NHL Playoffs And Trophy Watch: Bruins And Senators Could Clinch East's Wild-Card Spots
Five NHL teams can clinch a playoff spot on Saturday. And will we see a new No. 1 in the Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy race after the day?
The stakes are set for the busiest day of NHL hockey we'll see until the fall. Five teams are able to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs on Saturday. They include the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators , which could lock up the wild-card spots and leave only third place in the Metropolitan Division up for grabs.
The Detroit Red Wings , which play in the Atlantic Division, could face elimination as a result. Races for the Rocket Richard and Art Ross Trophies are heating up as well. Let's take a quick look at all these races to watch during the 15-game Saturday.
Eastern Conference Playoff Race - The Boston Bruins have three routes toward clinching a playoff berth on Saturday. Beating the Tampa Bay Lightning in any fashion is one of them. If they get one point versus Tampa Bay, they'll need the Red Wings to lose in any fashion and either the New York Islanders or the Philadelphia Flyers to lose in any fashion.
If Boston loses in regulation, it can still clinch if the Red Wings lose in regulation and either the Isles or Flyers lose in regulation. - The Ottawa Senators will clinch a playoff berth if they beat the Islanders in any fashion and if the Red Wings lose to the New Jersey Devils in any fashion. At the Olympic break, the Senators were 11th in the Eastern Conference and six points out of a playoff spot.
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