NHL Playoff Picture April 4: Standings & Latest Projections

Things are starting to get fun. Or a little bit desperate. It kind of depends what side of things you're on. Either way, the NHL playoff picture is really starting to take shape and while things are mostly wrapped up in the Western Conference as far as which teams are in, the Eastern Conference isn't quite as set in stone. In fact, the Eastern Conference is a bit of a jumbled mess. Teams are moving up and down in the standings, jumping in and out of postseason contention and injuries have us all a little bit worried about a handful of squads heading into the playoffs. See, we said things were starting to get fun. Read on for a complete breakdown of the latest NHL playoff outlook, including a look at who is likely facing who once the playoffs start and what squads have been, officially, eliminated. NHL Eastern Conference Playoff Picture Metropolitan Division Washington Capitals Record: 55-17-6, Points: 116, Playoff Picture: There's not really much to say about the Capitals at this point. Washington has already clinched the Presidents' Trophy and notched a record 55 wins this season. The Caps are good. They're really good. That's about all there is to say, really, it's just kind of waiting for the postseason at this point. At this point, Washington is slated to play the Flyers in the first round. Pittsburgh Penguins Record: 46-26-8, Points: 100, Playoff Picture: What happened to the Penguins? We mean that in a good way, because, right now, the Penguins are really good. Like one of the most dangerous teams in the playoffs good. Pittsburgh is 9-1-0 in its last ten games and, coming into Monday, is riding a six-game win streak. Hockey gods help whatever team has to play the Pens in the first round - we're looking at you New York Rangers. New York Rangers Record: 43-26-9, Points: 95, Playoff Picture: Three straight losses have dropped the Rangers into third place in the Metropolitan standings and added a bit of murkiness to New York's postseason future. The Blueshirts still haven't clinched yet and now, sitting five points behind Pittsburgh, the chances of getting back to the No. 2 seed seem rather unlikely. We're not here to condone losing games, but it might actually help New York if the squad just happened to fall into the first Wild Card. New York Islanders Record: 42-26-9, Points: 93, Playoff Picture: After notching three straight wins and maybe gaining back a bit of much-needed confidence, the Islanders dropped a disappointing 5-0 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday. New York, the current first Wild Card, still has five games left on the schedule including a Monday night tilt against the Lightning and Thursday's game against the Rangers could be huge for the Islanders chances of moving up in the standings. Philadelphia Flyers Record: 39-26-13, Points: 91, Playoff Picture: The Flyers refused to die. Philadelphia, currently sitting in the last Wild Card spot, may have dropped a disappointing game to Pittsburgh on Sunday, but the Flyers are still one of the most physical squads in the league and they're not going to go down without a fight. They're also still one very important point ahead of the Bruins in the Wild Card race. Also we'd really like to see a Caps-Flyers first round, so if Philly could make that happen, that would be great. ELIMINATED: Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes, Atlantic Division Florida Panthers Record: 44-25-9, Points: 97, Playoff Picture: The Panthers are very much in control of their own playoff fate with four games left on the schedule and a two-point cushion on first place in the Atlantic. Florida clinched a postseason berth on Sunday after the Bruins loss and odds are pretty good that the Panthers will secure home ice advantage sooner rather than later as well. Tampa Bay Lightning Record: 45-28-5, Points: 95, Playoff Picture: The news that Steven Stamkos will miss the next one to three months with a blood clot sent shockwaves through the entire NHL world and also did a number to the Lightning's Atlantic title hopes. Tampa Bay is four points ahead of the Red Wings in the standings, but fans have plenty of reason to be worried heading towards the end of the regular season. Detroit Red Wings Record: 40-28-11, Points: 91, Playoff Picture: It was basically move in to third place or sit on the outside, looking in when it came to Detroit's postseason chances and the Red Wings didn't disappoint this weekend. Detroit notched back-to-back wins and, of course, the Bruins loss helped as well. That being said, Wednesday's game against the Flyers is going to have some serious playoff implications on both sides. Boston Bruins Record: 41-30-8, Points: 90, Playoff Picture: Boston staged one heck of a comeback attempt on Sunday after falling behind six goals to the Chicago Blackhawks. But six is one heck of a deficit to make up and despite scoring four straight, the Bruins couldn't grab a victory. It's now got them on the outside of the postseason bubble, one point behind the Red Wings for the final spot in the Atlantic and one behind the Flyers for the final Wild Card in the East. ELIMINATED: Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators NHL Western Conference Playoff Picture Central Division Dallas Stars Record: 48-23-9, Record: 105, Playoff Picture: The Stars only have two games left on the schedule and both of them are on home ice. In other words Dallas is in a pretty good spot, despite Sunday night's 3-1 loss to the Ducks. If the season ended right now, the Stars would be facing off against the Wild in the first round of the playoffs. St. Louis Blues Record: 47-23-9, Points: 103, Playoff Picture: St. Louis went 2-of-3 on the ice this week, with both victories coming against the Avalanche. The Blues do have a chance to move into first in the Central, with three games left on the schedule. They also have a chance to move into third. Keep an eye on Thursday's game against the Blackhawks. It could be a preview of an impending first round series. We've got our fingers crossed for that one. Chicago Blackhawks Record: 46-26-7, Points: 99, Playoff Picture: Breaking news. Patrick Kane is really good at playing hockey. The Blackhawks star netted a hat trick on Sunday, leading his squad to a 6-4 victory over the Bruins. So, what are the chances that Chicago could move into second in the standings in the final few days of the regular season? Possible, but also slightly unlikely. The Hawks have three games left and likely would need to win out to even consider moving up. Nashville Predators Record: 39-26-14, Points: 92, Playoff Picture: The Predators are currently sitting in the first Wild Card out of the West and, if the season ended right now, would get a first round series against Anaheim. This is pretty much locked in - at least the Wild Card part. Nashville has three games let and is seven points behind the Blackhawks. Minnesota Wild Record: 38-31-11, Points: 87, Playoff Picture: Minnesota, as a collective unit, should probably send some sort of thank you to the entire Pacific Division. The Wild are the second Wild Card in the Western Conference and no one in the Pacific is even a threat. In fact, everyone except the top three squads have been mathematically eliminated. The only threat to the Wild's postseaon berth is Colorado; five points behind. LIKELY NOT IN: Colorado Avalanche ELIMINATED: Winnipeg Jets Pacific Division Anaheim Ducks Record: 44-24-10, Points: 98, Playoff Picture: Welcome back to the top, Anaheim. The Ducks leapt over Los Angeles in the Pacific standings after notching a win over Dallas on Sunday night - the Kings lost to the Stars the night before. It's not a particularly strong hold on first though and that game on Thursday, against the Kings, is going to be huge. Los Angeles Kings Record: 46-27-5, Points: 97, Playoff Picture: Los Angeles has won just two games since March 21 and are 5-5 in the last ten, but a top spot in the Pacific isn't out of the question. The Kings have two games left on the schedule and one of them is a home matchup against Anaheim. San Jose Sharks Record: 44-29-6, Points: 94, Playoff Picture: Let's be honest, sure, San Jose could move into first, but the odds are pretty slim on that front. The Sharks only have three games left, while both Anaheim and Los Angeles have four. There's still some mathematic potential for movement, but don't quite hold your breath. ELIMINATED: Arizona Coyotes, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers

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