Blackhawks playoff picture: March 31

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

Monday’s results

The Blackhawks won their second straight game with a 4-1 victory against the Los Angeles Kings on Monday at the United Center to move within a point of the second-place St. Louis Blues, who fell 4-1 to the visiting Vancouver Canucks. It was one of the Blackhawks’ more impressive games in the past two weeks. The Blues may not have just lost a game as star forward Vladimir Tarasenko left in the third period with an apparent injury after he was tripped by Kevin Bieksa with less than 12 minutes remaining. The Calgary Flames defeated their second straight Central Division opponent, the Dallas Stars, 5-3.

Tuesday’s scoreboard watch

The first-place Nashville Predators are the only Central Division team in playoff contention playing as they host the Vancouver Canucks, who are in second-place in the Pacific Division. The Winnipeg Jets will also be at home against the Metropolitan leading New York Rangers.

Central Division Standings

Wild-card Standings

Blackhawks’ outlook

The Blackhawks, St. Louis and Minnesota each have six games remaining, including two games featuring the Blackhawks vs. the Blues that will be vital in the three-team division race. Chicago faces teams in playoff contention in all but two games. The Blackhawks begin another set of back-to-back games with the Canucks and Buffalo Sabers on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

Blackhawks’ schedule

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