Through the remainder of the regular season, we'll take a look at how the night's action impacts the playoff race, highlighting which teams' postseason odds went up or down significantly.
"So you're saying there's a chance ... " - Lloyd Christmas
The Toronto Maple Leafs have left the door open for a somewhat dramatic final weekend of the regular season.
Presented with an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot on home ice, the Leafs proceeded to drop a 4-1 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, keeping the latter's slim playoff hopes alive.
Meanwhile, the New York Islanders are still in the running thanks to a shutout win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
While Toronto's still in the driver's seat, Thursday's results made things a bit more interesting, as the table shows:
| Team | Result | Playoff Chances | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Islanders | W 3-0 vs. Carolina | 7.4 | +4.5 |
| Lightning | W 4-1 vs. Maple Leafs | 4.2 | +2.2 |
| Maple Leafs | L 4-1 vs. Lightning | 88.5% | -9.2 |
(Courtesy: Sports Club Stats)
The Ottawa Senators, by the way, clinched a spot Thursday, leaving these three teams to battle it out for the 16th and final berth.
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