The Blue Jackets currently sit third in the Metropolitan Division, but depending on the remaining games on Saturday and Sunday, could fall as far back as the final wild-card spot in the East. It means Columbus could still be pinned against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, or Boston Bruins in the first round.
Rick Nash has revealed the true nature of his injury, as the Boston Bruins forward informed the media he has been sidelined with a concussion that forced him to miss the past 10 games.
The team previously described Nash's ailment as an upper-body injury.
Nash skated Saturday but won't play against the Ottawa Senators. The possibility remains he could dress for Sunday's season finale versus the Florida Panthers. The veteran forward is optimistic he'll be ready to return for the opening round of the postseason.
The Bruins acquired Nash from the New York Rangers at this year's trade deadline, and paid a heavy price to do so, parting with first- and seventh-round picks, forwards Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey, and defenseman Ryan Lindgren.
Nash has suited up for 11 games with the Bruins, in which he has potted three goals and three assists. His last appearance came March 17.
Rick Nash has revealed the true nature of his injury, as the Boston Bruins forward informed the media he has been sidelined with a concussion that forced him to miss the past 10 games.
The team previously described Nash's ailment as an upper-body injury.
Nash skated Saturday but won't play against the Ottawa Senators. The possibility remains he could dress for Sunday's season finale versus the Florida Panthers. The veteran forward is optimistic he'll be ready to return for the opening round of the postseason.
The Bruins acquired Nash from the New York Rangers at this year's trade deadline, and paid a heavy price to do so, parting with first- and seventh-round picks, forwards Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey, and defenseman Ryan Lindgren.
Nash has suited up for 11 games with the Bruins, in which he has potted three goals and three assists. His last appearance came March 17.
A game after clinching a playoff spot with a win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New Jersey Devils will be resting a handful of their stars in Game 82 of the regular season.
"I'm good with it," Hall said, according to Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press. "It's a good time to get some rest and recuperate a little bit. We've played a lot of hockey lately, and a lot of the stuff in the standings is out of our hands other than our game tonight. Yeah, I'm cool with it."
Head coach John Hynes said his decision to sit some of his stars also gives other players a chance to prove they deserve to be in the lineup for the playoffs, according to MSG Networks' Steve Cangialosi.
Despite just one game remaining, it's still unclear as to who the Devils will face in the first round. Depending on the results from Saturday's action and Sunday's lone contest, the team could play the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, or the Boston Bruins.
The Florida Panthers' playoff chase will have to continue without their top center.
Aleksander Barkovwon't play in the Panthers' final two regular-season contests after he was forced from Thursday's game against the Boston Bruins in the third period with an upper-body injury.
Florida's hopes of making the playoffs rest on winning both of its remaining games, which come Saturday versus the Buffalo Sabres and Sunday against the Bruins.
The Panthers also need the Philadelphia Flyers to lose in regulation to the New York Rangers on Saturday in order to leapfrog them into the East's second wild-card spot.
Getting the job done without Barkov in the lineup is sure to make life a little more difficult for the Panthers. The Finnish forward leads the team in scoring with 78 points.
Florida last qualified for the playoffs in 2016, one of its two postseason appearances in the past 16 seasons.
If the Colorado Avalanche are to make the postseason, they'll have to get their work done in 60 minutes on Saturday.
The Avalanche close out their regular-season schedule against the St. Louis Blues, the lone team battling them for the West's final wild-card position.
St. Louis currently holds the seed, notching 41 regulation wins and 94 points through its first 81 games. But the Avs aren't far behind, coming in at 40 regulation victories and 93 points.
A Colorado win Saturday would move the club to 95 points, but it must be done in regulation, as awarding the Blues a point in either overtime or the shootout would also move St. Louis to 95 points.
If that should happen, the two sides would remain neck and neck following the first two tiebreakers: total points (95) and regulation and overtime wins (41).
The tiebreaker then goes to the team with the better season-series record, excluding the first home date for the team who played more games in its own barn. Here's how the Avs-Blues series transpired this season:
Date
Home Team
Score
Oct. 19
Colorado
4-3 Blues
Jan. 25
St. Louis
3-1 Blues
Feb. 8
St. Louis
6-1 Blues
March 15
St. Louis
4-1 Avalanche
April 7
Colorado
TBD
In this scenario, the Jan. 25 home game in St. Louis would not be counted. A theoretical three-point game Saturday with the Avalanche winning in extra time would see the point distribution for the season series total four for the Avalanche and five for the Blues.
With such high stakes, the Avalanche could pull out all the stops to earn a crucial regulation victory:
OK, so now it's official, the Colorado Avalanche must win in regulation against the St. Louis Blues tomorrow to clinch a playoff berth, so a tie game late in the third period, you bet the Avs have to pull the goalie.
If further evidence is needed that the hockey world is a tight-knit community, look no further than those who offered their support and condolences following the tragic bus crash in Saskatchewan that killed 14 people and injured 14 others.
The Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League were en route to a road playoff game in Nipawin on Friday when their team bus was struck by a tractor trailer.
My heart is heavy right now. Praying for all those affected by the Humboldt Broncos tragedy.
I road the bus all the time playing in the @TheWHL very unfortunate to hear about this tragic accident. Thoughts and prayers to everyone effected involving the #Humboldtbroncos#PrayersForHumboldt
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also offered his condolences:
I cannot imagine what these parents are going through, and my heart goes out to everyone affected by this terrible tragedy, in the Humboldt community and beyond. https://t.co/2cIn2CTy08
Commissioner Gary Bettman also released a statement on behalf of the NHL:
"Our thoughts are with the players, families, coaches, team management, and all those throughout the community who have been affected by the tragedy involving the Humboldt Broncos hockey team," Bettman said. "The NHL mourns the passing of those who perished and offers strength and comfort to those injured while traveling to play and be part of a game they all love."
Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed 14 people are dead and another 14 are injured after a crash involving a junior hockey team's bus from Saskatchewan and a transport truck on Friday night.
"We can now confirm fourteen people have died as a result of this collision," RCMP said in a release Saturday.
"The other fourteen people were sent to hospital with a variety of injuries; three of these people have injuries that are critical in nature."
The bus was carrying the Humboldt Broncos of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League to Game 5 of their semifinal playoff series against the Nipawin Hawks.
Patrick Sharp will likely play his final NHL game Saturday in Winnipeg.
The Chicago Blackhawks winger admitted as much following Friday's loss to St. Louis, a game in which he wore an "A" as an assistant captain after Patrick Kane offered to give up that responsibility for the night.
Asked if this is his last season, Sharpy says: “Yeah, probably... I’m grateful I had the opportunity to come back to the #Blackhawks”
Tragedy has struck in rural Canada, as a bus carrying a junior hockey team - the Humboldt Broncos - was struck by a transport truck earlier this evening and has resulted in "multiple fatalities," according to the RCMP.
Exact details on the fatalities and injuries haven't been released.
The bus was carrying the team to a Friday night game against the Nipawin Hawks, another team competing in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, when it was T-boned by a transport truck on a rural highway just north of Tisdale, Saskatchewan.
Three air ambulance helicopters were dispatched to the area, as rescue efforts are ongoing. The RCMP won't confirm the number of causalities until all next of kin are notified, according to Sportsnet's Faizal Khamisa.
Friday's game between the Broncos and Hawks has been canceled.