Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Hurricanes, Panthers, Lightning can clinch

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2021 NHL postseason. There are 23 days left in the regular season and the races in each of the four divisions -- the seven-team Scotia North and the eight team MassMutual East, Discover Central and Honda West -- are tight. The top four teams in each of the four divisions qualify for the playoffs.
Here's a look at the NHL Standings and everything else that could impact the playoff picture.

Clinching scenarios for Monday

The Carolina Hurricanes will clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs if they get at least one point against the Dallas Stars or if the Florida Panthers defeat the Nashville Predators in any fashion.
The Panthers will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Predators in any fashion or if they get one point against the Predators AND the Hurricanes defeat the Stars in regulation.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, who are idle, will clinch a playoff berth if the Panthers defeat the Predators in regulation.

On Tap

There are eight games on the schedule Monday, each with playoff implications.
Montreal Canadiens at Calgary Flames (6:30 p.m. ET; SNW, TSN2, RDS, NHL.TV): The Flames look to sweep this three-game set after winning the first two by a combined score of 9-4. Calgary is 6-2-0 against Montreal this season. The Canadiens are fourth in the North, four points ahead of the fifth-place Flames. Calgary defenseman Noah Hanifin will require season-ending shoulder surgery as a result of an injury sustained Saturday.
Colorado Avalanche at St. Louis Blues (7 p.m. ET; BSMW+, ALT, NHL.TV): The Avalanche had won five straight before the Blues defeated them 5-3 on Saturday. Colorado, which has clinched a playoff berth, is second in the West, four points behind the first-place Vegas Golden Knights. The Blues are fifth in the division, one point behind the fourth-place Arizona Coyotes.
Vancouver Canucks at Ottawa Senators (7:30 p.m. ET; TSN5, RDS, SNP, NHL.TV): This is the third of four straight games between the Canucks and Senators. Vancouver has won three of its past four (3-1-0) and is sixth in the North, eight points behind the fourth-place Canadiens with five games in hand. The Senators had won three in a row before the Canucks defeated them 4-2 on Saturday.
Carolina Hurricanes at Dallas Stars (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, KTXA, NHL.TV): The Hurricanes are 4-0-2 in their past six games and first in the Central, one point ahead of the Panthers, and can clinch a playoff berth for the third straight season if they get at least one point against the Stars. Dallas has won five of its past six (5-1-0) and is fifth in the Central, two points behind the fourth-place Predators.
Florida Panthers at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSFL+, NHL.TV): The Panthers are second in the Central, one point behind the first-place Hurricanes and one ahead of the third-place Lightning. They will clinch a berth with a win of any kind against the Predators, who are fourth in the division, two points ahead of the Stars. Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau has scored 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in a seven-game point streak and 10 points (six goals, four assists) in six games agains the Predators this season.
Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets (9 p.m. ET; TSN3, SNW, SNOL, NHL.TV): Second place in the North is up for grabs in the first of a two-game set between the Jets and Oilers. Winnipeg is second in the division, eight points behind the first-place Toronto Maple Leafs and one point ahead of third-place Edmonton. The Oilers are 5-2-0 against the Jets, who have lost three in a row, and center Connor McDavid has scored 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in the season series. Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers is out the rest of the regular season with an undisclosed injury, but coach Paul Maurice said they're confident and hopeful he'll be back for the start of the playoffs.
Anaheim Ducks at Los Angeles Kings (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, SN1, SNP, BSW, KDOC, BSW+, NHL.TV): The Kings are 1-4-0 in their past five and trying to get back into the playoff race. They're seventh in the West, seven points behind the fourth-place Coyotes with three games in hand. The Ducks have lost four in a row and can be eliminated from playoff contention if they lose in regulation and the Coyotes win in any way.
Arizona Coyotes at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCA, BSAZ+, NHL.TV): The Coyotes, coming off a 4-0 win against the Kings on Saturday, are fourth in the West, one point ahead of the fifth-place Blues. The Sharks are 0-7-1 in their past eight games and sixth in the division, six points behind the Coyotes.

About last night

There were four games Sunday, each with playoff implications:
Pittsburgh Penguins 1, Boston Bruins 0: Tristan Jarry made 30 saves for his first shutout of the season and the Penguins moved into first place in the East, one point ahead of the Washington Capitals. Pittsburgh has won four straight games. The Bruins, who have lost two in a row, are fourth in the East, four points ahead of the fifth-place New York Rangers.
: Claude Giroux scored two goals in 22 seconds in the third period to help the Flyers rally to defeat the Devils. Kevin Hayes scored the winner in the shootout for Philadelphia, which is sixth in the East, nine points behind fourth-place Boston. The Devils are 0-9-1 in their past 10 games.
New York Rangers 6, Buffalo Sabres 3: Mika Zibanejad scored his NHL-leading third hat trick of the season for the Rangers, who are fifth in the East, four points behind the fourth-place Bruins. The Rangers have won two straight and are 7-2-1 in their past 10 games.
: Victor Hedman scored 10 seconds into overtime and added an assist in regulation for the Lightning, who have won two straight. Ondrej Palat had a goal and two assists for Tampa Bay, which is third in the Central, one point behind the second-place Florida Panthers and two points behind the first-place Carolina Hurricanes. The Blue Jackets are 0-5-2 in their past seven games.

#

If the playoffs started Monday

Here is a look at the matchups for the first round as they stand entering games Monday:
North Division
1. Toronto Maple Leafs vs. 4. Montreal Canadiens
2. Winnipeg Jets vs. 3. Edmonton Oilers
East Division
1. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 4. Boston Bruins
2. Washington Capitals 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. Arizona Coyotes
2. Colorado Avalanche vs. 3. Minnesota Wild