Blackhawks playoff picture: April 3

The Chicago Blackhawks have less than two weeks left in the regular-season and are fighting for a playoff seeding. Each day until the end of the regular-season, we’ll breakdown their chances at seeding in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Thursday’s results

The Blackhawks clinched their seventh consecutive playoff berth with a 3-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks at the United Center. The St. Louis Blues snapped a two-game losing streak and remained in second place in the Central Division with a 4-1 over the Calgary Flames to clinch a playoff spot as well. The Minnesota Wild had their five-game winning streak stopped with a 3-2 loss to the New York Rangers at home.

Friday’s scoreboard watch

The Blackhawks travel to Buffalo for the second half of a back-to-back. The Sabres have the worst record in the NHL, but have won their last two games. The Blues also play the second game of a back-to-back as they travel south to play the Dallas Stars, while the Colorado Avalanche travel to play the Pacific Division champion Anaheim Ducks.

Conference Standings

Western Conference Play-Off Race (Games Ending Thursday 4/2) pic.twitter.com/8oNGSC8wxo

— Damian Echevarrieta (@Ech28) April 3, 2015

Eastern Conference Play-Off Race (Games Ending 4/2) pic.twitter.com/VvglkKMnh4

— Damian Echevarrieta (@Ech28) April 3, 2015

Blackhawks’ outlook

The Blackhawks play the lowly Buffalo Sabres on the road, whose fans have cheered goals from visiting teams as they wish for their team to get the top pick in the NHL Entry Draft this summer. Chicago should win comfortably, but stranger things have happened. The Sabers will be on a two-game winning streak entering Friday’s contest. The Blackhawks must not overlook the Sabres if they want to extend their winning streak to four games and secure two more points heading into the final stretch.

Blackhawks’ schedule

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