The NHL playoff push is our regular look at the post-season picture as the battle to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs intensifies.
A massive night for the NHL with 15 games being played and the final playoff picture yet to play out.
The Red Wings, Bruins and Flyers are all in action, each with a chance to make or miss the playoffs, while the Western Conference has yet to determine its division winners.
Today’s games:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
If the season ended today…
(M1) vs. 
(WC2)
(A1) vs. 
(WC1)
(M2) vs. 
(M3)
(A2) vs. 
(A3)
More: How the Stanley Cup Playoffs format works
Series we’d love to see: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Islanders. These teams met in the first round three seasons ago with the eighth-seeded Islanders putting up a fight but eventually falling to the heavily-favoured Penguins in six games. The series featured plenty of offence however, with Pittsburgh eventually turning to Tomas Vokoun as their starting netminder with the teams scoring 42 goals over the six games.
The series ended on an overtime goal by Brooks Orpik of all people.
The Islanders would enter this series as heavy underdogs to the surging Penguins, but you never know what could happen in the playoffs, especially with Pittsburgh starter Marc-Andre Fleury injured, and the team relying on (an albeit impressive) rookie Matt Murray in net.
Saturday’s game to watch: Can the Detroit Red Wings clinch their 25th consecutive playoff berth? They can do so with a non-shootout win over the New York Rangers. If not, this could be Pavel Datsyuk‘s last game in the NHL.
In fact, all three bubble teams in the East (Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins) will be in action on Saturday, with their playoff clinching scenarios as follows (thanks to the people at nhl.com):
Detroit Red Wings Saturday Playoff Scenario
Opponent: at NY Rangers
DET Result Playoff Impact
Regulation/OT win: Will clinch playoff berth
Shootout win: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:
(1) Bruins lose to the Senators in any fashion
(2) Bruins defeat Senators in a shootout
(3) Flyers lose to Penguins in any fashion
* Cannot be eliminated with shootout win
OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:
(1) Bruins lose to Senators in any fashion
(2) Flyers lose to Penguins in regulation
* Cannot be eliminated with OT/shootout loss
Regulation loss: Will clinch playoff berth if:
(1) Bruins lose to Senators in regulation
Will be eliminated if all of the following occur:
(1) Bruins get at least one point against Senators
(2) Flyers defeat Penguins in any fashion
Boston Bruins Saturday Playoff Scenario
Opponent: home vs. Ottawa
BOS Result Playoff Impact
Regulation/OT win: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:
(1) Red Wings lose to Rangers in any fashion
(2) Red Wings defeat Rangers in a shootout
(3) Flyers lose to Penguins in any fashion
* Cannot be eliminated with regulation/OT win
Shootout win: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:
(1) Red Wings lose to Rangers in any fashion
(2) Flyers lose to Penguins in any fashion
* Cannot be eliminated with shootout win
OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:
(1) Red Wings lose to Rangers in regulation
(2) Flyers lose to Penguins in regulation
* Cannot be eliminated with OT/shootout loss
Regulation loss: Cannot clinch playoff berth
Will be eliminated if:
(1) Flyers defeat Penguins in any fashion
Philadelphia Flyers Saturday Playoff Scenario
Opponent: home vs. Pittsburgh
PHI Result Playoff Impact
Regulation/OT win: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:
(1) Red Wings lose to Rangers in regulation
(2) Bruins lose to Senators in regulation
* Cannot be eliminated with regulation/OT win
Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win
OT/Shootout loss: Cannot clinch playoff berth
Will be eliminated if all of the following occur:
(1) Red Wings defeat Rangers in any fashion
(2) Bruins defeat Senators in any fashion
Regulation loss: Cannot clinch playoff berth
Will be eliminated if all of the following occur:
(1) Red Wings get at least one point against Rangers
(2) Bruins get at least one point against Senators
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: St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks. This matchup was ranked as the No. 1 possible first-round pairing for a whole bunch of reasons covered by Sean McIndoe, and truthfully, it’s hard to go wrong with any of these Western Conference teams.
Honourable mention goes to Anaheim Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks, which would pit two of the league’s biggest, and most skilled teams against each other and would be well worth staying up for.
Saturday’s game(s) to watch: Both the Central and the Pacific Division champions have yet to be decided but we’ll give an edge in entertainment factor to the two games that will decide the Central. The Blues host the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Washington Capitals, while the Dallas Stars take on the Nashville Predators at home.
The clinching scenarios for both teams (once again courtesy the good folks at nhl.com) are as follows:
Dallas Stars Saturday Playoff Scenario
Opponent: home vs. Nashville
DAL Result Playoff Impact
Regulation/OT win: Will clinch Central Division title and No. 1 seed in Western Conference
Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win
OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch Central Division title and No. 1 seed in Western Conference if:
(1) Blues lose to Capitals in any fashion
Will clinch No. 2 seed in Central Division if:
(1) Blues defeat Capitals in any fashion
Regulation loss: Will clinch Central Division title and No. 1 seed in Western Conference if:
(1) Blues lose to Capitals in regulation
Will clinch No. 2 seed in Central Division if:
(1) Blues get at least one point against Capitals
St. Louis Blues Saturday Playoff Scenario
Opponent: home vs. Washington
STL Result Playoff Impact
Regulation/OT win: Will clinch Central Division title and No. 1 seed in Western Conference if:
(1) Stars lose to Predators in any fashion
Will clinch No. 2 seed in Central Division if:
(1) Stars defeat Predators in any fashion
Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win
OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch Central Division title and No. 1 seed in Western Conference if:
(1) Stars lose to Predators in regulation
Will clinch No. 2 seed in Central Division if:
(1) Stars get at least one point against Predators
Regulation loss: Will clinch No. 2 seed in Central Division
