NHL Playoff Picture March 29: Standings & Latest Projections

It's been a few days since our latest NHL postseason projections and in that time things have changed just a bit. A handful of teams have clinched while others have cemented themselves in specific seeds and, perhaps most importantly, others have been, officially, left out on the outside looking in. Of course, that doesn't mean there's still room for some serious movement before the playoffs get underway in April. In fact, the Atlantic Division is still very much up in the air, the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues are jockeying for positioning in the Western Conference and the Anaheim Ducks simply refuse to go away. In other words, things are just starting to get fun. Read on for a breakdown of the current NHL playoff outlook, who would play who if the season ended right this very moment and what squads have been, officially, eliminated. NHL Eastern Conference Playoff Picture Metropolitan Division Washington Capitals Record: 54-16-5, Points: 113, Playoff Picture: The Caps clinched the Presidents' Trophy with a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday and continue to be so far everyone else that it's almost funny at this point. Washington is the only Eastern Conference team that has actually clinched a playoff spot at this point. The only one. It is March 29. New York Rangers Record: 43-24-9, Points: 95, Playoff Picture: Another dramatic finish, another loss for the Rangers on Sunday night. New York dropped an OT matchup to the Pittsburgh Penguins are Garden ice and while the game won't exactly hurt the Rangers' postseason chances, it shouldn't inspire any confidence. The Blueshirts have had trouble holding onto leads all season and a projected first round matchup against the Pens won't making turning that trend around any easier. Pittsburgh Penguins Record: 42-25-8, Points: 92, Playoff Picture: Even with Sunday's victory over the Rangers, Pittsburgh is still sitting in third in the Metropolitan Division, but don't let that lull you into thinking the Penguins aren't dangerous. Quite the opposite. In fact, since March 11, the squad has lost just one game. One. That's one heck of a streak to take into the playoffs. New York Islanders Record: 40-25-9, Points: 89, Playoff Picture: The Islanders need to win. Badly. That seems almost obvious to point in a story about playoff berths and postseason livelihoods, but it particularly true when it comes to New York. The squad has the most points and the most remaining games of the four teams currently vying for the Eastern Conference wild-card spots, but they aren't easy matchups. Those upcoming games? Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Washington and the New York Rangers. Yikes. Philadelphia Flyers Record: 37-25-13, Points: 87, Playoff Picture: Right now, the Flyers are playing some of the best hockey in the league and, certainly, the best hockey of any possible wild card teams. Monday's OT victory was dramatic in the best way possible and Philadelphia is now 6-2-2 in its last 10 games. The biggest opponent for the Flyers right now may actually be the Detroit Red Wings, particularly since they have one game in hand on the Atlantic Division foe. However, the key is winning in those upcoming games. After all, the first tiebreaker at the end of the season is regulation and overtime wins; the Red Wings have one more. LIKELY NOT IN: New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, ELIMINATED: Columbus Blue Jackets Atlantic Division Florida Panthers Record: 42-24-9, Points: 93, Playoff Picture: The Panthers helped their own cause in a big way last week with victories over both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins; the two teams closest to them in the division standings. It also helps that Florida has seven games left, while Tampa Bay has six and, most importantly, a pretty darn favorable schedule. Of their seven upcoming games, the Panthers play two teams already eliminated from postseason contention; twice. Tampa Bay Lightning Record: 44-27-5, Points: 93, Playoff Picture: Tampa Bay is tied with the Panthers in the Atlantic standings with 93 points, but the Lightning have also already played one more game than Florida. That doesn't bode well for the chances of moving into the top spot. Also not helping? A four-game road trip to wrap up the regular season that includes games against the Islanders and Rangers. Boston Bruins Record: 40-28-8, Points: 88, Playoff Picture: It was not a particularly good week for the Bruins. Or, rather, a good few weeks. From March 15 to March 24, Boston went winless and the