Magic numbers in hockey are complicated. With a point system that doesn’t give the same value to every single game played, you can’t calculate magic numbers in terms of games. Instead, we have to calculate them in terms of points.
NHL Magic Numbers Show Lightning Close To Postseason, Bruins Nearing To Northeast Title
Below, you can see the current magic numbers for each team above eighth-place in either the Eastern or Western Conference as we prepare for Wednesday’s NHL action. These numbers represent any combination of the number of points gained by the team or the number of points lost by the closest competitor.
Tragic numbers represent any number of points lost by a team, plus the number of points gained by the team they are chasing. In essence, they are the reverse of the magic number.
We’ll update these in this StoryStream every day from now until the end of the season.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
No. 1 Philadelphia Flyers - 6 games left, max: 114 pts
- in playoffs
- needs 8 of 12 possible points to clinch East
- needs 6 of 12 to clinch Atlantic
No. 2 Washington Capitals - 5 games left, max: 109 pts
- in playoffs
- needs 7 of 10 possible points to clinch Southeast
- needs 10 of 10 possible points to clinch 2-seed
No. 3 Boston Bruins - 6 games left, max: 108 pts
- in playoffs
- 2 of 12 possible points in clinch Northeast
- tragic number for losing 2-seed is 10 points
No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins - 5 games left, max: 108 pts
- in playoffs
- tragic number for losing Atlantic is 7 points
- needs 8 of 10 possible points to clinch 4-seed
No. 5 Tampa Bay Lightning - 6 games left, max: 105 pts
- needs 2 of 12 possible points to clinch playoff berth
- tragic number for losing Southeast is 7 points
No. 6 Montreal Canadiens - 4 games left, max: 97 pts
- needs 5 of 10 possible points to clinch playoff spot
- tragic number for losing Northeast is 2 points
No. 8 Buffalo Sabres - 5 games left, max: 97 pts
- needs 8 of 10 possible points to clinch playoff spot
- eliminated from Northeast Division title contention, top-3 seed, 4-seed
No. 8 New York Rangers - 5 games left, max: 97 pts
- needs 8 of 10 possible points to clinch playoff spot
- eliminated from Atlantic Division title contention, top-3 seed, 4-seed
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No. 9 Carolina Hurricanes - 5 games left, max: 94 pts
- tragic number for losing playoff berth is 10 points
- eliminated from Southeast title contention, top-3 seed, 4-seed
No. 10 Toronto Maple Leafs - 5 games left, max: 90 pts
- tragic number for losing playoff berth is 3 points
- eliminated from Northeast title contention, top-3 seed, 4-seed, 5-seed
WESTERN CONFERENCE
No. 1 Vancouver Canucks - 5 games left, max: 121 pts
- in playoffs, clinched West and Northwest
- needs 4 of 10 possible points to clinch President’s Trophy
No. 2 Detroit Red Wings - 5 games left, max: 108 pts
- needs 4 of 10 possible points to clinch playoff spot
- eliminated from Western title contention, 1-seed
- needs 5 of 10 possible points to clinch Central
No. 3 San Jose Sharks - 6 games left, max: 109 pts
- needs 5 of 12 possible points to clinch playoff spot
- tragic number for losing 2-seed is 12 points
- needs 10 of 12 points to clinch Pacific
No. 4 Phoenix Coyotes - 4 games left, max: 103 pts
- needs 7 of 8 possible points to clinch playoff spot
- tragic number for losing Pacific is 10 points
No. 5 Los Angeles Kings - 6 games left, max: 106 pts
- needs 7 of 12 possible points to clinch playoff spot
- tragic number for losing Pacific is 10 points
No. 6 Anaheim Ducks - 5 games left, max: 103 pts
- needs 9 of 10 possible points to clinch playoff spot
- tragic number for losing Pacific is 10 points
No. 7 Nashville Predators - 4 games left, max: 102 pts
- needs 10 of 10 possible points to clinch playoff spot
- tragic number for losing Central is 4 points
No. 8 Chicago Blackhawks - 6 games left, max: 102 pts
- needs 12 of 12 possible points to clinch playoff spot
- tragic number for losing Central is 4 points
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No. 9 Dallas Stars - 7 games left, max: 101 pts
- tragic number for losing playoff spot is 12 points
No. 10 Calgary Flames - 4 games left, max; 95 pts
- tragic number for losing playoff spot is 5 points
- eliminated from top-4 seeds
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