Central Division, Eastern wild-card spots remain up for grabs. MORE:
For the second straight year, the Bruins will hold home-ice advantage in their first-round matchup with the Maple Leafs. Last year, the Bruins took a 3-1 series lead before winning in Game 7. Boston currently has the third-best record in the NHL this season, while the Leafs sit fifth in the league standings.With two games to go, the Washington Capitals have a three-point lead on the New York Islanders for first place in the division.
The Islanders, meanwhile, could fall as far as that top wild-card spot as they own a four-point lead over the Carolina Hurricanes with a matching ROW of 42. If the playoffs started today, the Islanders would host the Penguins in a battle of the division's second- and third-place teams. New York will close out the season on the road against the Florida Panthers Thursday and the Washington Capitals Saturday.
The Winnipeg Jets currently sit first the division and have jockeyed for the spot with the Nashville Predators for most of the year. On Wednesday, however, the St. Louis Blues will have the chance to equal both the Jets and Predators with 96 points through 80 games. The Blues sat last in the Western Conference in early January, but thanks to a remarkable surge have clinched a playoff spot and are now looking to improve their position.
The top spot in the division will coveted by all three teams, since the two that miss out will end up facing each other in the opening round. The team that claims first place will likely host the Dallas Stars who, with 91 points, could still rise as high as the third seed in the division. In the overall league standings, the Jets and Predators are currently tied for ninth, the Blues sit 11th while the Stars are 16th.
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