Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: 14 games with impact on races

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2021 NHL postseason. There are 18 days left in the regular season and the races in each of the four divisions -- the seven-team Scotia North and eight-team MassMutual East, Discover Central and Honda West -- are tight. The top four teams in each of the four divisions reach the playoffs.
Here is a look at the NHL standings and everything else that could impact the playoff picture.

Clinching scenario for Saturday
The New York Islanders will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the New York Rangers in regulation (7 p.m. ET; MSG+ 2, MSG, NHL.TV).
On Tap
There are 15 games on the NHL schedule Saturday, 14 of them with playoff implications:
Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, NESN, MSB-B, NHL.TV):The Bruins have won two in a row and are fourth in the East Division, one point behind the third-place Islanders and six ahead of the fifth-place Rangers. The Sabres have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Detroit Red Wings (3 p.m. ET; SN1, BSDET, BSFL, NHL.TV):The teams begin a two-game series that concludes Sunday. Tampa Bay, which has clinched a playoff berth, has won four in a row. The Lightning are third in the Central Division, one point behind the second-place Florida Panthers, three behind the first-place Carolina Hurricanes and 14 ahead of the fourth-place Nashville Predators. The Red Wings have been eliminated from contention.
New York Rangers at New York Islanders (7 p.m. ET; MSG+ 2, MSG, NHL.TV):The Islanders are third in the East, four points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, who share first, and one point ahead of the fourth-place Bruins. The Rangers are fifth and trail the Bruins by six points.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, NBCSWA, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV):The Capitals and Penguins are tied for first in the East. Washington has played 50 games and Pittsburgh 51. The Penguins have three overtime wins and one shootout win against the Capitals this season, including 5-4 in overtime Thursday, when each team clinched a playoff berth.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSOH, NHL.TV):The Hurricanes are first in the Central, two points ahead of the second-place Florida Panthers, and have one regulation loss (6-1-3) in their past 10 games. Columbus has been eliminated from contention.
Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, CITY, SNE, NHL.TV):The Canadiens are fourth in the North Division, four points behind the third-place Winnipeg Jets and six ahead of the fifth-place Calgary Flames. The Senators will be eliminated from contention with a loss of any kind. They are sixth in the division and 11 points behind Montreal with six games to play.
Vancouver Canucks at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET; CBC, SNO, SNW, SNP, NHL.TV):The Maple Leafs, who have clinched a playoff berth, have won four in a row and lead the North by nine points over the second-place Edmonton Oilers. The Canucks have lost three in a row and are seventh. They are 12 points behind the fourth-place Canadiens with 12 games to play.
San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche (8 p.m. ET; ALT, NBCSCA, NHL.TV):The Avalanche are second in the West Division, four points behind the first-place Vegas Golden Knights and two ahead of the third-place Minnesota Wild. The Sharks are sixth, seven points behind the fourth-place St. Louis Blues. This is the second of a back-to-back set after Colorado won 3-0 on Friday.
St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, BSN, BSWI, BSMW, NHL.TV):The Wild are third in the West, two points behind the Avalanche and 14 ahead of the fourth-place Blues, who have won four in a row and are three points ahead of the fifth-place Arizona Coyotes with three games in hand. St. Louis was outside the playoff picture before beginning their winning streak April 24.
Florida Panthers at Chicago Blackhawks (8 p.m. ET; NBCSCH+, BSFL, NHL.TV):The Panthers are second in the Central, two points behind the first-place Hurricanes and one ahead of the third-place Lightning. The Blackhawks are sixth, six points behind the fourth-place Predators.
Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, BSSO, BSSW+, NHL.TV):Fourth place in the Central is on the line with the Predators holding a two-point lead over the Stars. Nashville has been in fourth snice March 28, while Dallas has moved from seventh to fifth during that span. The Stars have played an NHL-high 17 games that have gone to overtime
Vegas Golden Knights at Arizona Coyotes (10 p.m. ET; BSAZ+, ATTSN-RM, NHL.TV):The Golden Knights were shut out 3-0 by the Coyotes on Friday that ended a 10-game winning streak, but lead the West by four points over the Avalanche. Arizona is fifth, three points behind fourth place St. Louis.
Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET; BSSC, KDOC, NHL.TV):This is the second of a back to back at Anaheim, where Los Angeles rallied with two goals in the final 5:04 to defeat the Ducks 2-1 on Friday. The Kings have eight games remaining and are seventh in the West, eight points back of the fourth-place Blues. The Ducks have been eliminated from contention.
Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. ET: NHLN, CBC, SN, TVAS2, NHL.TV): This is the second of a two-game series in the Battle of Alberta after Calgary won 3-1 at Edmonton on Thursday. The Oilers are second in the North, nine points behind the first-place Maple Leafs and three ahead of the third-place Jets. The Flames have won three of their past four and are in fifth, six points behind the fourth-place Canadiens.

About last night

There were four games Friday, each with playoff implications:
Montreal Canadiens 5, Winnipeg Jets 3: Nick Suzuki had two goals and an assist and the Canadiens scored the final four goals of the game to extend the Jets' losing streak to six (0-6-0). Montreal, fourth in the North, moved to within four points of third-place Winnipeg and is now six points ahead of the fifth-place Calgary Flames.
Colorado Avalanche 3, San Jose Sharks 0: Mikko Rantanen had a goal and two assists and Philipp Grubauer made 21 saves for his sixth shutout of the season and third against the Sharks. Colorado moved into sole possession of second place in the West, four points behind the first-place Vegas Golden Knights and two ahead of the third-place Minnesota Wild. San Jose remained sixth in the division, seven points back of the fourth-place St. Louis Blues.
Arizona Coyotes 3, Vegas Golden Knights 0: Adin Hill made 25 saves for his second shutout of the season, helping the Coyotes end the Golden Knights' winning streak at 10 games. Arizona, fifth in the West, is three points back of fourth-place St. Louis. Vegas is first in the division, four points ahead of second-place Colorado.
Los Angeles Kings 2, Anaheim Ducks 1: Lias Andersson and Anze Kopitar scored in the final 5:04 of the third period and Jonathan Quick made 33 saves to help the Kings rally past the Ducks. The Kings are seventh in the West, eight points behind the fourth-place Blues. The Ducks have been eliminated from playoff contention.

If playoffs started Saturday

Here is a look at the matchups for the first round as they stand entering games Saturday:
North Division
1. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. 4. Montreal Canadiens
2. Edmonton Oilers vs. 3. Winnipeg Jets
East Division
1. Washington Capitals vs. 4. Boston Bruins
2. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 3. New York Islanders
Central Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes vs. 4. Nashville Predators
2. Florida Panthers vs. 3. Tampa Bay Lightning
West Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights vs. 4. St. Louis Blues
2. Colorado Avalanche vs. 3. Minnesota Wild