Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Avalanche can clinch

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2022 NHL postseason. There are 27 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.

Stanley Cup Playoffs clinching scenarios for Sunday

Eastern Conference
The Florida Panthers clinched a playoff berth with a 5-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.
Western Conference
The Colorado Avalanche (idle) will clinch a playoff berth if:
-- The Vancouver Canucks defeat the Vegas Golden Knights in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; SNP, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, NHL LIVE).

On Tap

There are nine games on the NHL schedule on Sunday, all with playoff implications.
Florida Panthers at Buffalo Sabres (1 p.m. ET; SN, MSG-B, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Panthers clinched a playoff berth weith a 5-3 win against the Sabres on Sunday. Buffalo can be eliminated if the Washington Capitals defeat the Minnesota Wild.
Detroit Red Wings at Ottawa Senators (1 p.m. ET; TVAS, TSN5, BSDET, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Red Wings, 0-4-2 in their past five games after a 5-2 loss to the Seantors on Sunday, are 23 points behind the Capitals for the second wild card from the East. The Senators, 28 points behind the Capitals, would be eliminated from playoff contention if the Capitals get one point against the Wild.
New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils (4 p.m. ET; TNT, SN360, SNW, SNP, NHL LIVE)
The Islanders have won three in a row and are 13 points behind the Capitals for the second wild card from the East. The Devils, who are 2-6-1 in their past nine, have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks (7 p.m. ET; SNP, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Golden Knights have won four in a row and are one point behind the Dallas Stars for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference. The Canucks have lost two straight and are eight points behind the Stars.
Arizona Coyotes at Chicago Blackhawks (7 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, BSAZX, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Blackhawks have lost three in a row and are 23 points behind the Stars for the second wild card from the West. They will be eliminated from contention if they lose to the Coyotes in regulation. Arizona, 1-6-1 in its past eight, has been eliminated from contention.
Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN360, MSG+, NBCSP, NHL LIVE)
The Rangers, whose four-game winning streak ended with a 3-0 loss to the Islanders on Friday, are second in the Metropolitan Division, five points behind the first-place Carolina Hurricanes and one point ahead of the third-place Pittsburgh Penguins. The Flyers, who've lost four straight, have been eliminated from contention.
Minnesota Wild at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, BSWI, BSNX, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Wild, 8-0-1 in their past nine games, are second in the Central Division, three points ahead of the third-place St. Louis Blues. The Capitals are 2-3-0 in their past five and hold the second wild card from the East.
Edmonton Oilers at Anaheim Ducks (8 p.m. ET; BSW, SNW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Oilers are third in the Pacific Division and could move to within one point of the second-place Los Angeles Kings with a win. The Ducks are 1-6-3 in their past 10 games and are 13 points behind the Stars for the second wild card from the West.
Dallas Stars at Seattle Kraken (9 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, BSSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
The Stars have won three straight and six of seven and hold the second wild card from the West. Dallas is five points behind the third-place St. Louis in the Central. The Kraken have been eliminated from playoff contention.

If playoffs started Sunday

Here is a look at the matchups for the first round as they stand entering games Sunday:
Eastern Conference
(1A) Florida Panthers vs. (WC2) Washington Capitals
(1M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC1) Boston Bruins
(2A) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3A) Tampa Bay Lightning
(2M) New York Rangers vs. (3M) Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference
(1C) Colorado Avalanche vs. (WC2) Dallas Stars
(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 nine games Saturday, each with playoff implications:
Florida Panthers 7, New Jersey Devils 6 (OT): Gustav Forsling scored 1:45 into overtime for the Panthers, who came back from down 6-2 entering the third period to defeat the Devils. The Panthers lead the Atlantic by seven points over the Maple Leafs and Lightning, who are tied for second. The Devils have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Colorado Avalanche 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 2: Devon Toews scored the winning goal with 4:26 remaining in the third for the Avalanche, who have won three in a row and can clinch a playoff berth if the Golden Knights lose to the Canucks on Sunday. The Penguins remained in third place in the Metropolitan, one point behind the second-place Rangers.
Los Angeles Kings 3, Winnipeg Jets 2: Cal Petersen made 25 saves for the Kings, who have won two in a row and moved to within three points of the first-place Flames in the Pacific. The Jets have lost two in a row and are five points behind the Stars for the second wild card from the West.
Boston Bruins 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 2: Erik Haula scored two goals for the Bruins, who have won six of seven and hold the first wild card from the East. The Blue Jackets have lost three in a row and are 15 points behind the Capitals for the second wild card from the East.
Montreal Canadiens 5, Tampa Bay Lightning 4 (SO): Nikita Kucherov had two goals and an assist for the Lightning, who are tied with the Maple Leafs for second in the Atlantic. Jake Allen made 37 saves for the Canadiens, who have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Toronto Maple Leafs 6, Philadelphia Flyers 3: Auston Matthews scored his NHL-leading 51st goal and the Maple Leafs, who have won four in a row, are tied with the Lightning for second in the Atlantic, seven points behind the first-place Panthers. The Flyers have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Minnesota Wild 3, Carolina Hurricanes 1: Marc-Andre Fleury made 37 saves for the Wild, who are on a nine-game point streak and maintain a three-point lead over the Blues for second in the Central. The Hurricanes lead the Metropolitan by five points over the second-place Rangers.
St. Louis Blues 6, Calgary Flames 4: Justin Faulk had a goal and two assists for the Blues, who remain third in the Central, three points behind the second-place Wild and four points ahead of the Predators, who hold the first wild card from the West. The Flames couldn't add to their lead in the Pacific, which is three points over the second-place Kings.
Dallas Stars 5, San Jose Sharks 4: Joe Pavelski had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who have the second wild card in the West and moved to within one point of the first wild card, held by the Predators. The Sharks have lost three in a row and are 15 points behind the Stars for the second wild card.