NHL Playoff Push: What's at stake this weekend

There are six days left on the NHL's regular season schedule, but so far none of the first-round matchups are set in stone.

By the end of this weekend, it's possible we could have more than one series locked in, one of the East's final two playoff spots up for grabs could be clinched, and various teams could earn home-ice advantage.

With a busy set of games on both Saturday and Sunday, here's our look at the key matchups and what's on the line in each. Reminder that 'RW' (regulation wins) are the first tie-breaker in any scenario.

N.Y. Islanders at N.Y. Rangers: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. ET

This one figures to be a heated follow up to Tuesday's 4-2 Islanders win, after which Rangers coach Peter Laviolette called out their opponents for a couple of "vicious" hits. Might he respond by putting Matt Rempe back in the lineup? On top of that, there are playoff implications here. The Islanders can clinch with a win and a little help from those around them. If the Islanders get two points in this game, they'll clinch if any of the following occurs:

• Red Wings lose to the Maple Leafs in any fashion and the Capitals lose to the Lightning in any fashion

• Red Wings lose to the Maple Leafs in any fashion and the Penguins lose to the Bruins in regulation

• Capitals lose to the Lightning in any fashion and the Penguins lose to the Bruins in regulation

If the Islanders get one point, they can still clinch if the Red Wings and Capitals both lose in regulation.

The Rangers have something to play for, too. With two games left they are one point up on Carolina for first in the division and league, while the Dallas Stars also trail the Rangers by one in the race to the top of the NHL table.

Buffalo at Florida: Saturday, 5:00 p.m. ET

With two games left, the Panthers are one point behind Boston for first in the Atlantic, though the Bruins still have a game in hand and could clinch first Saturday (more on that later). But Florida could at least clinch home-ice advantage for themselves in Round 1 of the playoffs if they get at least one point out of this game (or if Toronto loses its game against Detroit in any fashion).

New Jersey at Philadelphia: Saturday, 5:00 p.m. ET

A win over the Rangers on Thursday mercifully put an end to the Flyers' eight-game losing streak, but it may have come too late. The Flyers could officially be eliminated with a loss in any fashion to the Devils and a Pittsburgh win over Boston, or if the Flyers lose in regulation to the Devils and the Penguins get a single point against the Bruins.

Tampa Bay at Washington: Saturday, 5:30 p.m. ET

There is no way for Washington to clinch or get eliminated on Saturday, but depending how this game and the Islanders' one goes, the Caps could have a path to third in the Metro cut off. With just three games left, the Caps have no room for error left and face a Tampa Bay team that could lock in as the first wild-card seed in the East.

Detroit at Toronto: Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET

Though Toronto's chance at home-ice advantage could evaporate Saturday, we could know by the end of the day that they will, in fact, play the Florida Panthers in Round 1, depending on how the games involving Florida and Boston go. The Leafs would clinch a top three spot in the Atlantic with a win against Detroit, or if they got one point and Tampa lost to Washington.

Boston at Pittsburgh: Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ET

If Boston wins this game and Florida loses to Buffalo in regulation, the Bruins will clinch first in the Atlantic and home-ice advantage through at least the first two rounds. If not, we'll go into the final week with a Boston-Toronto Round 1 matchup still possible. At the same time, the Pittsburgh Penguins continue their chase for history, seeking to become the first team ever to overcome a nine-point deficit in their final 11 games to reach the playoffs. They now have the advantage, as the current holders of both the second wild-card spot and the tie-breaker.

Carolina at Chicago: Sunday, 6:00 p.m. ET

This one will take place on Sunday, but potentially looms large in the Metropolitan race. Depending on how the Rangers do against the Islanders on Saturday, the door could open for Carolina to take over top spot in the division, and possibly the league, too. Currently just one point back of the division lead, it's worth noting the Hurricanes hold the tiebreaker against the Rangers by one regulation win.

Seattle at Dallas: Saturday, 3:00 p.m. ET

Like Carolina, Dallas is still in the running for the Presidents' Trophy and has a chance to take over first place on Saturday. However, if it were to come down to the tie-breaker, the Stars will not be able to catch either team. With a win in this game, the Stars would at least clinch first place in the Central Division — and if they win and the Canucks lose, Dallas would clinch first in the West and home-ice through at least three rounds.

Winnipeg at Colorado: Saturday, 4:00 p.m. ET

Interestingly, if Dallas beats Seattle that would lock in Winnipeg-Colorado as a first-round matchup. So, with the division title fading, this game is about positioning for home-ice advantage in that series, with the Jets and Avs tied in points and both with three remaining games. Winnipeg holds the tie-breaker between the two by two regulation wins.

Columbus at Nashville: Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ET

With third in the Central out of reach, all the Predators can focus on now is staying ahead of Vegas and Los Angeles so that they wind up with the first wild card (and a date with Vancouver or Edmonton, instead of Dallas). The Predators cannot clinch that spot today, but a win would put them on the brink of doing so.

Vancouver at Edmonton: Saturday, 10:00 p.m. ET

It's not crazy to say that this game could determine first in the Pacific. The Canucks can't clinch top spot on Saturday, but a win would put them right on the edge of doing so, considering they have a grip on the tie-breaker. If Edmonton were to win this in regulation, suddenly they would be just one point back of Vancouver with a game in hand. Connor McDavid did not play in Friday's loss, but given what's on the line in Saturday's game, all eyes are on his potential return to the lineup.

Anaheim at Los Angeles: Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET

With three games left, the Kings are up by just a single point on Vegas for third in the Pacific, which right now gets you a Round 1 date with the Oilers. Los Angeles can't clinch the spot with a win in this game, but depending on how this and the next game goes, the Kings could be in the driver's seat coming out of the weekend.

Colorado at Vegas: Sunday, 3:30 p.m. ET

Looking into Sunday for this big matchup, the Golden Knights will either be trying to keep pace with Los Angeles, or possibly jump over them into third in the Pacific. If that happens, we'd have to say Vegas would be in a great spot to finish there, given their last two games are against Chicago and Anaheim at home. This game will also be the second half of a back-to-back for Colorado. If they manage to beat Winnipeg on Saturday and take this game as well, they'd put themselves in great position to earn home-ice advantage in Round 1. If they dropped both games, the opposite would be true.