Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz: Lightning can clinch Presidents' Trophy

Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz, a daily look at the races for the 2019 NHL postseason. There are 20 days left in the regular season and the races in each conference are wide open.
Here is a look at the NHL Standings and everything else that could impact the playoff picture.

Stanley Cup Playoff clinching scenarios

The Tampa Bay Lightning will clinch the Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference and Presidents' Trophy if they defeat the Arizona Coyotes (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, TVAS, SUN, FS-A Plus, NHL.TV) in any fashion.
The San Jose Sharks will clinch a playoff berth if they get at least one point against the Vegas Golden Knights (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, NBCSCA, ATTSN-RM, NHL.TV).

On Tap

There are four games on the Monday schedule, all with playoff implications.
-- The Lightning, who have 19 points more than any other team in the NHL, can clinch the Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference and Presidents' Trophy with a victory of any kind. The Coyotes start a four-game Eastern road trip with a one-point lead on the Minnesota Wild for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference, and are two points behind the Dallas Stars for the first wild card.
-- The Blackhawks, who have won five straight games, are five points behind the Coyotes for the second wild card from the West. The Canucks are 2-0-1 in their past three games, including a 3-2 shootout win against the Stars at American Airlines Center on Sunday, and eight points behind Arizona.
Winnipeg Jets at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. ET; FS-W, TSN3, NHL.TV) -- The Jets, who have won two straight games, start a three-game road trip to California with a one-point lead on the Nashville Predators for first place in the Central Division. The Kings will be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss of any kind.
Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks (10 p.m. ET; ESPN+, NBCSCA, ATTSN-RM, NHL.TV) -- The Sharks, who are one point behind the Calgary Flames, will take the lead in the Pacific Division and the Western Conference with a victory, and clinch a playoff berth with one point. The Golden Knights, who are 8-1-0 in their past nine games, are third the Pacific, seven points ahead of the fourth-place Coyotes and nine behind the second-place Sharks.

Thought of the Day

The Vegas Golden Knights are better equipped to win the Stanley Cup this season than they were last season, when they reached the Final.
Though William Karlsson isn't the 40-goal scorer of a season ago, Vegas is deeper up front following the offseason additions of center Paul Stastny and right wing Max Pacioretty, and the deal that brought in left wing Mark Stone before the NHL Trade Deadline.
Since Stone arrived Feb. 25, the Golden Knights are 8-1-0. Though their 34 goals are tied for the sixth-most in the NHL, their 19 goals-against are the second-fewest.
Some of that can be credited to the second line, which has been outstanding. In nine games, Stone, Stastny and Pacioretty have 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) and have dominated puck possession. Pacioretty (four goals, two assists) has a 63.46 shot-attempt percentage while averaging 17:35 of ice time per game; Stastny (two goals, seven assists) has a 61.03 SAT in 18:37 of ice time; and Stone (three goals, four assists) has a 60.82 SAT in 17:38. Those are the three highest ice times among Vegas forwards during that span.
Last season, the Golden Knights used a second line of Erik Haula centering James Neal and David Perron. From Feb. 25 to the end of the regular season, a span of 21 games, they combined for 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists); Perron had an SAT of 53.52, Haula 52.03 and Neal 50.75. Perron and Neal departed as free agents during the offseason and Haula has missed most of the season with a lower-body injury.
A stronger second line this season, combined with the learning experience that was a trip to the Final last season, make the Golden Knights potentially a scarier playoff opponent than a year ago.
-- Adam Kimelman, NHL.com deputy managing editor

If playoffs started Monday

Here is a look at the matchups for the first round as they stand entering games Monday:
Eastern Conference
(1A) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (WC2) Columbus Blue Jackets
(1M) New York Islanders vs. (WC1) Carolina Hurricanes
(2A) Boston Bruins vs. (3A) Toronto Maple Leafs
(2M) Washington Capitals vs. (3M) Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference
(1P) Calgary Flames vs. (WC2) Arizona Coyotes
(1C) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC1) Dallas Stars
(2P) San Jose Sharks vs. (3P) Vegas Golden Knights
(2C) Nashville Predators vs. (3C) St. Louis Blues

About last night

All seven games on the schedule Sunday had playoff implications:
Colorado Avalanche 3, New Jersey Devils 0: The Avalanche moved to within four points of the Arizona Coyotes for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference when they won for the first time in three games. The Devils were eliminated from playoff contention on Friday.
: The Blues lost for the fourth time in five games (1-2-2) but pulled within five points of the Nashville Predators for second place in the Central Division and remained two points ahead of the Dallas Stars for third place in the Central. The Sabres are 13 points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
: The Islanders moved into a tie with the Washington Capitals for first place in the Metropolitan Division. The Wild are one point behind the Coyotes for the first wild card in the West. The Wild loss allowed the Calgary Flames to become the first team in the Western Conference to clinch a playoff berth.
: The Stars lost their second straight game but moved two points ahead of the Coyotes for the first wild card in the West. The Canucks are eight points behind Arizona.
: The Flyers ended a two-game losing streak to move within six points of the Blue Jackets for the second wild card in the East. The Penguins, who have lost two in a row after going 6-2-0 in their previous eight games, are third in the Metropolitan, three points behind the Islanders and Capitals.
Anaheim Ducks 3, Florida Panthers 2: The Ducks, who have won six of their past nine, kept their slim playoff hopes alive. They are nine points behind the Coyotes for the second wild card in the West but have five teams ahead of them. The Panthers, who lost for the first time in five games, remained eight points behind the Blue Jackets for the first wild card in the East.
Vegas Golden Knights 6, Edmonton Oilers 3: The Oilers missed a chance to move within five points of the Coyotes for the second wild card in the West and remained seven points back with 10 games to go. The Golden Knights move seven points ahead of the Coyotes for third in the Pacific Division.