There are 10 games on the schedule Thursday, all with playoff implications:
-- The Penguins are third in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind the second-place New York Islanders and two points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes, who hold the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Penguins are 5-1-0 in their past six games, including a 5-3 win against the first-place Washington Capitals on Tuesday. The Sabres are 12 points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card in the East.
-- The Canadiens enter Thursday out of a playoff position but are tied in points (81) with the Blue Jackets for the second wild card in the East and are two points behind the Hurricanes. The Blue Jackets and Hurricanes each own the regulation/overtime wins tiebreaker against the Canadiens. The Islanders would move back into a first-place tie in points in the Metropolitan with a win and a Capitals loss in regulation, but would fall to third in the division if they lose in regulation and the Penguins win in any way.
-- Rookie Carter Hart, out since Feb. 21 with an ankle injury, will be back in goal for the Flyers, who are five points behind the Blue Jackets for the second wild card. The Capitals are atop the Metropolitan Division by two points on the Islanders, who have a game in hand.
-- The Blues are trying to hold on to third place in the Central Division. They lead the Dallas Stars, the first wild card, by two points, but Dallas has the regulation/overtime wins tiebreaker. St. Louis is four points behind the second-place Nashville Predators with two games in hand. The Senators have been eliminated from playoff contention.
-- The Lightning, who lead the NHL by a hefty margin (110 points to the San Jose Sharks' 94) are looking to solidify their hold on the Presidents' Trophy. The Red Wings have been eliminated from playoff contention.
-- This is a crucial game for each team, with the Stars holding the first wild card in the West with 77 points and the Wild, who have 74 points, one point behind the Arizona Coyotes for the second wild card. Ben Bishop has recorded shutouts in each of his past three games and can become the first goalie in Stars/Minnesota North Stars history, and the ninth in NHL history, to have a shutout in four straight appearances.
-- The Bruins have lost their past two games after getting a point in 19 consecutive games. They're looking to hold on to second place in the Atlantic Division and earn home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs, likely against the third-place Toronto Maple Leafs, who they lead by four points. The Jets have lost their past two games and three of their past four but lead the Predators by one point for first in Central with two games in hand.
Anaheim Ducks at Arizona Coyotes (10 p.m. ET; FS-A, PRIME, NHL.TV) -- A surprising twist this season has the Ducks 10 points out of a playoff spot and the Coyotes holding the second wild card in the West. The Coyotes are 18-9-3 since Jan. 4 and 9-2-0 in their past 11 games; they lead the Wild by one point for the second wild card.
Nashville Predators at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; SN, FS-W, FS-TN, NHL.TV) -- The Predators have three wins -- all via the shootout -- in their past eight games. They are one point behind the Jets for first in the Central and are four points ahead of the third-place Blues. The Kings are last in the West, 17 points behind the Coyotes.
Florida Panthers at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, FS-F, NHL.TV) -- San Jose, which has won six straight games, can become the second team to clinch a playoff berth this season. The Sharks will join the Tampa Bay Lightning in the playoffs with any kind of win combined with a Wild loss in regulation or any kind of win combined with a Minnesota loss in the shootout or overtime and a Coyotes loss in regulation. San Jose leads the Calgary Flames by one point in the Pacific. The Panthers are nine points behind the Blue Jackets for the second wild card in the East.
