Like Jeff Carter’s goal in Thursday’s 8-2 blowout against the Oilers. In a word: Wow.
MORE: NHL scoreboard | Final 10 days : East | West | Standings
Meanwhile, the Capitals climbed into position to have home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference.
Not only did he get an eye-popping goal on Thursday, but Carter helped the Kings jump the Jets and take the second and final wild-card berth in the Western Conference playoff field. The Kings now have an opportunity to avoid a first-round clash with the Ducks. How? By moving up one place to face the Central Division champion.
The 2015 regular season ends April 11, and first-round playoff games begin April 15. Matchup changes occur nightly.
LONG CAREERS, NO CUP: Western Conference players | Eastern Conference players
Two teams locked up playoff berths on Thursday: the Blues and Blackhawks, who might face each other in the first round.
The Rangers secured a division title and at least a top-two seed in the Eastern Conference. And, they moved a step closer to holding home-ice advantage throughout their playoff run.
If the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs started today, these would be the first-round series. (First team listed has home-ice advantage; * - secured playoff berth)
Eastern Conference
Rangers* vs. Bruins (wild card)
Canadiens* vs. Penguins (wild card)
Lightning* vs. Red Wings (2 vs. 3, Atlantic)
Capitals vs. Islanders (2 vs. 3, Metropolitan)
Outside looking in: Senators, Panthers
Washington’s recent surge pushed it into home-ice advantage and relegated the Penguins to a wild-card berth for now. Alex Ovechkin scored his team-record 473rd career goal and added No. 474 in the Capitals’ 5-4 victory over the Canadiens.
“We’ve been sort of hanging in that wild-card race forever, but always within reach of that next level,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz told media members. “It’s good to jump over at least one team (Thursday), and hopefully if we can finish up the season real strong here we can put ourselves in a real good situation.”
The Caps won their third consecutive game. They have 96 points, same as the Isles, but hold the second for now on the regulation-overtime wins tiebreaker.
Detroit has a game in hand on Boston as those teams vie for third in the Atlantic Division. Both have 93 points, three more than the Senators.
Western Conference
Ducks* vs. Kings (wild card)
Predators* vs. Wild (wild card)
Blues* vs. Blackhawks* (2 vs. 3, Central)
Canucks vs. Flames (2 vs. 3, Pacific)
Outside looking in: Jets, Sharks, Stars, Avalanche
The Kings hold the final wild-card berth on the regulation-overtime wins tiebreaker. They and the Jets have 90 points.
The Blues and Blackhawks are two and three points, respectively, behind the Predators in the Central. The Sharks are five points behind the Kings and Jets. The Stars are six behind. The Avs are on the verge of elimination.
Friday’s games (all times ET):
Blackhawks at Sabres, 7 p.m.
Canadiens at Devils, 7 p.m.
Blues at Stars, 8:30 p.m.
Avalanche at Ducks, 10 p.m.
Coyotes at Sharks, 10 p.m.
