Stanley Cup Playoff Buzz: Coyotes, Avalanche face off in wild-card battle

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2019 NHL postseason. There are nine days left in the regular season and many of the races in each conference are wide open.
Here is a look at the NHL standings and everything else that could impact the playoff picture.

Here are the Stanley Cup Playoff clinching scenarios for March 29:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The St. Louis Blues will clinch a playoff berth:
* If they get at least one point against the New York Rangers ( 7 p.m. ET; MSG, FS-MW+, NHL.TV)
OR
\If the Arizona Coyotes lose in any fashion to the Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ALT2, FS-A PLUS, NHL.TV)
The Vegas Golden Knights will clinch a playoff berth:
\ If they get at least one point against the Minnesota Wild (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ATTSN-RM, FS-N+, NHL.TV)
OR
*If the Coyotes lose in any fashion

On tap

The Blues are within shouting distance of the Nashville Predators after winning four straight -- including victories against the Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning -- and sit two points behind the them for second place in the Central Division with one game in hand. The Blues are two points ahead of the Dallas Stars, with two games in hand. The Blues can clinch a playoff berth with one point against the Rangers or with a loss by the Arizona Coyotes to the Colorado Avalanche. The Rangers have been eliminated.
The Predators can tie the Winnipeg Jets for first in the Central Division with a win, however, the the Predators are two points ahead of the third-place Blues, who have one game in hand. The Penguins are two points behind the New York Islanders for second in the Metropolitan. They could forge another tie Friday with a win.
- This game could be considered a must-win for each team, duking it out down the stretch for the second wild card in the West. The Avalanche are two points ahead of the Coyotes, who have struggled. The Avalanche are five points back of the Stars for the first wild card.
- The Flames have lost their past two games, but they're also in a good position heading into the final five games of the season. They sit in first place in the Pacific and West, six points ahead of the San Jose Sharks. The Ducks have been eliminated.
Minnesota Wild at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ATTSN-RM, FS-N+, NHL.TV) - The Wild are four points behind the Avalanche for the second wild card, with the Coyotes two points ahead of them. The Golden Knights, who are in third place in the Pacific, five points behind the Sharks, can clinch a playoff berth for the second time in as many seasons with one point against the Wild or a Coyotes loss.

Thought of the day

There's one game on the schedule Friday that should be of interest: Arizona Coyotes at Colorado Avalanche. Not only is it a matchup of two teams on the Stanley Cup Playoffs bubble, but they're competing directly against each other for the final spot in the West, the second wild card.
So far, they've split the season series, meaning the outcome of this game could potentially provide another tiebreaker for the two teams.
The Coyotes -- who have performed far above expectations, given the way they've been slammed by injuries this season -- are two points behind the Avalanche, with each team having played 77 games. Colorado leads 34 to 33 in regulation and overtime wins, which is the first tiebreaker.
With a non-shootout win, the Coyotes can tie the Avalanche in both points and ROW.
But the Avalanche are getting a boost. Forward Gabriel Landeskog is back after a nine-game absence.
Though forward Mikko Rantanen remains out, Landeskog returns from a separated shoulder sustained March 7 that was supposed to keep him out at least a month. The Avalanche have gone 6-2-1 without him. Landeskog has 69 points (33 goals, 36 assists) in 68 games this season.
Not that Arizona is willing to give up so easily. After enduring a five-game losing streak -- getting two points in that stretch -- the Coyotes earned what could have been their biggest win of the season, 1-0 against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday with a third-period power-play goal by Nick Cousins.
So, yes, there might be some desperation at Pepsi Center in Denver on Friday (9 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ALT2, FS-A PLUS, NHL.TV) for each team. That makes it worth tuning in to see whether the Avalanche can open some space -- or whether the Coyotes can make it a race down the stretch.
Amalie Benjamin, NHL.com Staff Writer

If playoffs started Friday

Here is a look at the matchups for the first round as they stand entering games Friday:
Eastern Conference
(1A) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (WC2) Columbus Blue Jackets
(1M) Washington Capitals vs. (WC1) Carolina Hurricanes
(2A) Boston Bruins vs. (3A) Toronto Maple Leafs
(2M) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (3M) New York Islanders
Western Conference
(1P) Calgary Flames vs. (WC2) Colorado Avalanche
(1C) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC1) Dallas Stars
(2P) San Jose Sharks vs. (3P) Vegas Golden Knights
(2C) Nashville Predators vs. (3C) St. Louis Blues

About last night

Six of the eight games on the schedule Thursday had playoff implications:
Washington Capitals 3, Carolina Hurricanes 2: The Capitals clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and remained three points ahead of the New York Islanders for first place in the Metropolitan Division. The Hurricanes maintained their lead for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. They are one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens.

Columbus Blue Jackets 6, Montreal Canadiens 2: The Blue Jackets moved into a tie with the Canadiens for the second wild card in the East. The Blue Jackets and Canadiens each have 90 points, but Columbus has one game in hand. Each trails the Hurricanes by one point for the first wild card.

New York Islanders 5, Winnipeg Jets 4:The Islanders scored two goals in the final two minutes of the third period to move two points ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Islanders are three points behind the first-place Capitals. The Jets missed a chance to grow their lead for first in the Central Division; they lead the Nashville Predators by two points.

The Stars moved five points ahead of the Colorado Avalanche for the first wild card in the West and within two points of the St. Louis Blues for third place in the Central Division. The Blues have played two fewer games. The Oilers moved within six points of the Avalanche for the second wild card.
Chicago Blackhawks 5, San Jose Sharks 4: The Sharks, who lost for the seventh straight time, remained six points behind the Calgary Flames for first in the Western Conference and the Pacific Division. They are five points ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights for second in the division. The Blackhawks moved within five points of the Avalanche for the second wild card with five games remaining.
Vancouver Canucks 3, Los Angeles Kings 2: The Canucks stayed alive in the playoff race with the win. They are seven points behind the Avalanche with four games left on their schedule.