Eight games on the Tuesday schedule will have a direct impact on the races in each conference for the Stanley Cup Playoffs:
-- The Hurricanes defeated the Devils 3-1 on March 2 and held the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Now they are seven points behind the Devils, who hold that spot. New Jersey forward Taylor Hall has 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 12 games in March, and has been held without a point three times.
--The Penguins are coming off a regular-season sweep against their division rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers, and are five points behind the Washington Capitals for first place in the Metropolitan Division. Detroit is 1-12-1 in its past 14 games.
-- The Blues have won five straight games and seven of their past eight and are one point behind the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild card into the playoffs from the West. The Sharks have won eight straight games, matching the third-longest winning streak in team history and are six points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division.
-- The Wild, third in the Central Division, have a road-heavy schedule in the final two weeks, playing five of their final seven games away from home. Nashville has lost its past three games and has a five-point lead on the Winnipeg Jets for the top spot in the division.
-- Forward Brad Marchand became the first Bruins player to have 80-plus points in back-to-back seasons since Hall of Famers Ray Bourque and Adam Oates did so from 1992-94. The Jets, who have won their past five games, are in second place in the Central, five points behind the Predators.
--The Stars have lost eight straight games (0-6-2) to fall six points behind the Avalanche for the second wild card from the West. The Flyers are 3-0-2 in their past five games and hold the first wild card into the playoffs from the East, three points ahead of the Devils. Philadelphia is tied in points with the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are in third place in the Metropolitan.
-- The Blue Jackets, who begin a three-game trip to Canada, had their 10-game winning streak end with a 2-1 loss against the Blues on Saturday. Oilers forward Connor McDavid leads the League in points (99) and is one away from back-to-back 100-point seasons.
--The Ducks are 5-0-1 in their past six games and are in third place in the Pacific, tied with the Los Angeles Kings but hold the tiebreaker having played one fewer game. Anaheim is six points behind the San Jose Sharks. Troy Terry, who played three seasons at the University of Denver and signed a three-year, entry-level contract Monday with the Ducks, could play.
