The Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday can become the first three teams to clinch spots in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Canadiens, who have a League-leading 100 points, will clinch a playoff spot if they defeat the Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; RDS, SNE, TSN3) in regulation or overtime, and the Anaheim Ducks defeat the Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; NHLN-US, TVA Sports, PRIME, NESN) in any fashion, or if the Bruins defeat the Ducks in a shootout.
Montreal also can get in if it defeats Winnipeg in a shootout if Anaheim defeats Boston in any fashion. Montreal also would clinch a spot if it gets one point against Winnipeg and Anaheim defeats Boston in regulation.
The Rangers, who lead the Metropolitan Division with 99 points, can clinch a spot if they defeat the Ottawa Senators (7:30 p.m. ET; MSG+, RDS2, TSN5) and the Ducks defeat the Bruins in any fashion.
New York also would clinch a spot with one point against Ottawa combined with an Anaheim regulation win against Boston.
The Lightning, who are second in the Atlantic Division with 99 points, would clinch a spot if they defeat the Nashville Predators (7:30 p.m. ET; FS-TN, SUN) in any fashion and the Ducks win against the Bruins in any fashion.
Tampa Bay also would get in if it gets one point against Nashville and Anaheim wins in regulation against Boston.
There is no clinching scenario for the Canadiens, Rangers or Lightning if they lose their games in regulation Thursday.
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