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Race for the Playoffs: Ducks could clinch for three teams, Stars and Flames must win

daleyruutuap

James O’Brien

With the season winding down and the playoff picture sorting itself out, we’ll be taking a look at the night’s games and how they’ll potentially affect the playoff races. This is ProHockeyTalk’s “Race for the Playoffs.”

Western Conference

p - 1. Vancouver - 113 pts (3 GR)
x-2. San Jose - 101 pts (4 GR)
x-3. Detroit - 100 pts (4 GR)
4. Los Angeles - 96 pts (4 GR)
5. Phoenix - 96 pts (3 GR)
6. Nashville - 95 pts (3 GR)
7. Anaheim - 93 pts (4 GR)
8. Chicago - 92 pts (5 GR)
9. Calgary - 89 pts (3 GR)
10. Dallas - 87 pts (5 GR)

p- clinched Presidents’ Trophy and conference title
y - clinched division title
x - clinched playoff spot
GR - games remaining

Minnesota @ Detroit - 5:00 pm ET

There are a few different scenarios that could clinch the Central Division for the Red Wings, but the simplest way would simply be to win against the Wild today. They could also leap by the San Jose Sharks for the second spot in the West, at least for a brief period of time. Minnesota has nothing but pride to play for, though, as they were officially eliminated from the playoff picture last night.

Tampa Bay @ Chicago - 7:00 pm ET

The Blackhawks wouldn’t clinch a playoff berth with a win tonight, but they could certainly put themselves in a great position to stay ahead of the Flames and Stars. Chicago still also has a decent chance of improving their seeding situation with a game or two in hand over teams in front of them, but making the playoffs remains their top concern.

Calgary @ Colorado - 8:00 pm ET

Calgary will absolutely need the Blackhawks and/or Ducks to stumble, since their maximum amount of points would be 95 with three games left. Maybe they wouldn’t be mathematically eliminated if they don’t win tonight, but let’s be serious, they probably need to win out and hope for some help to make the playoffs. Losing to the free-falling Avalanche would be a huge letdown for the Flames.

Dallas @ Anaheim - 8:00 pm ET

The Ducks are in an interesting spot from a playoff-clinching standpoint tonight. They would clinch their own playoff spot with a regulation win and do the same for their hated rivals the Los Angeles Kings to boot. A Ducks victory of any kind would also clinch a postseason berth for another one of their division rivals, the Phoenix Coyotes.

Dallas is fading out of the picture with a six-game losing streak, but would improve their chances of swiping the final spot from the Blackhawks with a win tonight. They are five points behind Chicago with five games left, so the Stars will obviously need some help, making them Lightning fans for a night.