Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Panthers try to gain in wild card race

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2023 NHL postseason. There are 16 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.

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On Tap

There are three games on the NHL schedule Wednesday, all with playoff implications.
Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m. ET; SN, TVAS, BSFL, ESPN+, SN NOW)
The Panthers (36-31-7) will try to end a four-game losing streak and get within one point of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who hold the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Maple Leafs (44-20-9), second in the Atlantic Division, have clinched a playoff berth and have a five-point lead over the third-place Tampa Bay Lightning.
New York Islanders at Washington Capitals (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, SN NOW)
The Islanders (38-28-9) hold the first wild card from the East and will try to take a five-point lead over the idle Penguins. The Capitals (34-32-8) trail the Penguins by six points.
Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche (10 p.m. ET; TNT, SN 360, TVAS)
It's a fight for first place in the Central Division currently held by the Wild (43-22-9), who can expand their lead to three points over the second-place Avalanche (44-23-6). Colorado will try to win its fourth in a row and take over first.

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If playoffs started Wednesday

Here is a look at the
matchups for the first round
as they stand entering games Wednesday:
Eastern Conference
(1A) Boston Bruins vs. (WC2) Pittsburgh Penguins
(1M) 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) Minnesota Wild vs. (WC1) Seattle Kraken
(2C) Colorado Avalanche vs. (3C) Dallas Stars
(2P) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3P) Edmonton Oilers

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About last night

There were 10 games on the NHL schedule Tuesday, eight with playoff implications.
New York Rangers 6, Columbus Blue Jackets 2:Igor Shesterkin made 28 saves for the Rangers (44-20-10), who have clinched a playoff berth and moved within two points of the New Jersey Devils for second in the Metropolitan Division. The Blue Jackets (23-43-7) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Nashville Predators 2, Boston Bruins 1: Juuse Saros made 35 saves for the Predators (37-28-8), who closed within three points of the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card from the Western Conference. It was the end of a seven-game winning streak for the Bruins (57-12-5), who failed to clinch the Presidents' Trophy.
Tampa Bay Lightning 4, Carolina Hurricanes 0:Brayden Point scored two goals and had an assist, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 31 saves, for the Lightning (43-26-6), who are five points behind the Maple Leafs. The Hurricanes (47-17-9) remain first in the Metropolitan, three points ahead of the Devils.
Detroit Red Wings 7, Pittsburgh Penguins 4:The Penguins (36-28-10) remain three points behind the Islanders. David Perron had a hat trick in the third period for the Red Wings (32-32-9), who are nine points behind the Penguins.
Dallas Stars 4, Chicago Blackhawks 1: Joe Pavelski was one of four different players to score for the Stars (40-20-14), who tied the Avalanche for second in the Central Division with Colorado holding one game in hand. They're each one point behind first-place Minnesota. The Blackhawks (24-44-6) have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Calgary Flames 2, Los Angeles Kings 1:Jacob Markstrom made 32 saves for the Flames (34-26-15), who are two points behind the Jets for the second wild card in the West. The Kings (43-21-10) had won three in a row and remain two points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for first in the Pacific Division.
Edmonton Oilers 6, Vegas Golden Knights 3:Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had a five-point game (one goal, four assists) for the Oilers (43-23-9), who are one point of the second-place Kings in the Pacific. The Golden Knights (46-22-6) remain in first.
San Jose Sharks 3, Winnipeg Jets 0:Connor Hellebuyck made 27 saves, but the Jets (41-31-3) remain the second wild card from the West. The Sharks (20-39-15) got a 41-save shutout from James Reimer. They have been eliminated from playoff contention.