THURSDAY’S NHL SCORES

(Eastern Conference Playoff Implications)
Ottawa 3 – New York Rangers 0
Tampa Bay 4 – New Jersey Devils 3 (OT)
Montreal 4 – Detroit Red Wings 3 (OT)
Florida 4 – Boston 2
*Red Wings, Islanders clinch playoff berths*
SENATORS GET BIG WIN, BRUINS ON BRINK OF MISSING PLAYOFFS
The Ottawa Senators have moved ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the top wildcard spot and control their destiny in reaching the playoffs.
The Senators need one point against the Flyers Saturday afternoon or a Bruins loss vs Tampa Bay to clinch a playoff berth.
The Bruins need a win vs Tampa Bay Saturday night and some help to get in.
If the Bruins and Senators finish the season with 97 points, Boston wins the tiebreaker due to ROW tiebreaker.
PENGUINS CLINCHING SCENARIOS
MAGIC NUMBER ‘2’
The Penguins chances of making the playoffs increased with the Bruins loss and the Penguins continue to control their fate.
*Pittsburgh clinches Friday night with a win vs the Islanders or a win vs the Sabres.
TIEBREAKING SCENARIOS
*If the Bruins and Penguins finish the season with 96 points, Pittsburgh would advance due to ROW tiebreaker.
*If the Bruins, Penguins and Senators finish with 97 points, Pittsburgh and Boston win the tiebreaker due to the higher percentage of available points earned in games among those clubs.
*If the Penguins and Bruins finish with 97 points and Boston earns a regulation or overtime win vs Tampa Bay, Boston wins the tiebreaker due to head-to-head record.
*If the Penguins and Bruins finish with 97 points and Boston earns a shootout win vs Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh wins the tiebreaker due to ROW.
NHL PLAYOFF RACE
METROPOLITAN DIVISION
1. P NY Rangers, 111 Points, ROW 48, 1 GR
2. X Washington Capitals, 101 points, ROW 40, 1 GR
2. X NY Islanders, 98 Points, ROW 39, 2 GR
ATLANTIC DIVISION
1. X Montreal Canadiens, 108 Points, ROW 43, 1 GR
2. X Tampa Bay Lightning, 106 Points, ROW 47, 1 GR
3. X Detroit Red Wings, 98 Points, ROW 38, 1 GR
WILD CARD
1. Ottawa Senators, 97 Points, ROW 35, 1 GR
2 Pittsburgh Penguins, 96 points, ROW 38, 2 GR
_____________________________________
3. Boston Bruins, 95 points, ROW 37, 1 GR

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