Here's what postseason matchups look like after play on Thursday, March 31:
Eastern Conference
Team
Team
Season Series
A1 Panthers
W1 Islanders
1-1-1
A2 Lightning
A3 Bruins
2-1-1 Lightning
M1 Capitals
W2 Flyers
2-0-2 Capitals
M2 Penguins
M3 Rangers
3-1 Penguins
A win paired with a Rangers loss sees the Penguins move into the second seed in the Metropolitan Division and nab provisional hold of home-ice advantage in Round 1.
Florida seized a two-point lead atop the Atlantic Division with a win over the Devils, plus a Lightning loss.
The Bruins and Red Wings, vying for third in the Atlantic, were both idle.
Wild-Card Race
Team
Points
Games Remaining
1. Islanders
93
6
2. Flyers
89
6
Red Wings
87
5
Hurricanes
84
4
The Islanders strengthened their grip on the first wild-card slot and moved to within two points of the Rangers (with a game in hand) with their win over the Blue Jackets.
Western Conference
Team
Team
Season Series
C1 Stars
W2 Wild
3-1 Stars
C2 Blues
C3 Blackhawks
2-0-2 Blackhawks
P1 Kings
W1 Predators
2-1 Kings
P2 Ducks
P3 Sharks
3-1 Ducks
The Stars lobbed the ball back at the Blues, moving two points ahead in the Central Division after entering the night tied at 101 points through 77 games.
The Kings jumped back in front of the Ducks, taking two points from the Flames like Anaheim did Wednesday night. They also moved five points clear of the Sharks, who lost to Vancouver.
Wild-Card Race
Team
Points
Games Remaining
1. Predators
91
4
2. Wild
87
4
Avalanche
82
5
The Predators and Wild each lost in regulation, which keeps the door open for the Avalanche, but also keeps their positions fixed.
In failing to punch their ticket again, the Predators remain four points behind the Blackhawks with one fewer game remaining on the schedule.
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