NHL Playoff Picture 2017: Latest Postseason Bracket, Predictions and More
The NHL season has reached the home stretch, and that means every game is vital for teams in playoff contention.
Three teams in the Eastern Conference can breathe easy with the regular season scheduled to come to a conclusion March 9. The Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets have all reached at least 100 points in the standings and have clinched their playoff positions.
The Capitals have had some recent struggles and are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games, but they are on top in the Metropolitan Division. If they can maintain that position, they will face the No. 2 wild-card team in the first round of the playoffs, while the Penguins and Capitals would meet in that same round.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are holding on to the final playoff spot as the second wild-card team, but they have no intention of staying there.
They have two games in hand on the Boston Bruins, who are in third place in the Atlantic Division. Following a four-week hot streak that saw them go 12-3 after Bruce Cassidy was named head coach, the Bruins have lost three in a row and their playoff position is in jeopardy.
Their latest loss was a 3-2 home defeat to the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night.
| Eastern | Washington Capitals | In | First in Metropolitan |
| Eastern | Pittsburgh Penguins | In | Second in Metropolitan |
| Eastern | Columbus Blue Jackets | In | Third in Metropolitatn |
| Eastern | Montreal Canadiens | In | First in Atlantic |
| Eastern | Ottawa Senators | In | Second in Atlantic |
| Eastern | Toronto Maple Leafs | In | Third in Atlantic |
| Eastern | New York Rangers | In | No. 1 Wild Card |
| Eastern | Boston Bruins | In | No. 2 Wild Card |
| Eastern | New York Islanders | Out | -- |
| Eastern | Tampa Bay Lightning | Out | -- |
| Eastern | Philadelphia Flyers | Out | -- |
| Eastern | Carolina Hurricanes | Out | -- |
| Eastern | Florida Panthers | Out | -- |
| Western | Chicago Blackhawks | In | First in Central |
| Western | Minnesota Wild | In | Second in Central |
| Western | St. Louis Blues | In | Third in Central |
| Western | San Jose Sharks | In | First in Pacific |
| Western | Edmonton Oilers | In | Second in Pacific |
| Western | Calgary Flames | In | Third in Pacific |
| Western | Anaheim Ducks | In | No. 1 Wild Card |
| Western | Nashville Predators | In | No. 2 Wild Card |
| Western | Los Angeles Kings | Out | -- |
| Western | Winnipeg Jets | Out | -- |
The Montreal Canadiens are in first place in the Atlantic Division, and they have responded quite well under new coach Claude Julien. If they can hold off the second-place Senators, the Habs would play the No. 1 wild-card team, and that will almost certainly be the New York Rangers.
In addition to the Bruins and the Maple Leafs, the Tampa Bay Lightning are also in contention for the No. 3 spot in the Atlantic Division and the No. 2 wild-card spot. The New York Islanders, who reside in the Metropolitan Division, also have a shot at the second wild-card spot.
The Lightning were in a position to add two points to their 77-point total, but they could not hold on to a third-period lead at home against the Arizona Coyotes and dropped a 5-3 decision.
The Chicago Blackhawks have surged to first place in the Central Division and first place overall in the Western Conference with 99 points.
The Blackhawks are the only Western Conference team to clinch a spot in the postseason, but all the teams that are in a playoff berth appear to be in excellent position.
The Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues are in second and third place in the Central Division, while the fourth-place Nashville Predators are manning the No. 2 wild-card spot.
The Preds have an eight-point edge over the Los Angeles Kings, who are trying to chase them down. The Kings have been unable to gather any momentum, as they are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games, and this will most likely leave Darryl Sutter's team on the outside looking in.
The San Jose Sharks are in first place in the Pacific Division, while the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks are tied for second with 87 points. The Calgary Flames have won eight of their last 10 games and and are just one point behind.
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