The Detroit Red Wings did their part Tuesday, scoring with 4.1 seconds left to force overtime against the Montreal Canadiens. But their eventual shootout victory meant nothing because the Washington Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers in a bizarre ending to clinch the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and fill the final spot in the 16-team NHL playoff field.
The Flyers, because of playoff tiebreakers, had to win in regulation in order to stay alive. Coach John Tortorella pulled goalie Sam Ersson for an extra skater. Washington's T.J. Oshie scored the go-ahead goal into the empty net at 17:00 for a 2-1 win. The Flyers would have been eliminated as soon as Detroit hit overtime.
"I got info on the Detroit game right after (the Capitals) scored their empty-netter," Tortorella told reporters. "I think it happened pretty close together. But I'm pulling him. That was the right time to pull and I didn't know anything was going on with Detroit at that time, but immediately after that, our video guys told us that Detroit just went to overtime."
The Capitals were back in the playoffs after a one-year absence. The Flyers' drought hit four seasons, the Red Wings' hit eight seasons and the Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated for the second season in a row.
With the Florida Panthers moved past the Boston Bruins to clinch the Atlantic Division title, the Eastern Conference playoff bracket is set. The Western Conference series won't be decided until Thursday.
Two nights remain in the regular season. Here's where the playoff races stand:
Who's in the NHL playoffs?
The New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals have clinched in the East.
The Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings have clinched in the West.
Who can clinch a playoff berth today?
The Dallas Stars will clinch the best record in the Western Conference and home-ice advantage through three rounds if they get one point against the St. Louis Blues.
What else was happening on Wednesday:
- Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews came up short in his effort to become the first NHL player since 1992-93 to score 70 goals in a season. He certainly had his chances. firing 12 shots on net and getting robbed by Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Matt Tomkins several times. He also hit the crossbar once. The Maple Leafs pulled their goalie late and loaded up the offense to get Matthews the goal, but it didn't happen. Still, his 69 goals are the most in the NHL since Mario Lemieux had the same total in 1995-96.
- Lightning star Nikita Kucherov recorded his 100th assist and become the fifth player in NHL history to hit that milestone. He joined Connor McDavid (who did it Monday), Wayne Gretzky (11 times), Mario Lemieux (once) and Bobby Orr (once). Kucherov now has a six-point lead in the scoring race on the Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon, whose final game of the regular season is Thursday.
- The Arizona Coyotes might be playing their final game in the Phoenix area after moving there in 1996. Multiple reports indicate the team could move to Salt Lake City next season. Resale tickets for the home finale at Mullett Arena ranged from $345 to $10,000.
NHL games today
- New York Islanders 5, Pittsburgh Penguins 4
- Tampa Bay Lightning 6, Toronto Maple Leafs 4
- St. Louis Blues at Dallas, Stars, 9:30
- Edmonton Oilers at Arizona Coyotes, 10
NHL Eastern Conference standings 2023-24
Metropolitan Division
p-New York Rangers (114 points)
x-Carolina Hurricanes (111)
x-New York Islanders (94)
Atlantic Division
y-Florida Panthers (110)
x-Boston Bruins (109)
x-Toronto Maple Leafs (102)
Wild card
x-Tampa Bay Lightning (98)
x-Washington Capitals (91)
Remaining teams
z-Detroit Red Wings (91), z-Pittsburgh Penguins (88), z-Philadelphia Flyers (87), z-Buffalo Sabres (84), z-New Jersey Devils (81), z-Ottawa Senators (78), z-Montreal Canadiens (76), z-Columbus Blue Jackets (66)
p-clinched Presidents' Trophy; x-clinched playoff spot; y-clinched division title; z-eliminated
NHL Western Conference Standings 2023-24
Central Division
y-Dallas Stars (111)
x-Winnipeg Jets (108)
x-Colorado Avalanche (105)
Pacific Division
y-Vancouver Canucks (109)
x-Edmonton Oilers (104)
x-Vegas Golden Knights (98)
Wild card
x-Nashville Predators (99)
x-Los Angeles Kings (97)
Remaining teams
z-St. Louis Blues (91), z-Minnesota Wild (87), z-Calgary Flames (79), z-Seattle Kraken (79), z-Arizona Coyotes (75), z-Anaheim Ducks (57), z-Chicago Blackhawks (51), z-San Jose Sharks (47)
x-clinched playoff spot; y-clinched division title; z-eliminated
NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket will look:
- New York Rangers (M1) vs. Washington Capitals (WC2)
- Carolina Hurricanes (M2) vs. New York Islanders (M3)
- Florida Panthers (A1) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (WC1)
- Boston Bruins (A2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (A3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card
NHL Western Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended April 16:
- Dallas Stars (C1) vs. Los Angeles Kings (WC2)
- Winnipeg Jets (C2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (C3)
- Vancouver Canucks (P1) vs. Nashville Predators (WC1)
- Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (P3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth. Key: P - Pacific Division. C - Central Division. WC - wild card
OILERS: Connor McDavid joins exclusive club with 100-assist season
What is the tiebreaker procedure for the NHL playoffs?
If two or more teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:
- Regulation wins
- Regulation and overtime wins
- Total wins
- Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded.
- Goal differential
- Total goals.
Note: If the Golden Knights and Kings finish tied in points, Los Angeles has the edge in regulation wins. If the Stars and Canucks finish tied in points, Vancouver has the edge in regulation wins.
When does the NHL regular season end?
The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 18 with six games.
When do the Stanley Cup playoffs begin?
They'rescheduled to begin on April 20. The last possible day of the Stanley Cup Final is June 24.
