The Eastern Conference playoff race can end Friday night, and it’s all up to one team. Here’s how it breaks down today:
2010 NHL Playoff Race: Clinching Scenarios For Friday, April 9
- If Philadelphia beats NYR (in regulation or OT/SO), they clinch. They would also seal the deal for Montreal and Boston, because the Rangers loss would push both those teams over the top. Boston needs a regulation win by the Flyers to clinch, but the Rangers can gain one point tonight and Montreal will still clinch. This is because the Canadiens hold a potential tiebreak over NYR while Boston does not. If the Rangers lose, in regulation or OT/SO, they’re out.
The Canadiens could have clinched last night if they could’ve gained just one point against Carolina. They did not, and now, Toronto fans are hoping for the absolute dream trash-talk scenario. They could potentially knock the Habs out of the postseason on Sunday, but a few things would have to happen first.
From SBN’s Leafs blog, Pension Plan Puppets:
- The New York Rangers need to win both games against the Philadelphia Flyers.
- The Philadelphia Flyers need to take one of those losses to overtime or the shootout.
- The Boston Bruins need to pick up just one point in their last two games.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs need to beat the Montreal Canadiens in regulation in Montreal.
If this happens, NYR, the Flyers and the Bruins would all finish with at least 88 points. Montreal would be left out of the party with just 87 points. It wouldn’t be a fun time to be in town, that’s for sure.
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