Stanley Cup Playoff Buzz: Canadiens, Blue Jackets set for showdown

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2019 NHL postseason. There are 10 days left in the regular season and 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 28:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
The Washington Capitals will clinch a playoff berth:
* If they defeat the Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET: ESPN+, FS-CR, NBCSWA, NHL.TV) in any fashion.
OR
* If they get one point against Carolina AND the game between the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, FS-O, RDS, TSN2, NHL.TV) is decided in regulation, regardless of which team wins.

On tap

Six of the eight games on the schedule Thursday have playoff implications:
The Capitals, who defeated the Hurricanes 4-1 at Capital One Arena on Tuesday, can sweep their home-and-home set and clinch a playoff berth with a win. They also can clinch if they get one point and the game between the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena ends in regulation regardless of who wins. The Capitals lead the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders by three points in the Metropolitan Division. The Hurricanes, who are 4-1-0 in their past five home games, are four points behind the Penguins and Islanders. They are one point ahead of the Canadiens for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
The Canadiens, 4-0-1 in their past five games, lead the Blue Jackets by two points for the second wild card from the East, but the Blue Jackets have played one fewer game. Columbus is 0-2-0 against Montreal this season, but goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has shutouts in back-to-back games.
The Jets have a two-point lead on the second-place Nashville Predators in the Central Division and they're four points ahead of the third-place St. Louis Blues. The Islanders, who have been shut out three times in their past five games, are even in points with the Penguins and three points behind the first-place Capitals in the Metropolitan Division.
The Stars have won back-to-back games, including 2-1 at the Calgary Flames on Wednesday, and are four points behind the Blues for third place in the Central Division. They have a three-point lead on the Colorado Avalanche for the first wild card from the Western Conference. The Oilers, who have points in three straight games (2-0-1), are seven points behind the Avalanche for the second wild card from the West.
The Canucks have lost three straight games (0-3-0) and are nine points behind the Avalanche for the second wild card in the West with five games remaining.
The Sharks have lost six straight games (0-5-1) and are six points behind the Calgary Flames for first place in the Pacific Division and Western Conference. The Blackhawks have scored two goals or fewer in six straight games and are 2-3-1 in that span. They are seven points behind the Avalanche for the second wild card from the West.

Thought of the Day

The Washington Capitals can clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs as early as Thursday, and once there, they will attempt to defend their championship. But are they equipped to repeat?
The Capitals are faster than they were last season, in part because of the addition of forward Carl Hagelin before the NHL Trade Deadline. Hagelin has nine points (three goals, six assists) in 13 games since the trade, and a third line of Hagelin, center Lars Eller and right wing Brett Connolly adds scary offensive depth.
The biggest issue when it comes to the Capitals repeating could be health. Last season the Capitals had 14 skaters play at least 23 of their 24 postseason games, including five of their top six defensemen. Forward Tom Wilson was healthy for all 24 games but missed three because of a suspension.
Among those to dress for all 24 games were defenseman Michal Kempny, who formed a strong top pair with John Carlson. Kempny, a defensive-minded left-handed shot, allowed the right-shooting Carlson to join the rush more often while playing on his strong side. But with Kempny expected to be out long term with a lower-body injury, coach Todd Reirden has had to juggle his defense pairs. Christian Djoos has been seeing some of that ice time, but Reirden has rotated players alongside Carlson, and likely will continue to do so for as long as Kempny is out.
Making another deep postseason run is the goal, and Hagelin adds important speed to make that happen. But filling the possible void left by Kempny could be the difference.
Adam Kimelman, NHL.com deputy managing editor

If playoffs started Thursday

Here is a look at the matchups for the first round as they stand entering games Thursday:
Eastern Conference
(1A) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens
(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

All four games on the schedule Wednesday had playoff implications:
: The Maple Leafs fell six points behind the Boston Bruins for second place in the Atlantic Division after failing to hold a two-goal lead. The Flyers would have been eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention with a loss in regulation. They are eight points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
Boston Bruins 6, New York Rangers 3: David Pastrnak had a hat trick and two assists for the Bruins, who moved six points ahead of the Maple Leafs for second place in the Atlantic Division with five games remaining.
Dallas Stars 2, Calgary Flames 1: The Stars moved within four points of the St. Louis Blues for third place in the Central Division and are three points ahead of the Colorado Avalanche for the first wild card in the West. The Flames missed a chance to extend their lead for first place in the Western Conference and Pacific Division and are six points ahead of the second-place San Jose Sharks.
Colorado Avalanche 4, Vegas Golden Knights 3: The Avalanche moved two points ahead of the Arizona Coyotes for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference by winning for the fifth time in six games (5-0-1). The Avalanche remained three points behind the Stars for the first wild card. The Golden Knights missed a chance to clinch a playoff berth.