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Push for the Playoffs: Coyotes look to continue impressive stretch

Anaheim Ducks v Arizona Coyotes

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 14: (L-R) Nick Cousins #25, Jason Demers #55, Vinnie Hinostroza #13, Richard Panik #14 and Alex Goligoski #33 of the Arizona Coyotes celebrate after Hinostroza scored a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period of the NHL game at Gila River Arena on March 14, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Push for the Playoffs will run every morning through the end of the 2018-19 NHL season. We’ll highlight the current playoff picture in both conferences, take a look at what the first-round matchups might look like, see who’s leading the race for the best odds in the draft lottery and more.

The Arizona Coyotes have overcome several hurdles this season. They’ve been hit hard by injuries, but that hasn’t stopped them from being in a playoff spot during the final stretch. Heading into tonight’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the ‘Yotes have a one-point lead and a game in hand on the Minnesota Wild in the race for the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

They could have given up when they lost their starting goalie, Antti Raanta, back in late-November, but they didn’t. They also traded away Dylan Strome and Brendan Perlini to Chicago earlier this season for Nick Schamltz, who has been out since the start of 2019, and only recently has Jason Demers returned to their lineup from a knee injury.

The Coyotes are 10-2-1 in their last 13 contests, which has increased their odds of making the playoffs by a wide margin. As well as they’ve played lately, they’re going to have to sustain that during a tough upcoming road trip that will see them travel to Tampa, Florida, New Jersey and New York (Islanders).

“McDavid is an elite player, and anything can happen 3-on-3. I’m proud of the guys, with five games in the last (eight) nights,” head coach Rick Tocchet said after Saturday’s OT loss to Edmonton, per NHL.com. “I thought the guys gave us juice (on Saturday). We’re fine. We got a point. We’re OK.”

They’ll have their work cut out for them tonight, but they’ve been playing so well that it’s difficult to count them out, even against the best team in the league.

IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY
Lightning vs. Blue Jackets
Islanders vs. Hurricanes
Capitals vs. Penguins
Bruins vs. Maple Leafs

Flames vs. Coyotes
Jets vs. Stars
Sharks vs. Golden Knights
Predators vs. Blues

TODAY’S GAMES WITH PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
Coyotes at Lightning, 7:30 p.m. ET
Canucks at Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. ET
Jets at Kings, 10:30 p.m. ET
Golden Knights at Sharks, 10:30 p.m. ET

TODAY’S CLINCHING SCENARIOS
• The Lightning (55-13-4, 114 points) will clinch the Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference and Presidents’ Trophy if they defeat the Coyotes in any fashion.

• The Sharks (43-21-8, 94 points) will clinch a playoff berth in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs if they get at least one point against the Golden Knights.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

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PLAYOFF PERCENTAGES (via Hockey Reference)
Lightning -- Clinched
Bruins -- 100 percent
Maple Leafs -- 99.9 percent
Capitals -- 99.6 percent
Islanders -- 99.6 percent
Penguins -- 98.5 percent
Hurricanes -- 92.8 percent
Blue Jackets -- 81 percent
Canadiens -- 23 percent
Flyers -- 4.6 percent
Panthers -- 1 percent
Sabres -- Out
Rangers -- Out
Devils -- Eliminated
Red Wings -- Eliminated
Senators -- Eliminated

WESTERN CONFERENCE

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PLAYOFF PERCENTAGES (via Hockey-Reference)
Flames -- Clinched
Jets -- 100 percent
Sharks -- 100 percent
Predators -- 99.8 percent
Golden Knights -- 99.7 percent
Blues -- 98.1 percent
Stars -- 87.3 percent
Coyotes -- 61.2 percent
Wild -- 25..9 percent
Avalanche -- 14.7 percent
Blackhawks -- 11.7 percent
Oilers -- 1.2 percent
Canucks -- 0.4 percent
Ducks -- Out
Kings -- Out

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JACK OR KAAPO? THE DRAFT LOTTERY PICTURE
Senators -- 18.5 percent*
Kings -- 13.5 percent
Red Wings -- 11.5 percent
Devils -- 9.5 percent
Ducks -- 8.5 percent
Rangers -- 7.5 percent
Canucks -- 6.5 percent
Sabres -- 6 percent
Oilers -- 5 percent
Avalanche -- 3.5 percent
Blackhawks -- 3 percent
Wild -- 2.5 percent
Panthers -- 2 percent
Flyers -- 1.5 percent
Canadiens -- 1 percent
(*Senators pick belongs to the Colorado Avalanche)

ART ROSS RACE
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lighting -- 117 points
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers -- 103 points
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks -- 99 points
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins -- 92 points
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers -- 91 points
Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames -- 91 points
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche -- 91 points

ROCKET RICHARD RACE
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals -- 48 goals
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers -- 43 goals
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks -- 41 goals
John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs -- 40 goals
Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning -- 38 goals
Alex DeBrincat, Chicago Blackhawks -- 38 goals
Cam Atkinson, Columbus Blue Jackets -- 38 goals

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Joey Alfieri is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @joeyalfieri.