It’s pretty simple for the Stars in the division. Collect two points either from positive results in their final three games or the Avalanche dropping points in their final three (Jets have four games remaining so they’re kinda/sorta tied with COL). That leaves us battling Vancouver (most likely) for #1 in West and the NY Rangers, Boston and Carolina for the President’s Trophy from the East. (I only spotlighted NYR and Boston in the East at this point. After the next game or two, might need to double back with the Canes, who have a pretty easy finishing schedule and could easily get to 113 points.)
Here’s a cheat sheet for what’s left:
NY RANGERS (110 points, 3 games remaining)
vs Phil (83 points, two points back of WC2 in East)
vs NYI (87 points, currently 3rd in Metro, two points ahead of Wash, three ahead of Pitt and four ahead of Phil)
vs Ott (72 points, third-worst team in East)
Summation: the two games against Phil/NYI are against teams in must-win mode, either to get in playoffs or get highest seed possible; Carolina’s finishing schedule is pretty easy (STL, Chi, Columbus) so this could get tight for East #1
DALLAS (109 points, 3 games remaining)
vs Winn (102 points, two back of COL but have four GR)
vs Sea (79 points, eliminated from playoffs)
vs STL (87 points, five points back of VGS and six back of LAK for WC2 with four GR)
Summation: pretty simple, get two points from the above (or get them from Col/Winn); Blues *could* be playing for something in the final game but they’re a long shot to still be in it by the time Game 82 rolls around
BOSTON (107 points, 3 games remaining)
at Pitt (84 points, battling for their playoff lives)
at Wash (85 points, battling for their playoff lives)
vs Ott (72 points, third-worst team in East)
Summation: two tough road games against teams fighting against elimination; don’t think Wash can be officially eliminated before the Boston matchup
VANCOUVER (104 points, 4 games remaining)
vs Ari (71 points, third-worst in West)
at Edm (99 points, six GR so very much in the thick of things for the division, and possibly the West if they go 6-0-0 to close)
vs Cgy (75 points, sixth in Pacific and 2-8 in last 10)
at Winn (102 points, four GR)
Summation: Stars’ Magic Number is four to clinch #1 in West; Canucks have tough games at Edm/Winn though the final game might not matter for one (or both) of those teams; Edmonton starts run of six games in nine nights this evening (three games in next four nights, get a day off and then three more in four nights), which is a brutal finishing schedule and McDavid is day-to-day
COLORADO (104 points, 3 games remaining)
vs Winn (102 points, four GR)
at Vegas (92 points, five GR)
vs Edm (99 points, six GR)
Summation: Must win out and hope Stars crater to win division; basically in a dead heat with Winnipeg for home-ice in R1, would love to see the Avs slip to 3rd behind WPG
WINNIPEG (102 points, 4 games remaining)
at Dal (109 points, first in West)
at Col (104 points, three GR)
vs Sea (79 points, eliminated)
vs Van (104 points, lead Pacific)
Summation: Jets are 4-5-1 in last 10 but if they win tomorrow in Dallas and at Colorado, look out …
EDMONTON (99 points, 6 games remaining)
vs Vegas (92 points, five GR)
vs Ari (71 points, eliminated)
vs Van (104 points)
vs SJ (45 points, worst team in NHL)
at Ari (71 points, see above)
at Col (104 points, three GR)
Summation: crazy scheduling for Edmonton and Vegas in the final week. Edmonton plays six games in the season’s final nine days, including two three-in-four-days situations with one day of rest in between. Vegas crams in five games in that stretch. Brutal.