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 Playoff Picture: Detroit’s Magic Number To Clinch Down To 1
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 Friday’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.
No. 1 Philadelphia Flyers
- in playoffs
- needs 8 points to clinch East
- needs 4 points to clinch Atlantic
No. 2 Washington Capitals
- in playoffs
- needs 4 points to clinch Southeast
- needs 7 points to clinch 2-seed
No. 3 Boston Bruins
- in playoffs
- needs 1 point to clinch Northeast
- tragic number for losing 2-seed is 7 points
No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins
- in playoffs
- tragic number for losing Atlantic is 4 points
- needs 8 points to clinch 4-seed
No. 5 Tampa Bay Lightning
- in playoffs
- needs 3 points to clinch 5-seed
- tragic number for losing Southeast is 4 points
No. 6 Montreal Canadiens
- needs 5 points to clinch playoff spot
- needs 6 points to clinch 6-seed
- tragic number for losing Northeast is 1 point
No. 7 Buffalo Sabres
- needs 8 points to clinch playoff spot
- needs 6 points to clinch 7-seed
- eliminated from Northeast Division race
No. 8 New York Rangers
- needs 8 points to clinch playoff spot
- eliminated from top-4 contention, home ice advantage
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No. 9 Carolina Hurricanes
- tragic number for losing playoff berth is 89 points
No. 10 Toronto Maple Leafs
- tragic number for losing playoff berth is 4 points
WESTERN CONFERENCE
No. 1 Vancouver Canucks
- in playoffs
- clinched President’s Trophy, West and Northwest
No. 2 San Jose Sharks
- in playoffs
- needs 5 points to clinch Pacific
No. 3 Detroit Red Wings
- needs 1 point to clinch playoff spot
- tragic number to lose 2-seed is 10 points
- needs 4 points to clinch Central
No. 4 Phoenix Coyotes
- needs 5 points to clinch playoff spot
- tragic number for losing Pacific is 5 points
No. 5 Los Angeles Kings
- needs 6 points to clinch playoff spot
- tragic number for losing Pacific is 5 points
No. 6 Nashville Predators
- needs 6 points to clinch playoff spot
- tragic number for losing Central is 4 points
No. 7 Anaheim Ducks
- needs 6 points to clinch playoff spot
- tragic number for losing Pacific is 5 points
No. 8 Chicago Blackhawks
- needs 10 to clinch playoff spot
- tragic number for losing Central is 5 points
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No. 9 Dallas Stars
- tragic number for losing playoff spot is 10 points
No. 10 Calgary Flames
- tragic number for losing playoff spot is 5 points
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