With one full weekend to go in the NHL regular season, not one of the first-round playoff matchups is set.
Fourteen of the 16 playoff berths have been clinched, and the final spots will be determined on Saturday or perhaps Sunday.
The Detroit Red Wings are currently holding on to seventh spot in the Atlantic Division, and if they remain there, they will face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round. The Boston Bruins, who hammered the Red Wings Thursday night at home, 5-2, are currently in the second wild-card spot and would face the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals in the first round.
The Philadelphia Flyers are currently on the outside of the playoffs looking in after dropping a 4-3 decision at home to the lowly Toronto Maple Leafs Thursday night, but they control their own destiny despite being in ninth place in the standings. If they beat the streaking Pittsburgh Penguins at home Saturday and the New York Islanders on the road Sunday, they will get into the playoffs.
Based on the way they played against the Maple Leafs, that won't happen, but Wayne Simmonds scored a hu ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Steve Silverman
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