Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Panthers can move into wild card in East

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2023 NHL postseason. There are 26 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 five games on the NHL schedule Monday, all with playoff implications.
Ottawa Senators at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET; SNE, SNO, SNW, ATTSN-PT, RDS, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Penguins (34-25-10) have lost three in a row but can move into a tie with the idle New York Islanders for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference with a win. Pittsburgh is one point ahead of the Florida Panthers, who also play Monday, in the race for the second wild card. The Senators (33-31-5) are seven points behind the Penguins.
Florida Panthers at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, TVAS, BSDET, BSFL, SN NOW)
The Panthers (35-27-7) are looking to extend their six-game point streak (5-0-1) and move into the second wild card from the East. The Red Wings (30-29-9) have lost two in a row and are nine points behind the Penguins for the second wild card.
Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks (9 p.m. ET; ALT, NBCSCH+, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Avalanche (40-22-6), who have won five in a row, can tie the Minnesota Wild for second in the Central Division. The Avalanche are third in the division, two points behind the Wild and three behind the first-place Dallas Stars. The Blackhawks (24-39-6) were eliminated from playoff contention when they lost to the Arizona Coyotes 4-2 and the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Nashville Predators 3-2 in overtime Saturday.
San Jose Sharks at Edmonton Oilers (9:30 p.m. ET; SN1, TVAS, NBCSCA, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Oilers (39-23-8), third in the Pacific Division, can widen their three-point lead on the idle Seattle Kraken, who are fourth but hold the first wild card from the Western Conference. Edmonton is four points behind the second-place Los Angeles Kings. The Sharks (19-37-14) were eliminated from playoff contention when they lost 6-5 in overtime to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.
Calgary Flames at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; BSW, SNW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Flames (31-24-15) will try to move closer to the Winnipeg Jets, who they trail by four points for the second wild card from the West. They're 4-3-3 in their past 10 games. With a win, the Kings (40-20-10) can pull into a first-place tie with the Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific.

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) Pittsburgh Penguins
(2M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (WC1) New York Islanders
(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) Winnipeg Jets
(1C) Dallas Stars vs. (WC1) Seattle Kraken
(2C) Minnesota Wild vs. (3C) Colorado Avalanche
(2P) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3P) Edmonton Oilers

About last night

There were seven games Sunday, six with playoff implications:
Boston Bruins 7, Buffalo Sabres 0: Jake DeBrusk had a goal and three assists and Patrice Bergeron had a goal and two assists for the Bruins, who have won three straight games and are the only team to have clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They lead the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs by 18 points in the Atlantic Division. The Sabres have lost nine of their past 11 (2-7-2), and are six points behind the Penguins for the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
Minnesota Wild 5, Washington Capitals 3: Matt Boldy had his second NHL hat trick for the Wild, who moved into second place in the Central Division, one point behind the first-place Stars and two ahead of the third-place Avalanche. The Capitals have lost two in a row and remain five points behind the Penguins for the second wild card in the East.
Vegas Golden Knights 7, Columbus Blue Jackets 2: Jack Eichel had a hat trick, his fourth in the NHL and second this season, to help the Golden Knights move back into first place in the Pacific Division, two points ahead of the Kings. The Blue Jackets were eliminated from playoff contention when they lost 7-4 to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.
St. Louis Blues 3, Winnipeg Jets 0: It was the third loss in four games for the Jets (1-3-0), who hold the second wild card from the Western Conference, four points ahead of the Flames. Joel Hofer made 33 saves for the Blues, who are 14 points behind the Jets.
New York Rangers 7, Nashville Predators 0: The Rangers scored six goals in the first period en route to their second shutout in as many days (6-0 win against the Penguins on Saturday). They remain third in the Metropolitan Division, five points behind the second-place Devils. The Predators have lost three in a row (0-2-1) and are five points behind the Jets for the second wild card in the West.
New Jersey Devils 5, Tampa Bay Lightning 2: Jesper Bratt had his first NHL hat trick for the Devils, who are one point behind the Hurricanes for first in the Metropolitan. The Lightning remain third in the Atlantic Division, three points behind the second-place Maple Leafs.