James Neal is not ready to return to the lineup.
Fun fact: Avalanche forward Jarome Iginla needs just two points to tie Jean Beliveau for the 40th-most points in NHL history.
