The Chicago Blackhawks have two games left in the regular season and have clinched the Central Division and the top spot in the Western Conference. Each day until the end of the regular season, we’ll breakdown who they could possibly face in the first round and other seeding in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Wednesday’s results
There were no Western Conference teams in action.
The Washington Capitals clinched the Presidents’ Trophy, first place in the Eastern Conference and the Metropolitan Division title for a second consecutive season when they defeated the New York Rangers 2-0. Buffalo edged Montreal 2-1. The Canadiens will have home-ice advantage in the playoffs against the Rangers while the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins will draw division rival Columbus in the first round.
Western Conference Playoff Race
(Games Ending 4/5) pic.twitter.com/i4cqTMkdxA— Damian Echevarrieta (@Ech28) April 6, 2017
Eastern Conference Play Off Race
(Games Ending 4/5) pic.twitter.com/DqATXEWpFY— Damian Echevarrieta (@Ech28) April 6, 2017
Thursday’s scoreboard watch
If the playoffs started today, the Hawks would be the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and play the No. 2 wild card team — Nashville.
Chicago visits Anaheim in clash between two division leaders. Minnesota, who is already locked into the No. 2 seed in the Central Division, visits last-place Colorado while St. Louis makes the trip to South Beach to play the Panthers and Nashville is in Dallas.
In the Pacific, Edmonton and San Jose square of in a battle of the second- and third-place teams. Both teams have 97 points and have Calgary, who visits Los Angeles, on their heels at 92 points in the first wild-card spot.
Blackhawks’ remaining schedule
Thursday, April 6: at Anaheim-x
Saturday, April 8: at Los Angeles
x-playoff team