offense struggled mightily, scoring just seven goals in five games. The Bruins did snap the losing streak with a 3-1 win at Toronto on Saturday, but, now, sitting at 88 points in third place, they're unlikely to make much movement in the standings. Boston will, most likely, make the playoffs, but it could very easily be as a wild card. Detroit Red Wings Record: 38-27-11, Points: 87, Playoff Picture: The Red Wings hung on for their playoff lives on Monday with a 3-2 victory over the Sabres and, now, have the same 87 points as the Philadelphia Flyers in the Metropolitan. But - and this is a big but - Detroit is just one point behind the Bruins, who face a tough schedule to wrap up the regular season. The next few games are going to be crucial for the Red Wings, particularly with the way the end of the season is shaping up. Detroit's last three games? Home against the Flyers, on the road against the Bruins and Rangers. LIKELY NOT IN: Ottawa Senators ELIMINATED: Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs NHL Western Conference Playoff Picture Central Division Dallas Stars Record: 45-22-9, Record: 99, Playoff Picture: The Stars are in, it's just a matter of where. Dallas has already clinched a playoff spot, but currently sit tied at 99 points with the St. Louis Blues. The rest of the season is no picnic though. Dallas has two more matchups against the Nashville Predators and the final two road games of the season are against the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks. St. Louis Blues Record: 45-22-9, Points: 99, Playoff Picture: Another team that has already clinched a postseason berth, the Blues are playing some absurdly good hockey right now. St. Louis, who is tied with the Stars in the division standings, haven't given up a goal since March 16. It'll be tough to maintain that kind of defensive trend, but it certainly was impressive while it lasted. So, what's the squad's reward? Well, if the season ended right now the Blues would play the Blackhawks. Chicago Blackhawks Record: 44-25-7, Points: 95, Playoff Picture: The Blackhawks are on a two-game win streak! After the kind of March this team has had, that really does seem like an accomplishment. It's also a big-time boost in the standings and now Chicago sits a comfortable four points ahead of the Predators and, more importantly, out of the wild card. Nashville Predators Points: 39-24-13, Points: 91, Playoff Picture: It's not an easy road to the postseason for Nashville. The Predators, who seemed to just come out of nowhere a few weeks ago, take on the Dallas Stars on the road tonight and then face off against the divisional foe in the regular season finale as well. In between those games are matchups against the Penguins, Sharks, Avalanche and Coyotes. Yeah, that's a pretty tough draw, but a few wins in that stretch could lock up a wild card. Minnesota Wild Record: 37-28-11, Points: 85, Playoff Picture: Saturday's win over Colorado was huge for the Wild and their postseason hopes. Minnesota is currently sitting at 85 points, six behind Nashville, but there's the silver lining; the Pacific isn't really that good. So, the next closest team to Minnesota in the wild card standings? Colorado at 82 points. LIKELY NOT IN: Colorado Avalanche ELIMINATED: Winnipeg Jets Pacific Division Los Angeles Kings Record: 45-26-5, Points: 95, Playoff Picture: The Kings are sitting one point ahead of Anaheim in the division standings with one game in hand and a postseason berth already clinched. So, yeah, the April 7 matchup against the Ducks is probably going to be pretty important to the standings. Anaheim Ducks Record: 42-23-10, Points: 94, Playoff Picture: The Ducks have a major opportunity in front of them right now. Sure, Anaheim has already clinched a playoff spot, but they can still move a bit in the standings - even up to the No. 1 spot in the Pacific. The final three games of the season, road games at Los Angeles, Colorado and Washington, will help decide if that's possible. San Jose Sharks Record: 42-28-6, Points: 90, Playoff Picture: Monday night's 5-2 victory over the Kings was a major step in the momentum-turning direction and the Sharks now sit just four points behind the Ducks for second in the division. The rest of the season is fairly favorable as far as matchups go, so it will be interesting to see how San Jose wraps this one up. LIKELY NOT IN: Arizona Coyotes ELIMINATED: Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers

NHL Playoff Picture March 29: Standings & Latest Projections

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NHL Playoff Picture March 29: Standings & Latest Projections