Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Stars can move into second wild card from West

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2022 NHL postseason. There are 28 days left in the regular season and the races in each of the four divisions are tight. The top three teams in each of the four divisions and the next two highest-place finishers in each conference reach the playoffs.

Here is a look at the
NHL standings
and everything else that could impact the playoff picture.

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On Tap

There are nine games on the NHL schedule Saturday, all with playoff implications.
Florida Panthers at New Jersey Devils (12:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN1, MSG+, BSFL, NHL LIVE): The Panthers have won five of their past six games and can increase their six-point lead on the second-place Tampa Bay Lightning in the Atlantic Division. The Devils have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Colorado Avalanche (3 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN, SN1, NHL LIVE): The Penguins are 5-2-1 in their past eight games and a win will move them one point ahead of the New York Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Avalanche go for their third straight win and look to increase their 15-point lead on the second-place Minnesota Wild in the Central Division and their four-point lead on the Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes for the Presidents' Trophy.
Los Angeles Kings at Winnipeg Jets (7 p.m. ET: SN360, CITY, SNW, BSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE): The Kings can move to within three points of the first-place Calgary Flames in the Pacific Division. The Jets, who were 10-5-1 in March, are four points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET; NESN, BSOH, ESPN+, NHL LIVE): The Bruins have won five of their past six games and can move into a tie with the Toronto Maple Leafs for third in the Atlantic Division. The Blue Jackets are 15 points behind the Washington Capitals for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference.
Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, CITY, SNE, TVAS, BSSUN, NHL LIVE): The Lightning have won four straight and could move within four points of the first-place Panthers in the Atlantic. The Canadiens have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET: CBC, SNO, SNP, NBCSP, ESPN+, NHL LIVE): The Maple Leafs have won three straight and are one point behind the Lightning for second in the Atlantic. The Flyers have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Minnesota Wild at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET: BSSO, BSN, BSWIX, ESPN+, NHL LIVE): The Hurricanes enter Saturday first in the Metropolitan and tied with the Panthers atop the Eastern Conference. The Wild play their first road game since March 11 and look to extend their three-point lead on the third-place St. Louis Blues in the Central Division.
St. Louis Blues at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET; CBC, SN, CITY, TVAS2, BSMW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE): The Flames look to increase their five-point lead on the Kings for first in the Pacific. The Blues are 2-0-1 in their past three games and are three points behind the Wild for second in the Central.
Dallas Stars at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, BSSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE): The Stars have won five of their past six and are one point behind the Golden Knights for the second wild card from the West. San Jose is 14 points behind Vegas for the second wild card from the West.

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If playoffs started Saturday

Here is a look at the matchups for the first round as they stand entering games Saturday:
Eastern Conference
(1A) Florida Panthers vs. (WC2) Washington Capitals
(1M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC1) Boston Bruins
(2A) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3A) Toronto Maple Leafs
(2M) New York Rangers vs. (3M) Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference
(1C) Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC2) Vegas Golden Knights
(1P) Calgary Flames vs. (WC1) Nashville Predators
(2C) Minnesota Wild vs. (3C) St. Louis Blues
(2P) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3P) Edmonton Oilers

About last night

There were seven games Friday, each with playoff implications:
Buffalo Sabres 4, Nashville Predators 3: Tage Thompson scored two goals for the Sabres and Victor Olofsson broke a 3-3 tie with a power-play goal at 14:25 of the second period. Buffalo is 23 points behind the Capitals for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Predators missed a chance to move back into third place in the Central Division and remain the first wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference.
Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Chicago Blackhawks 2: Ross Colton had two goals and an assist, and Nicholas Paul had three assists to help Tampa Bay to its fourth straight win. The Lightning moved back into second place in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of the Maple Leafs. The Blackhawks are 22 points behind the Golden Knights for the second wild card from the West.
New York Islanders 3, New York Rangers 0: Islanders goalie Semyon Varlamov had 27 saves for his second shutout of the season and third in his past four games against the Rangers. The Rangers remain five points behind the first-place Hurricanes and one ahead of the third-place Penguins in the Metropolitan Division. The Islanders are 13 points behind the Capitals for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference
Ottawa Senators 5, Detroit Red Wings 2: Mathieu Joseph had his first NHL hat trick and goalie Mads Sogaard made 27 saves for his first NHL victory to help the Senators avoid being eliminated from playoff contention. The Red Wings remain 23 points behind the Capitals for the second wild card from the East.
Edmonton Oilers 6, St. Louis Blues 5 (OT): Connor McDavid scored in overtime and Zach Hyman scored two goals to help the Oilers win their ninth straight game at home. Edmonton moved within one point of Los Angeles for second in the Pacific Division. St. Louis moved within three points of Minnesota for second in the Central Division.
Vegas Golden Knights 5, Seattle Kraken 2: Jack Eichel scored two goals and the Golden Knights swept all four games from the Kraken this season to move into the second wild card from the West, one point ahead of the Stars. The Kraken have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Anaheim Ducks 5, Arizona Coyotes 0: Anthony Stolarz made 22 saves for his sixth NHL shutout and Isac Lundestrom scored two goals for the Ducks. Anaheim is 12 points behind Vegas for the second wild card from the West. The Coyotes have been eliminated from playoff contention.