Five of the eight teams in action Wednesday are fighting for playoff position, and one still has faint hopes of extending its season past the second week of April. Let's take a look at what's on the line:
Chicago Blackhawks at Pittsburgh Penguins (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVA Sports, NHL.TV) -- Would anyone mind seeing a Blackhawks-Penguins Stanley Cup Final? Seven games of Jonathan Toews vs. Sidney Crosby? Sign us up. Each is looking to close the gap on the NHL-leading Washington Capitals. The Penguins can't move out of third in the Metropolitan Division if they win because they will have played one more game than the Columbus Blue Jackets, but they can match them with 105 points and get within three of the Capitals. The Blackhawks also would get to 105 points with a victory, as well as cement their spot atop the Central Division.
Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SN, FS-W, NHL.TV) -- The Flames can clinch their berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a defeat of the Kings Tuesday. They have the first wild card, and a win would get them within one point of the Edmonton Oilers for third place in the Pacific Division. The Kings need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive; they're nine points behind the St. Louis Blues for the second wild card in the Western Conference with seven games remaining.
Washington Capitals at Colorado Avalanche (10 p.m. ET; ALT, CSN-DC, NHL.TV) --The Capitals defeated the Wild in overtime Tuesday to win their fifth straight game. They can extend their lead in the race for Presidents' Trophy, and matching last season's team-record totals of 56 wins and 120 points remains possible if they win six of their final seven.
St. Louis Blues at Arizona Coyotes (10 p.m. ET; SN360, FS-A, FS-MW, NHL.TV) -- The Blues can clinch their playoff berth with a win and a Kings loss to the Flames, or if they get one point and the Kings lose in regulation. The Blues also can jump into third place in the Central Division with a win, or with one point in an overtime or shootout loss. They would match the Nashville Predators with 89 points, and have the first tiebreaker because they have more regulation/overtime wins (ROW), 40-37.