Appointment viewing: NHL East playoffs shaped by last days of schedule

About a month remains in the National Hockey League schedule, with playoff positioning and qualification still at stake in the Eastern Conference. 

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Many clubs face a daunting slate of opponents amid other issues. Postmedia looks at strength of schedule in the East, who’s already going to the dance and who might squeeze in. Numbers based on results through games of March 11. 

FLORIDA PANTHERS (1st in Atlantic) 

Games remaining: 17 

Vs. current playoff teams: 7 

Vs. current non-playoff teams 10 

NOTABLE: Stanley Cup champs playing Toronto three times starting Thursday … Matthew Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, Aaron Ekblad all injured or suspended for now. 

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (2nd in Atlantic) 

Games remaining: 18 

Vs. current playoff teams: 10 

Vs.  current non-playoff teams: 8 

NOTABLE: Still have four multi-game road trips to go … Leafs haven’t finished first in their division in a full season since 2000. 

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TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING: (3rd in Atlantic) 

Games remaining: 18 

Vs. current playoff teams: 6 

Vs. current non-playoff teams: 12 

NOTABLE: Bolts end their schedule with four of five at home where they already have the division’s best in-house record and best overall goals-against. 

OTTAWA SENATORS (4th in Atlantic, 1st wildcard) 

Games remaining: 18 

Vs. current playoff teams: 9 

Vs. current non-playoff teams: 9 

NOTABLE: Trying to end a seven-year playoff drought … Won three straight post-trade deadline games, four overall. 

MONTREAL CANADIENS (5th in Atlantic) 

Games remaining: 18 

Vs. current playoff teams: 9 

Vs. current non-playoff teams: 9 

Noteworthy: A record of 12-6 in the division … Can influence their post-season fate and first-place race with their own three games against Florida. 

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BOSTON BRUINS (6th in Atlantic) 

Games remaining: 16 

Vs. current playoff teams: 8 

Vs.  current non-playoff teams: 8 

NOTABLE: Beat Florida and Tampa back-to-back after dealing several top players at the trade deadline … Have not missed playoffs in eight years.  

DETROIT RED WINGS (7th in the Atlantic) 

Games remaining: 18 

Vs. current playoff teams: 14 

Vs. Current non-playoff teams: 4 

Notable: Lost six straight and still have two games against Vegas before getting to a difficult Eastern menu … Just one home game in final six starts. 

WASHINGTON CAPITALS (first in Metropolitan) 

Games remaining: 17 

Vs. current playoff teams: 8 

Vs.  current non-playoff teams: 9 

Notable: Caps should be the first team to clinch their division and play the second wildcard … The Ovechkin-Gretzky goal watch is taking centre stage with two of last four against Columbus.  

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CAROLINA HURRICANES: (2nd in Metropolitan) 

Games remaining: 17 

Vs. current playoff teams: 5 

Vs. current non-playoff teams: 12 

Notable: More home wins than any NHL club and like Caps, have won their past five overall … After acquiring, then dealing Mikko Rantanen, their playoff depth is in question. 

NEW JERSEY DEVILS (3rd in Metropolitan) 

Games remaining: 18 

Vs. current playoff teams: 6 

Vs. current non-playoff teams: 12 

Notable: Missed playoffs by 10 points last year … Lots of pressure on top scorer Jesper Bratt with Jack Hughes out. 

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (4th in Metropolitan, 2nd wildcard) 

Game remaining: 18  

Vs. current playoff teams: 10 

Vs. current non-playoffs teams: 8 

Notable: After dealing with so much on and off the ice this year, three meetings against Ottawa and a home-and-home the final week with the Caps will be a challenge. 

NEW YORK RANGERS (5th in Metropolitan) 

Games remaining: 17  

Vs. current playoff teams: 11 

Vs. current non-playoff teams: 6 

Notable: Tough going since last year’s Presidents’ Trophy winners lost to the Panthers in playoffs … Four straight losses have hurt their chances. 

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (6th in Metropolitan) 

Games remaining: 18 

Vs. current playoff teams: 11 

Vs. Current non-playoff teams: 7 

Notable: Barely in the picture, the Brock Nelson trade signaled they’re likely done … Struggling to score among other problems. 

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby

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