Official guide to NHL playoff clinching scenarios this weekend
The National Hockey League’s 2015-16 regular season comes to a rollicking conclusion this weekend, with several playoff seeds still in flux for the Eastern and Western Conferences. Not to mention the postseason fates for the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers.
The NHL released its official playoff scenarios for Saturday, clearing up any questions you might have about who needs to win what.
Note: The NHL decided not to include the scenarios involving Sunday’s games for the Flyers, Islanders and Ducks. Which is either a nice way to streamline the scenarios for Saturday’s games or super-annoying, depending on your team’s playoff predicament. Anyhoo, here … we … go.
For the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday (Opponent: at NY Rangers)
Regulation/OT win: Will clinch playoff berth
Shootout win: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:
(1) Bruins lose to the Senators in any fashion
(2) Bruins defeat Senators in a shootout
(3) Flyers lose to Penguins in any fashion
* Cannot be eliminated with shootout win
OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:
(1) Bruins lose to Senators in any fashion
(2) Flyers lose to Penguins in regulation
* Cannot be eliminated with OT/shootout loss
Regulation loss: Will clinch playoff berth if:
(1) Bruins lose to Senators in regulation
Will be eliminated if all of the following occur:
(1) Bruins get at least one point against Senators
(2) Flyers defeat Penguins in any fashion
For the Boston Bruins on Saturday (Opponent: home vs. Ottawa)
Regulation/OT win: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:
(1) Red Wings lose to Rangers in any fashion
(2) Red Wings defeat Rangers in a shootout
(3) Flyers lose to Penguins in any fashion
* Cannot be eliminated with regulation/OT win
Shootout win: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:
(1) Red Wings lose to Rangers in any fashion
(2) Flyers lose to Penguins in any fashion
* Cannot be eliminated with shootout win
OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:
(1) Red Wings lose to Rangers in regulation
(2) Flyers lose to Penguins in regulation
* Cannot be eliminated with OT/shootout loss
Regulation loss: Cannot clinch playoff berth
Will be eliminated if:
(1) Flyers defeat Penguins in any fashion
For the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday (Opponent: home vs. Pittsburgh)
Regulation/OT win: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:
(1) Red Wings lose to Rangers in regulation
(2) Bruins lose to Senators in regulation
* Cannot be eliminated with regulation/OT win
Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win
OT/Shootout loss: Cannot clinch playoff berth
Will be eliminated if all of the following occur:
(1) Red Wings defeat Rangers in any fashion
(2) Bruins defeat Senators in any fashion
Regulation loss: Cannot clinch playoff berth
Will be eliminated if all of the following occur:
(1) Red Wings get at least one point against Rangers
(2) Bruins get at least one point against Senators
(NOTE: The Philadelphia Flyers end their season on Sunday against the New York Islanders. We cover the clinching implications of that game here.)
For the New York Islanders on Saturday (Opponent: home vs. Buffalo)
Regulation/OT win: Will clinch No. 3 seed in Metropolitan Division if:
(1) Rangers lose to Red Wings in any fashion
Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win
OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch No. 3 seed in Metropolitan Division if:
(1) Rangers lose to Red Wings in regulation
Regulation loss: Cannot clinch No. 3 seed in Metropolitan Division
Will clinch 1st Wild Card if:
(1) Rangers defeat Red Wings in any fashion
***
For the New York Rangers on Saturday (Opponent: home vs. Detroit)
Regulation/OT win: Will clinch No. 3 seed in Metropolitan Division if:
(1) Islanders lose to Sabres in regulation
Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win
OT/Shootout loss: Cannot clinch No. 3 seed in Metropolitan Division
Will clinch 1st Wild Card if:
(1) Islanders defeat Sabres in any fashion
Regulation loss: Cannot clinch No. 3 seed in Metropolitan Division
Will clinch 1st Wild Card if:
(1) Islanders get at least one point against Sabres
(Note: The Islanders finish the season against the Flyers on Sunday, and we discuss the playoff implications of that game here.)
For the Dallas Stars on Saturday (Opponent: home vs. Nashville)
Regulation/OT win: Will clinch Central Division title and No. 1 seed in Western Conference
Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win
OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch Central Division title and No. 1 seed in Western Conference if:
(1) Blues lose to Capitals in any fashion
Will clinch No. 2 seed in Central Division if:
(1) Blues defeat Capitals in any fashion
Regulation loss: Will clinch Central Division title and No. 1 seed in Western Conference if:
(1) Blues lose to Capitals in regulation
Will clinch No. 2 seed in Central Division if:
(1) Blues get at least one point against Capitals
***
For the St. Louis Blues on Saturday (Opponent: home vs. Washington)
Regulation/OT win: Will clinch Central Division title and No. 1 seed in Western Conference if:
(1) Stars lose to Predators in any fashion
Will clinch No. 2 seed in Central Division if:
(1) Stars defeat Predators in any fashion
Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win
OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch Central Division title and No. 1 seed in Western Conference if:
(1) Stars lose to Predators in regulation
Will clinch No. 2 seed in Central Division if:
(1) Stars get at least one point against Predators
Regulation loss: Will clinch No. 2 seed in Central Division
For the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday (Opponent: home vs. Winnipeg)
Regulation/OT win: Will clinch Pacific Division title
Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win
OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch Pacific Division title if:
(1) Ducks lose to Avalanche in any fashion
Regulation loss: Will clinch Pacific Division title if:
(1) Ducks lose to Avalanche in regulation
***
For the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday (Opponent: at Colorado)
Regulation/OT win: Cannot clinch Pacific Division title
Will clinch No. 2 seed in Pacific Division if:
(1) Kings defeat Jets in any fashion
Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win
OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch No. 2 seed in Pacific Division if:
(1) Kings get at least one point against Jets
Regulation loss: Will clinch No. 2 seed in Pacific Division
(Note: The Ducks face the Washington Capitals on Sunday. They can get the top seed in the Pacific with any combination of three points from the Avs and Caps games, provided the Kings lose.)
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
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