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Push for the Playoffs: Flyers, Canadiens looking to keep playoff hopes alive

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Two of the NHL's top scorers, Nikita Kucherov and Alex Ovechkin face off for Lightning vs. Capitals on Wednesday Night Hockey, followed by Jets vs. Ducks. Coverage begins at 6:30 ET on NBCSN.

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 Philadelphia Flyers kept their slim playoff hopes alive on Sunday night when they stormed back against the Pittsburgh Penguins, stealing two points with two stunning late goals. It was a game they absolutely had to have if they are going to make up this ground in the Eastern Conference, and they have another game just like that on Tuesday night when they host the Montreal Canadiens.

This one might really be a win-or-be-done type of game for them when it comes to their playoff chances.

They do not just need a win, either.

They need to win in regulation.

The Flyers open the day still six points back of a playoff spot, and trail the Canadiens (who are the first team on the outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture) by three points. A regulation win would at least bring them back to within a point of the Canadiens, and depending on what happens with the Columbus Blue Jackets in their game against the Calgary Flames, could close the playoff gap to as little as four points.

A loss could be devastating for what is left of their chances, especially if Columbus manages to win in Calgary.

The Canadiens can pull to within a point of the Blue Jackets with a win and a Columbus loss, while it would also pretty much leave the Flyers in their rear-view mirror the rest of the way.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday, the Penguins and Hurricanes meet in a pivotal game in the Metropolitan Division race as they both look to stay out of a wild card spot and what could be a potential first-round matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Islanders (vs. the Bruins) and Capitals (vs. the Devils) are also both in action as they continue to fight for the top spot in the Division.

In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Wild have a chance to jump back over the Arizona Coyotes for the second Wild Card spot, while the Calgary Flames can extend their lead in the Pacific Division over the San Jose Sharks after they were blown out on Monday night.

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
Bruins vs. Islanders (7 p.m. ET)
Canadiens vs. Flyers (7 p.m. ET)
Penguins vs. Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET)
Capitals vs. Devils (7:30 p.m. ET - NBCSN- livestream link)
Oilers vs. Blues (8 p.m. ET)
Maple Leafs vs. Predators (8 p.m. ET)
Avalanche vs. Wild (8 p.m. ET)
Panthers vs. Stars (8:30 p.m. ET)
Blue Jackets vs. Flames (9 p.m. ET)

TODAY’S CLINCHING SCENARIO
• The Sharks can clinch a playoff berth should the Wild lose to Colorado in any fashion.

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Playoff Percentages (via Hockey Reference)
Lightning -- Clinched
Bruins -- 100 percent
Maple Leafs -- 100 percent
Islanders -- 100 percent
Capitals -- 99.8 percent
Penguins -- 98.2 percent
Hurricanes -- 93.5 percent
Canadiens -- 20.5 percent
Flyers -- 4 percent
Panthers -- 0.9 percent
Sabres -- Out
Rangers -- Out
Devils -- Eliminated
Red Wings -- Eliminated
Senators -- Eliminated

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Playoff Percentages (via Hockey Reference)
Flames -- Clinched
Sharks -- 100 percent
Jets -- 100 percent
Predators -- 100 percent
Golden Knights -- 100 percent
Blues -- 98.2 percent
Stars -- 91.3 percent
Coyotes 48.6 percent
Wild -- 29.4 percent
Avalanche -- 17.6 percent
Blackhawks -- 12.3 percent
Canucks -- 1.2 percent
Oilers -- 1.4 percent
Ducks -- Out
Kings -- Eliminated

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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
Sabres -- 6.5 percent
Oilers -- 6 percent
Canucks -- 5 percent
Blackhawks -- 3.5 percent
Avalanche -- 3 percent
Panthers -- 2.5 percent
Wild -- 2 percent
Flyers -- 1.5 percent
Canadiens -- 1 percent
(*COL owns OTT’s 2019 first-round pick)

ART ROSS RACE
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning -- 117 points
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers -- 105 points
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks -- 101 points
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins -- 92 points
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers -- 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

Adam Gretz is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @AGretz.