Capitals: It won’t be easy for Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals to reach the postseason, and time is of the essence with a key games against the Flyers (March 31), Sabres (April 4), a home-and-home, back-to-back set with the Penguins (April 11-12) and at the Blue Jackets (April 14).
Next game: March 31, vs. Flyers (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, NBCSP)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
CENTRAL DIVISION
Colorado Avalanche — 49-14-10 — 108 points — 9 GR
Dallas Stars — 44-18-12 — 100 points — 8 GR
Minnesota Wild — 41-21-12 — 94 points — 8 GR
Avalanche: They have clinched a playoff berth and have their sights on the Presidents’ Trophy as the No. 1 seed in the League. They do have one more game at the Stars (April 4) but appear to be in great shape to lock up home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
Next game: April 1, vs. Vancouver Canucks (8:30 p.m. ET; ALT, SN, TVAS)
Stars: They have also clinched a playoff berth and trying to hold onto second place in the Central and home-ice advantage in the first round, most likely against the Wild, whom they play April 9.
Next game: March 31, at Bruins (7 p.m. ET; FOX4, Victory+, NESN, SN360)
Wild: The Wild do not play until Thursday but will clinch a playoff berth Monday if the Vancouver Canucks defeat the Vegas Golden Knights in any fashion and the St. Louis Blues defeat the San Jose Sharks in regulation. They have just three home games remaining and are eight regulation wins behind the Stars for the first tiebreaker (34-26), so they will have to pass Dallas in points to get second place in the division.
Next game: April 2, vs. Canucks (8 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, SNP)
PACIFIC DIVISION
Anaheim Ducks — 41-28-5 — 87 points — 8 GR
Edmonton Oilers — 37-28-9 — 83 points — 8 GR
Vegas Golden Knights — 33-26-16 — 82 points — 7 GR
Ducks: A 4-2 loss at the Oilers on Saturday followed by a 5-4 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday have tightened things up in the Pacific. Of their remaining eight games, only three (vs. Nashville Predators on April 7, 16; Wild, April 14) are against teams currently in playoff position.
Next game: April 1, at Sharks (9 p.m. ET; HBO MAX, truTV, TNT)
Oilers: Have won three in a row but, they will likely play their remaining games without star forward Leon Draisaitl, who is out because of a lower-body injury.
Next game: March 31, vs. Seattle Kraken (9 p.m. ET; SNW, KONG, KHN/Prime)
Golden Knights: They stunned the hockey world Sunday by hiring John Tortorella to replace Bruce Cassidy as coach, clearly looking for a spark entering the final few weeks of the season. They got a 4-2 win against the Vancouver Canucks in his first game as coach on Monday, but a playoff spot isn’t a lock with the Los Angeles Kings just six points behind them with two games in hand.
Next game: Monday, vs. Canucks (10 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, SNP)