Final Day of the NHL Season: What's at Stake?

It’s the final day of the NHL Regular Season. The Playoffs are around the corner, but eight games remain on the schedule.

Do any of them matter? You bet. While only one of the sixteen playoff teams remains to be selected (Rangers or Flyers), many first round matchups remain up in the air pending the results of today’s games.

Here is a round up of all the games being played today, how the results will potentially affect the playoffs, and predictions included.

Boston at Washington, noon ET, NBC game of the week

Nothing that happens in this game will affect either team’s final standing positions. By defeating Carolina 4-2 yesterday, Boston clinched No. 6 in the Eastern playoffs. Which team the Bruins play in the first round, however, will depend completely on what happens between the Devils and the Sabres, who are playing each other later today.

The Capitals' top slot is secure, yet this game still means something. They have won five in a row and surely want to finish off the season with a sixth straight victory and team records of 122 points, 55 wins, and 30 home wins.

Furthermore, there are individual marks at stake: Mike Green needs one more for a second consecutive 20 goal season, and Alex Semin is seeking his first 40 goal season.

Then there is Alex Ovechkin’s race for the Art Ross Trophy (three points behind Sedin) and Rocket Richard Trophy (tied with Stamkos at 50 and one goal ahead of Crosby). Expect some fireworks–Ovechkin needs at least a three point game with a couple of goals to have a shot at winning both awards again.

Prediction: Washington 5 - Boston 2

NY Rangers at Philadelphia, 3 pm ET

This is the real deal. The second of a home and home series between these two rivals. Each team's season comes down to this final matchup. Whoever wins goes to the playoffs; whoever loses goes to the golf course.

Because they won in regulation on Friday, the Rangers have ensured that any victory over the Flyers is sufficient for them to gain the eighth slot. If New York makes the playoffs, they will face Washington in the first round, a repeat of last year’s matchup.

Ironically, the Flyers can’t finish eighth. If Philadelphia wins, they earn the seventh spot over Montreal, who would slip to eighth place. Both teams would finish with 88 points, but the Flyers have the tiebreaker with two more in the win column.

Prediction: This one goes to overtime. It’s a tossup, but goaltending gives the edge to New York, 3-2 over Philadelphia.

Detroit at Chicago, 3 pm ET

San Jose currently leads the Western Conference by two points as Chicago goes into its final game, but the Blackhawks control their own destiny. If Chicago defeats Detroit, they grab the No. 1 spot and face Colorado in round one.

Meanwhile, if Detroit picks up at least one point they secure the fifth spot, earning a match with Phoenix (season’s series in favor of Detroit, 2-0-2). If they lose in regulation, they stay tied with the Predators, who own the tiebreaker. The Red Wings would then land in sixth place, and face the Canucks (seasons series in favor of Detroit, 3-1-0).

Chicago and Detroit have split the last two games between them; expect neither to give any ground to the other. They know they are likely to face each other in the second or third round.

Prediction: A great game that will be decided by one goal, perhaps going to overtime. Chicago 3-2 over Detroit

Los Angeles at Colorado, 3pm ET

The Kings currently sit seventh in the West with 99 points. From this spot they would face either the Sharks or Blackhawks, whohever finishes second.

However, if LA defeats Colorado today, they jump over Nashville into sixth position, for a matchup with Vancouver. And should Chicago defeat Detroit, Los Angeles could end up in fifth, and face Phoenix in the first round.

On the other hand, Colorado's eighth slot is secure—they will face the No. 1 seed in the West, either Chicago or San Jose. The Avalanche are playing today's game only as a tune-up for the playoffs. Don't expect them to push too hard.

Prediction: Los Angeles 5-1 over Colorado

Pittsburgh at New York Islanders, 5 pm ET

New Jersey has clinched the Atlantic Division over Pittsburgh, which is guaranteed the fourth slot in the East and a matchup with Ottawa. Ordinarily, there would be nothing significant for the Pens to play for, other than as a tune-up for the playoffs.

There is, however, the little matter of Sid the Kid’s quest to be No. 1 in goals scored. If the officials had not taken away his second goal the other night and credited it to Guerin, Crosby would be tied at 50 with Ovechkin and Stamkos.

Instead, going into this final day, he is one back at 49, so expect Crosby to be all over the Islanders as he tries to capture the Rocket Richard Trophy.

Meanwhile, the Isles have a perverse incentive against winning this one. They currently sit in the fifth position of the NHL draft lottery with 78 points, one worse than the Blue Jackets. Fifth position is the critical point, as the winner of the draft lottery can move up a maximum of four positions.

If New York earns even one point tonight, they fall out of contention for a shot at the No. 1 draft pick. However, if they lose in regulation, they will improve to either fourth or third position in the lottery depending on the results of the Tampa-Florida game.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 6-2 over New York

Buffalo at New Jersey, 5 pm ET

This matchup is another that matters. It will determine the second and third positions in the East. Both teams have clinched their respective divisions; however, they are separated by only a single point.

Buffalo holds only the slightest edge over New Jersey in three games this season. Each team has a victory in regulation by three goals, and Buffalo took the last game in the shootout. If the Sabres defeat the Devils in regulation today, they slip into second place with 102 points.

However, with a win, the Devils finish at 103 points and hold onto second. Even if they lose to the Sabres in overtime or a shootout, and end up tied at 102 points, they own the tiebreaker with one more victory.

Expect a hard fought defensive struggle. These two teams are likely to meet again in the second round.

Prediction: New Jersey 3-2 over Buffalo

Tampa Bay at Florida, 5 pm ET

This is another game with unusual incentives. Florida and Tampa Bay are both out of playoff contention. They currently sit in the third and fourth positions respectively for the 2010 draft lottery.

If Florida beats Tampa, they fall to sixth position in the draft lottery and lose a shot at the No. 1 pick (unless the Isles earn a point against the Pens).

The situation is similar for Tampa. If they win, they fall to sixth position in the lottery (except if the Islanders also win).

However, there is a potentially much more significant factor at play in today's game for Lightning Bolts: Steven Stamkos.

Tampa's young star sniper is tied for the Rocket Richard trophy with Alex Ovechkin. His teammates will surely do everything they can today to give him a shot at winning it. They're likely to try so hard to get goals for Stamkos they just might end up winning the game.

That's not such a bad result. After all, if the Lightning does subsequently win the draft lottery from the sixth position, moving to the number two pick in the draft wouldn’t be all that bad.

Prediction: Tampa 4-2 over Florida

Edmonton at Anaheim, 8 pm ET

This is truly the final game of the NHL 2009-10 regular season. Unfortunately it is totally anticlimactic.

There is nothing for these two teams to play for in this game except pride. Edmonton owns the worst record in the league and, win or lose, that won’t change.

Anaheim would jump over Dallas in the standings if they pick up a point or two, but other than swapping positions in the middle of the next draft, it is a meaningless outcome.

Let’s just hope that no one gets injured.

Prediction: Who really cares?