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.’
We can agree to file this one under ‘Long Shots,’ but the Florida Panthers have a spark at the moment.
Yes, they are eight points back. Yes, that’s a pile of points to overcome in 11 remaining games. Yes, their odds resemble that of a snowball’s chance in hell (Hockey Reference currently has them at a 2.7 percent chance to play an 83rd game this season). But if the Philadelphia Flyers are still getting some playoff love, putting the Panthers — winners of four straight heading into Sunday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks — in the same conversation is perfectly acceptable.
And they’re playing the Ducks on Sunday, so if they keep it simple, there are another two points to be bagged and a deficit to be decreased. With a game in hand on the Columbus Blue Jackets, a win could quickly shift to six points -- a number that at least appears more manageable.
“We’re not dead yet, and we can make things interesting,” Florida coach Bob Boughner told NHL.com after Saturday’s win. “We’ve just got to keep on winning, and tomorrow is another big day for us.”
Sam Montembeault has come out of nowhere and has been a revelation in his short time in the Panthers crease, winning his past four starts and beginning his life in the NHL with a 4-0-1 record. Perhaps we have another Jordan Binnington story right before the season ends?
Aleksander Barkov has been flying, scoring twice and adding nine assists in a five-game point streak. He’s got a career-high 81 points now.
With the Montreal Canadiens fluttering, and the Jekyll and Hyde Blue Jackets unsure what they want, the time is now for a team seemingly out of it to take charge. Florida’s going to need a season-long -- and a perhaps franchise-record -- win streak to get the job done. And that’s what makes this time of the year so much fun.
IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY
Lightning vs. Blue Jackets
Capitals vs. Hurricanes
Islanders 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
Devils vs. Avalanche (3 p.m. ET)
Blues vs. Sabres (5 p.m. ET)
Islanders vs. Wild (6 p.m. ET)
Canucks vs. Stars (7 p.m. ET)
Flyers vs. Penguins (7:30 p.m. ET -- Watch Live on NBCSN)
Panthers vs. Ducks (9 p.m. ET)
Oilers vs. Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET -- Watch Live on NBCSN)
TODAY’S CLINCHING SCENARIOS
WESTERN CONFERENCE
The Calgary Flames, who are idle, can clinch a playoff berth if:
* The Minnesota Wild lose in any fashion to the New York Islanders
PLAYOFF PERCENTAGES (via Hockey-Reference)
Lightning -- Clinched
Bruins -- 100 percent
Maple Leafs -- 99.8 percent
Capitals -- 99.8 percent
Islanders -- 99.8 percent
Penguins -- 98.2 percent
Hurricanes -- 93.6 percent
Blue Jackets -- 80.3 percent
Canadiens -- 23.7 percent
Panthers -- 2.7 percent
Flyers -- 2.1 percent
Sabres -- Out
Rangers -- Out
Devils -- Out
Red Wings -- Out
Senators -- Out
PLAYOFF PERCENTAGES (via Hockey-Reference)
Jets -- 100 percent
Flames -- 100 percent
Sharks -- 100 percent
Predators -- 99.9 percent
Golden Knights -- 99.4 percent
Blues -- 97.4 percent
Stars -- 89.9 percent
Coyotes -- 55.1 percent
Wild -- 32.4 percent
Blackhawks -- 12.9 percent
Avalanche -- 9.1 percent
Oilers -- 3.5 percent
Canucks -- 0.4 percent
Ducks -- Out
Kings -- Out
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
Canucks -- 7.5 percent
Rangers -- 6.5 percent
Sabres -- 6 percent
Oilers -- 5 percent
Avalanche -- 3.5 percent
Blackhawks -- 3 percent
Wild -- 2.5 percent
Panthers -- 2 percent
Flyers -- 1.5 percent
Canadiens -- 1 percent
(*Senators pick belongs to the Colorado Avalanche)
ART ROSS RACE
Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lighting -- 117 points
Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers -- 103 points
Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks -- 99 points
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins -- 92 points
Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames -- 91 points
ROCKET RICHARD RACE
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals -- 48 goals
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers -- 42 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
Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck
