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NHL Playoff Death Watch: Avs, Panthers eliminated; Red Wings’ big game

Since we're down to the final moments of postseason life for teams in contention, Puck Daddy solemnly begins a daily countdown to annihilation.

RIP Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers.

To the Avs, may this season be a lesson that underlying analytics shouldn’t be ignored when it comes to the sustainability of one’s success. Also that Patrick Roy will be coaching the new Quebec team in about three years.

To the Panthers, may this season be a lesson that great goaltending can overcome a metric ton of shortcomings, and that when the sun explodes all they’ll find on the smoldering husk of this planet of ours will be microbes, Twinkies and Jaromir Jagr.

Here are the current standings. The Death Watch tracks the final Wild Card spot and the teams that are chasing it. Their “tragic number” is the number of points gained by the final wild card team or lost by the team chasing it.

All playoff percentages are from Sports Club Stats; tragic numbers and other figures via the NHL. A team is eliminated from play-offs when their "Tragic Number" hits 0.

Here’s the Eastern Conference picture…

NHL
NHL

A little movement in the East on Saturday.

The Islanders jumped back ahead of the Capitals for home ice in the first round of the Metro playoffs, while the Penguins remained in the No. 1 wild card.

We’re going to learn a lot about the bubble today. The Penguins are at the Flyers, while the Senators are at Toronto. A Pittsburgh loss, a Sens win, and their game in Ottawa on Tuesday would give the Sens a chance to leap over the Penguins in the standings.

Evgeni Malkin is back for Pittsburgh today.

The Red Wings are back in the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic after their shootout win over the Wild, and host the Capitals today in their game in-hand on the Bruins.

The Canadiens play their game in-hand on the Lightning at Florida.

Meanwhile, in the West …

Oh, San Jose. Such a tease before that loss to Arizona. But the Sabres thank you…

The Kings and Jets kept pace, and both moved within three points of the Canucks with a game-in hand.

Chicago and St. Louis battle for home ice in the Central today, and a bit more. The Blues (4 games left, 103 points) can leap back over the Predators into first place with a win, this being their game in-hand on the Preds (3 games left, 104 points).  The Blackhawks can tie the Preds with three games left for both, but they have an ROW disadvantage. Nashville has 41 ROW, St. Louis has 39 as does Chicago.

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