Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Sabres look to end skid against Maple Leafs

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2023 NHL postseason. There are 33 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.

On Tap

There are three games on the NHL schedule Monday, all with playoff implications.
Buffalo Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m. ET; SNO, SNW, SNP, TVAS, MSG-B, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Sabres (32-28-5) have lost four straight games (0-3-1) and six of seven (1-5-1). They are seven points behind the New York Islanders for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference, with three teams in between. The Maple Leafs (40-17-8) are four points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning for second in the Atlantic Division and 17 points behind the first-place Boston Bruins; they have won six of eight (6-2-0).
Colorado Avalanche at Montreal Canadiens (7:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, SNE, RDS, ALT, SN NOW)
The Avalanche (36-22-6) have won two of their past three games (2-1-0) and can move ahead of the Winnipeg Jets for third place in the Central Division with a victory. They are one point behind Winnipeg with three games in hand, and two points behind the Edmonton Oilers for the first wild card in the Western Conference. The Canadiens (26-34-6) are 18 points behind the Islanders for the second wild card in the East.
Dallas Stars at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET; ROOT-NW, BSSWX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Stars (36-17-13) beat the Kraken 4-3 in overtime Saturday, also at Climate Pledge Arena. Dallas has won five of six (5-1-0) and is first in the Central, one point ahead of the Minnesota Wild. Seattle (37-22-7) is third in the Pacific, four points behind the second-place Los Angeles Kings and one point ahead of fourth-place Edmonton.

If playoffs started Monday

Here is a look at the matchups for the first round as they stand entering games Monday:
Eastern Conference
(1A) Boston Bruins vs. (WC2) New York Islanders
(1M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC1) Pittsburgh Penguins
(2A) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (3A) Tampa Bay Lightning
(2M) New Jersey Devils vs. (3M) New York Rangers
Western Conference
(1P) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC2) Colorado Avalanche
(1C) Dallas Stars vs. (WC1) Edmonton Oilers
(2C) Minnesota Wild vs. (3C) Winnipeg Jets
(2P) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3P) Seattle Kraken

About last night

There were eight games Sunday, each with playoff implications:
Detroit Red Wings 5, Boston Bruins 3: Dylan Larkin had a goal and two assists as the Red Wings took the second game of a back-to-back, home-and-home series against the Bruins. Boston has lost two of its past three games, but became the first team in the NHL to clinch a spot in the playoffs Saturday. Detroit is seven points behind the New York Islanders for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference with two games in hand.
Pittsburgh Penguins 3, New York Rangers 2 (OT): Kris Letang scored a power-play goal at 1:38 of overtime to give the Penguins the win. They are 7-1-1 in their past nine games and hold the first wild card in the East, two points ahead of the Islanders. The Rangers are third in the Metropolitan Division, 10 points behind the New Jersey Devils and Carolina Hurricanes, and six points ahead of the fourth-place Penguins.
Vegas Golden Knights 5, St. Louis Blues 3: The Golden Knights got 30 saves from goalie Jiri Patera in his NHL debut as they won their third straight game. Vegas leads the Western Conference and is three points ahead of the Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division. The Blues are 15 points behind the Colorado Avalanche for the second wild card.
New Jersey Devils 3, Carolina Hurricanes 0: Vitek Vanecek made 32 saves for his third shutout of the season and the Devils tied the Hurricanes for first place in the Metropolitan Division, though Carolina has one game in hand. Both teams are 10 points ahead of the Rangers. The Hurricanes were shut out for the second straight game.
Winnipeg Jets 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2: The Jets have won two straight games after losing nine of their previous 11 (2-7-2). Winnipeg is in third place in the Central, five points behind the second-place Minnesota Wild and one point ahead of the fourth-place Colorado Avalanche. The Lightning are 2-1-1 in their past four games and are third in the Atlantic Division, four points behind the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs and 11 ahead of the fourth-place Florida Panthers.
Calgary Flames 5, Ottawa Senators 1: The Flames have won three of four (3-1-0) after dropping five straight (0-3-2). They are five points behind the Avalanche for the second wild card in the West, tied with the Predators (who have three games in hand). The Senators are six points behind the Islanders for the second wild card in the East, with Ottawa holding two games in hand.
Arizona Coyotes 5, Minnesota Wild 4 (OT): The Coyotes tied the game in the third period and won it in overtime on a goal by Clayton Keller at 4:09. The Wild extended their point streak to 13 games (10-0-3), tied for the longest in Minnesota history (2016-17). The Wild are one point behind the Dallas Stars for first place in the Central Division and five points ahead of the third-place Winnipeg Jets. The Coyotes are 19 points behind the Avalanche for the second wild card in the West.
Nashville Predators 5, Anaheim Ducks 4 (OT): Tommy Novak's second goal of the game came at 1:12 of overtime as the Predators finished their six-game road trip 4-1-1. Nashville is five points behind Colorado for the second wild card in the West. The Ducks are 24 points behind the Avalanche.