On Tap

There are 10 games on the NHL schedule for Thursday, eight with playoff implications:

Detroit Red Wings at Florida Panthers (7 p.m. ET; FDSNDET, SCRIPPS): The Red Wings (36-34-7) are desperate to gain ground, trailing the Montreal Canadiens by eight points for the second wild card from the Eastern Conference with five games to play. The Panthers (45-29-4) are third in the Atlantic Division, four points ahead of the Ottawa Senators and three points behind the second-place Tampa Bay Lightning. A Panthers loss will clinch at least second place in the division for the idle Maple Leafs.

Buffalo Sabres at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; FDSNOH, MSG-B): The Blue Jackets (35-33-9) can be eliminated from playoff contention with a regulation loss to the Sabres. They’re eight points behind the Canadiens with five games to play. Buffalo was eliminated from contention Tuesday.

Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals (7:30 p.m. ET; Disney+, MNMT, HULU, ESPN+, SN1): The Capitals (49-19-9) have won the Metropolitan Division and can clinch home-ice advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs with a win in any fashion. The Hurricanes (46-27-4) will play the New Jersey Devils in the first round and can secure home-ice advantage in that series with one point.

New York Rangers at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET; MSGSN, MSG 2, TVAS): The Rangers (36-35-7) can be eliminated from contention with any kind of loss. One season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy, the Rangers are eight points behind Montreal with four games to play. The Islanders (34-32-11) also trail the Canadiens by eight points and have five games left.

Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars (8 p.m. ET; Victory+, TSN3): The Jets (53-21-4) can take a big step toward winning the Central Division with a victory. They lead the Stars (50-22-6) by four points for first in the division and Western Conference. Each team has four games left and the Jets hold the first tiebreaker, which is regulation wins (42-41). The Stars will clinch at least second place in the Central and home-ice advantage in the first round with at least one point and if the Canucks-Avalanche game ends with a result other than a regulation win for Colorado.

Vancouver Canucks at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; KUSA, ALT, SNP): The Canucks (36-29-13) were eliminated from contention when the Minnesota Wild defeated the San Jose Sharks 8-7 in overtime Wednesday. The Avalanche (48-27-4) are six points behind the Stars for second in the Central.

Seattle Kraken at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET; KHN, KING 5, SCRIPPS, KONG, TVAS): The Golden Knights (47-22-9) can clinch the Pacific Division and home-ice advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs with a regulation win and if the Kings lose to the Ducks in regulation. Vegas has a six-point lead on Los Angeles for first place. Seattle has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Anaheim Ducks at Los Angeles Kings (10 p.m. ET; Disney+, HULU, ESPN+, SN1): The Kings (44-24-9) will try to build their two-point lead on the Oilers for second in the Pacific. They have a game in hand on Edmonton and own the regulation-wins tiebreaker (39-33). The Ducks have been eliminated from postseason contention.

If playoffs started Thursday
Eastern Conference

(1A) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators

(2A) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (3A) Florida Panthers

(1M) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens

(2M) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3M) New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

(1P) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild

(2P) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3P) Edmonton Oilers

(1C) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC2) St. Louis Blues

(2C) Dallas Stars vs. (3C) Colorado Avalanche