The Chicago Blackhawks have one game 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.
Thursday’s results
Chicago dropped its third straight game in a 4-0 loss to Anaheim, who moved closer to their fifth consecutive Pacific Division title. The Ducks lead the Edmonton Oilers by four points and San Jose Sharks by six points for first in the division. The Oilers defeated the Sharks 4-2. Anaheim would have clinched had Edmonton lost, but it did secure home-ice advantage in the Western Conference first round.
The St. Louis Blues maintained their lead for third place in the Central Division with a 6-3 win against the Florida Panthers. The Blues are one point ahead of the Nashville Predators in the division. Nashville defeated the Dallas Stars 7-3. St. Louis has one game in hand. The Calgary Flames remain tied for the first wild card with a 4-1 win over Los Angeles.
In the Eastern Conference, the Penguins secured the No. 2 seed in the Metropolitan Division with a win and a Columbus loss. The Senators clinched a playoff spot for the second time in three seasons with a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins, who are one point back in third place. The Toronto Maple Leafs failed to clinch a playoff spot when it fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Western Conference Playoff Race
(Games Ending 4/6) pic.twitter.com/T32nPV4TbG— Damian Echevarrieta (@Ech28) April 7, 2017
Eastern Conference Playoff Race
(Games Ending 4/6) pic.twitter.com/ky5F2nLTLf— Damian Echevarrieta (@Ech28) April 7, 2017
Friday’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.
There are no Western Conference teams in action.
Tampa Bay, who sits three points back of the final wild-card spot, visits the Montreal Canadiens. The Lightning must win against Montreal, who is locked into first place in the Atlantic, to stay alive.
Blackhawks’ remaining schedule
Saturday, April 8: at Los Angeles