Happy Easter Monday to those who celebrate. The Toronto Raptors are already down 1-0 in the NBA playoffs yet the NHL season is still going. The NHL season has 12 days remaining, 14 for the Winnipeg Jets. The Jets last game was pushed back to May 1 because of the Manitoba snowstorm.
The regular season ends on April 29 on a Friday so we only have one more Hockey Night in Canada in the regular season.
The 8 teams in the East in the NHL have been playing for position since January. The Maple Leafs currently are at 50-20-6 for 106 points. Florida is at 114, Tampa Bay at 100, and Boston at 97. Staying in 2nd place gives Toronto home-ice advantage.
The Maple Leafs have 6 games left; 3 at home. Toronto makes its second trip to Tampa Bay this month. The team also plays in Florida (23) on Hockey Night in Canada and hosts Boston on April 29.
Montréal and Ottawa have been out of the playoffs race since the height of Omicron. The Senators host Florida while the Canadiens host Florida and Boston. The Maple Leafs aren't likely to catch Florida for the top of the division.
Here is the remaining schedule for the Canadian teams in the East.
Toronto
Philadelphia (19); @ Tampa Bay (21); @ Florida (23); @ Washington (24); Detroit (26); Boston (29)
Montréal
Minnesota (19); Philadelphia (21); @ Ottawa (23); Boston (24); @ NY Rangers (27); Florida (29)
Ottawa
@ Seattle (18); @ Vancouver (19); @ Columbus (22); Montréal (23); New Jersey (26); Florida (28);
@ Philadelphia (29)
Short of a huge collapse, Calgary and Edmonton will not meet in the opening round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs.
Calgary has a playoff spot clinched, leading the "Smythe" division at 46-20-9 for 101 points. Edmonton is second with 44-26-6 for 94 points. Los Angeles has 90 points. If Edmonton hangs on to second place, the Oilers will have home ice advantage in the opening round.
| Team | Record | Points | Games left | Max points |
| Dallas | 43-27-5 | 91 | 7 | 105 |
| Nashville | 43-28-5 | 91 | 6 | 103 |
| Las Vegas | 41-30-5 | 87 | 6 | 99 |
| Vancouver | 37-28-10 | 84 | 7 | 98 |
| Winnipeg | 35-30-11 | 81 | 6 | 93 |
This is the West wild card standings. Vancouver and Winnipeg have the worst records of teams in the West that still could qualify for the playoffs. Dallas and Nashville need a win each to tie Winnipeg's max total.
The Canucks would be within 2 points if they had converted half of those overtime losses.
Calgary can help out Vancouver and Winnipeg with 2 games in Nashville in an 8-day stretch. Edmonton and Vancouver host Dallas this week.
Here is the remaining schedule for the Canadian teams in the West.
Calgary
@ Chicago (18); @ Nashville (19); Dallas (21); Vancouver (23); @ Nashville (26); @ Minnesota (28);
@ Winnipeg (29)
Edmonton
Dallas (20); Colorado (22); @ Columbus (24); @ Pittsburgh (26); San Jose (28); Vancouver (29)
Vancouver
Dallas (18); Ottawa (19); @ Minnesota (21); @ Calgary (23); Seattle (26); Los Angeles (28);
@ Edmonton (29)
Winnipeg
@ NY Rangers (19); @ Carolina (21); Colorado (24); Philadelphia (27); Calgary (29); Seattle (May 1)
NHL the month in preview April 2022
Our U.S. readers can catch some of these key games.
The Toronto game in Tampa Bay (21) is on ESPN while the game in Washington (24) is on ESPN+/Hulu.
The Edmonton game where the Oilers host Dallas (20) is on the NHL Network. The Oilers game in Pittsburgh (26) is on ESPN.
The Calgary game in Minnesota (28) is on the NHL Network.
The NHL Network is not carrying Hockey Night in Canada this Saturday. We expect the NHL Center Ice free preview to start on Saturday. ESPN+ will have the games either way.
We will update our April preview if games are added on the U.S. side.
CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage
The Stanley Cup playoffs will start May 2. There will likely be 3 Canadian teams with room for a 4th team in the mix.
logo and photo credit: NHL
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