There were 11 games Thursday, 10 with playoff implications:
Colorado Avalanche 5, Ottawa Senators 4:Mikko Rantanen had a goal and two assists for the Avalanche, who are in third place in the Central Division, two points behind the second-place Minnesota Wild and three behind the first-place Dallas Stars. The Senators remained eight points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders, who are tied for the two wild cards into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
Florida Panthers 9, Montreal Canadiens 5:The Panthers scored seven goals in the first period, a team record, to get within three points of the Penguins and Islanders, who are tied for the two wild cards from the East.
New York Rangers 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 2:Chris Kreider scored twice for the Rangers, who are third in the Metropolitan Division, seven points behind the second-place New Jersey Devils and 10 points ahead of the Penguins, who are tied with the Islanders for the two wild cards from the East. Pittsburgh has lost two in a row.
Andrei Vasilevskiy made 32 saves for the Lightning, who have won two in a row and moved within one point of the Toronto Maple Leafs for second in the Atlantic Division. The Devils, who lost consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 23 and 28, are one point behind the Carolina Hurricanes for first in the Metropolitan. The Hurricanes have two games in hand.
Boston Bruins 3, Winnipeg Jets 0: The Bruins, who won their 51st game of the season to match last season's total with 15 games remaining, have already clinched a spot in the playoffs. The Jets, who are 3-7-2 in their past 12 games, hold the second wild card from the Western Conference, three points ahead of the Calgary Flames. Winnipeg is five points behind the Avalanche for third in the Central.
Chicago Blackhawks 2, Nashville Predators 1:Nashville's three-game winning streak ended and they remained four points behind the Jets, who they play at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, for the second wild card in the West. The Predators have three games in hand on the Jets. Alex Stalock made 35 saves for the Blackhawks, who have won two in a row.
Edmonton Oilers 4, Dallas Stars 1:Connor McDavid passed the 130-point mark and the Oilers remained five points behind the second-place Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division. They're one point ahead of the Seattle Kraken, who hold the first wild card from the West. The Stars remain first in the Central, one point ahead of the second-place Wild and three ahead of the third-place Avalanche.
Calgary Flames 7, Vegas Golden Knights 2:Tyler Toffoli had four points (two goals, two assists) for the Flames, who moved to within three points of the Jets for the second wild card in the West. The Golden Knights remain in first in the Pacific, one point ahead of the Kings and six ahead of the Oilers.
Los Angeles Kings 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 1: The Kings scored all of their goals in the second period to run their point streak to eight games (7-0-1) and move within one point of the Golden Knights for first in the Pacific.
Vince Dunn scored 1:58 into overtime for the Kraken, who remain one point behind the Oilers for third in the Pacific Division. Seattle holds the first wild card from the West, four points ahead of the Jets who hold the second wild card. The San Jose Sharks were eliminated from playoff contention with their 6-5 overtime loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
