Here is where the Eastern Conference playoff picture stands today:
Tampa Bay Lightning (50-12-4)
Where they stand: 104 points; first in NHL and Atlantic Division
Games remaining: 16 (seven home; nine road)
Key games: March 25 vs. Boston Bruins; April 6 at Bruins
If playoffs started today: Would play the Montreal Canadiens in first round
Need to know: The Lightning have won 50 of their first 66 games, tying the NHL record set by 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings for the fastest to reach 50 victories. Tampa Bay needs 12 wins in its final 16 games to match Detroit's single-season record of 62.
Boston Bruins (39-17-9)
Where they stand: 87 points; second in Atlantic Division
Games remaining: 17 (seven home; 10 road)
Key games: March 25 at Tampa Bay Lightning; April 6 vs. Lightning
If playoffs started today: Would play the Toronto Maple Leafs in first round
Need to know: The Bruins take a 16-game point streak into their home game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; NESN, FS-CR, TVAS, NHL.TV). Their last regulation loss was 3-2 against the New York Rangers on Jan. 19.
Toronto Maple Leafs (40-21-4)
Where they stand: 84 points; third in Atlantic Division
Games remaining: 17 (seven home; 10 road)
Key games: March 11 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning; April 6 at Montreal Canadiens
If playoffs started today: Would play Boston Bruins in first round
Need to know: The Maple Leafs have two 70-point scorers (Mitchell Marner, 78; John Tavares, 71) for the first time since 2002-03 (Alexander Mogilny, 79; Mats Sundin 72)
Washington Capitals (38-21-7)
Where they stand: 83 points; first in Metropolitan Division
Games remaining: 16 (eight home, eight road)
Key games: March 26 vs. Carolina Hurricanes; April 6 vs. New York Islanders
If playoffs started today: Would play the Pittsburgh Penguins in first round
Need to know: The Capitals will have played 71 games before facing the Lightning for the first time this season, on March 16. That starts a stretch in which they play Tampa Bay three times from March 16-30.
New York Islanders (37-21-7)
Where they stand: 81 points; second in Metropolitan Division
Games remaining: 17 (eight home, nine road)
Key games: March 14 vs. Montreal Canadiens; April 6 at Washington Capitals
If playoffs started today: Would play the Carolina Hurricanes in first round
Need to know: The Islanders are 1-3-0 during a stretch when they play eight of nine games at Nassau Coliseum. After March 14 they play eight of their final 12 on the road.
Carolina Hurricanes (36-23-6)
Where they stand: 78 points; third in Metropolitan Division
Games remaining: 17 (nine home, eight road)
Key games: March 19 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins; March 26 at Washington Capitals
If playoffs started today: Would play the New York Islanders in first round
Need to know: The Hurricanes are trying to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2009; their nine-season drought is one short of the NHL record held by the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers.
Pittsburgh Penguins (34-22-9)
Where they stand: 77 points; fourth in Metropolitan Division, first wild card from Eastern Conference
Games remaining: 17 (10 home; seven road)
Key games: March 12 vs. Washington Capitals; March 31 vs. Carolina Hurricanes
If playoffs started today: Would play the Washington Capitals in first round
Need to know: Pittsburgh is 28-0-3 when leading after two periods. The Penguins are one of five teams that has not lost in regulation when taking a lead into the third period.
Montreal Canadiens (35-24-7)
Where they stand: 77 points; fourth in Atlantic Division, second wild card from Eastern Conference
Games remaining: 16 (seven home; nine road)
Key games: March 21 vs. New York Islanders; April 6 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
If playoffs started today: Would play the Tampa Bay Lightning in first round
Need to know: The Canadiens are tied for last in the NHL in power-play percentage (12.4) and are last in man-advantage goals (25).
Columbus Blue Jackets (36-26-3)
Where they stand: 75 points; two points out of second wild card
Games remaining: 17 (six home; 11 road)
Key games: March 9 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins; March 28 vs. Montreal Canadiens
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: Having 11 of their final 17 games on the road might not be a bad thing for the Blue Jackets. They are 17-16-2 at Nationwide Arena but 19-10-1 on the road.
Philadelphia Flyers (32-26-8)
Where they stand: 72 points; five points out of second wild card
Games remaining: 16 (eight home, eight road)
Key games: March 17 at Pittsburgh Penguins; March 30 at Carolina Hurricanes
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: Flyers are 17-4-2 in their 23 games since Jan. 9, when they were last in the NHL at 15-22-6.
Buffalo Sabres (30-27-8)
Where they stand: 68 points; nine points out of second wild card
Games remaining: 17 (nine home; eight road)
Key games: March 14 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins; March 23 at Montreal Canadiens
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: The Sabres share the NHL lead for the most victories when behind after two periods (seven).
Florida Panthers (28-26-11)
Where they stand: 67 points; 10 points out of second wild card
Games remaining: 17 (seven home; 10 road)
Key games: March 5 at Pittsburgh Penguins; March 26 at Montreal Canadiens
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: The Panthers are second in the NHL with 58 power-play goals. But they're also tied with the Bruins for second in most shorthanded goals allowed with 11.
New York Rangers (27-27-11)
Where they stand: 65 points; 12 points out of second wild card
Games remaining: 17 (six home; 11 road)
Key games: March 25 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins; March 31 at Philadelphia Flyers
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: Rangers have lost four straight (0-1-3) and play six of their next seven games on the road where they are 11-16-3 this season.
New Jersey Devils (25-33-8)
Where they stand: 58 points; 19 points out of second wild card
Games remaining: 16 (seven home; nine road)
Key games: March 25 vs. Buffalo Sabres; April 4 at Carolina Hurricanes
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: The Devils have the fewest road wins in the NHL (8-21-3) and start a six-game road trip against the Washington Capitals on March 8.
Detroit Red Wings (23-33-9)
Where they stand: 55 points; 22 points out of second wild card
Games remaining: 17 (seven home; 10 road)
Key games: March 12 at Montreal Canadiens; March 28 at Buffalo Sabres
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: Red Wings have scored 179 goals, fewest in the Eastern Conference. Their goal differential is minus-44.
Ottawa Senators (23-38-5)
Where they stand: 51 points; 26 points out of second wild card
Games remaining: 16 (eight home; eight road)
Key games: March 16 vs. Toronto Maple Leafs; March 26 vs. Buffalo Sabres
If playoffs started today: Would not qualify
Need to know: Senators ended a seven-game losing streak with a 3-2 win against the Florida Panthers on Sunday. Ottawa has had losing streaks of eight (0-7-1), seven (0-7-0), five (0-5-0), four (0-4-0) and four (0-3-1) games this season.
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