Saturday has a busy slate of NHL games, and for a few teams, there is an opportunity to ensure their season doesn’t end next week.
The Montreal Canadiens missed their chance to clinch their spot in the playoffs on Friday after losing to the Ottawa Senators, but they don’t have to wait long to get another chance.
If the Canadiens beat the Toronto Maple Leafs in regulation Saturday night, or if they win in overtime or a shootout and the Blue Jackets don’t beat the Capitals in regulation, Montreal will clinch a playoff spot.
Montreal can also clinch a playoff berth with an overtime or shootout loss, as long as the Blue Jackets lose to the Capitals in any fashion.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild will clinch a playoff berth Saturday if they defeat the Vancouver Canucks in any fashion and the St. Louis Blues lose to the Seattle Kraken in regulation.
But there aren’t just playoff spots on the line Saturday, as a couple of teams can ensure they clinch a division title.
The Winnipeg Jets will clinch the Central Division and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference if they earn at least one point against the Chicago Blackhawks.
- The NHL’s best are ready to battle for the right to hoist the Stanley Cup. Watch every game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ beginning on April 19.
- Broadcast Schedule
If the Jets don’t get a point against the Blackhawks, they can still clinch the Central if the Dallas Stars do not get a win in regulation against the Utah Hockey Club.
The Vegas Golden Knights can clinch the Pacific Division title with a regulation win over the Nashville Predators. They can also secure it with an overtime or shootout win, as long as the Los Angeles Kings don’t beat the Colorado Avalanche in regulation.
Another path is if Vegas earns a point against Nashville and the Kings lose to Colorado in any fashion.
