With the Capitals, Penguins, and now the Lightning all winning over the past two days, suddenly it appears as though the Canadiens are no longer as big a part of this race as they were on Saturday.
The division lead is still clearly in sight, and actually the entire look of this race can change significantly tonight with five of the six teams in action.
The big four-point game is right here in Montreal with the Canadiens facing the Capitals. The Capitals have taken three of a possible four points off Montreal so far with a 3-0 win and a shootout loss, but both those games were in Washington. The last time the Capitals played at the Bell Centre was Game 6 of the first round of last year's playoffs, back on April 26, when a certain Jaroslav Halak made 53 saves to give the Canadiens a 4-1 win to force a Game 7 back in Washington.
You can't tell me the Caps won't be affected, one way or the other, by that memory. Should be a good one.
Philadelphia, 1st place, 42-19-7, 91 points (2 shootout wins)
Last night: Did not play
Next game: Tonight in Florida
14 games remaining, 7 against playoff teams
Home (6) – 3/22 Was; 3/24 Pit; 3/27 Bos; 3/31 Atl; 4/3 NYR; 4/9 NYI.
Away (8) – 3/15 Fla; 3/17 Atl; 3/19 Dal; 3/26 NYI; 3/29 Pit; 4/1 NJ; 4/5 Ott; 4/8 Buf.
Washington, 2nd place, 40-20-10, 90 points (3 shootout wins)
Last night: Did not play
Next game: Tonight in Montreal
12 games remaining, 5 against playoff teams
Home (4) – 3/29 Car; 3/31 CBJ; 4/2 Buf; 4/6 Fla.
Away (8) – 3/15 Mtl; 3/16 Det; 3/18 NJ; 3/22 Pha; 3/25 Ott; 3/26 Mtl; 4/5 Tor; 4/9 Fla.
Boston, 3rd place, 38-21-9, 85 points (1 shootout win)
Last night: Did not play
Next game: Tonight in Columbus
14 games remaining, 5 against playoff teams
Home (8) – 3/22 NJ; 3/24 Mtl; 3/26 NYR; 3/29 Chi; 3/31 Tor; 4/2 Atl; 4/6 NYI; 4/9 Ott.
Away (6) – 3/15 CBJ; 3/17 Nash; 3/19 Tor; 3/27 Pha; 4/4 NYR; 4/10 NJ.
Pittsburgh, 4th place, 40-22-8, 88 points (5 shootout wins)
Last night: Did not play
Next game: Tonight in Ottawa
12 games remaining, 5 against playoff teams
Home (5) – 3/20 NYR; 3/25 NJ; 3/27 Fla; 3/29 Pha; 4/5 NJ.
Away (7) – 3/15 Ott; 3/21 Det; 3/24 Pha; 3/31 TB; 4/2 Fla; 4/8 NYI; 4/10 Atl.
Tampa Bay, 5th place, 39-22-9, 87 points (6 shootout wins)
Last night: Won 6-2 in Toronto
Next game: Thursday in Montreal
12 games remaining, 3 against playoff teams
Home (5) – 3/22 NYI; 3/25 Car; 3/29 Ott; 3/31 Pit; 4/8 Fla.
Away (7) – 3/17 Mtl; 3/19 Ott; 3/26 Car; 4/2 Min, 4/3 Chi; 4/5 Buf; 4/9 Car.
Montreal, 6th place, 38-24-7, 83 points (2 shootout wins)
Last night: Did not play
Next game: Tonight v. Washington
13 games remaining, 7 against playoff teams
Home (6) – 3/15 Was; 3/17 TB; 3/22 Buf; 3/26 Was; 3/29 Atl; 4/5 Chi.
Away (7) – 3/18 NYR; 3/20 Min; 3/24 Bos; 3/30 Car; 4/2 NJ; 4/7 Ott; 4
