NHL Hockey Betting

Teams On The Playoff Bubble

With only three weeks left in the National Hockey League's regular season those teams on the bubble to make the playoffs don't have much more time to make their moves. Here's a look at what's coming up on the ice for the week of March 19 to March 25 . . .

Monday
The Penguins have played so well lately that stealing first place in the Atlantic Division away from the Devils has become a possibility for them. Accomplishing that feat would be great for the Pens - it would allow them to avoid a team like Ottawa in the first round, and instead take on a lesser-light club like the Canes or the Islanders. Or the Rangers, who play host to Pittsburgh on Monday night in the first game of the week. Monday's only other game sees the Canucks traveling to Edmonton for a contest with the Oilers.

Tuesday
Montreal grabbed a bonus point on Saturday night by beating the rival Maple Leafs 3-2 in a shootout. The Habs will be looking for another positive result on Tuesday night, when they host another old rival - the Bruins. Boston's slim playoff hopes are fading, and a 7-0 loss to the Rangers on Saturday night could have been the final nail in their coffin. The Leafs are also back in action on Tuesday, as they get a visit from the Atlantic-leading Devils. And in another Eastern Conference matchup with playoff implications, it'll be the Islanders at Tampa Bay. Elsewhere on Tuesday it's Florida at Philadelphia, Chicago at Columbus, Ottawa at St. Louis, and Phoenix at Minnesota, while Detroit will continue their quest to finish first-place overall with a game in Calgary.

Wednesday
The big guns of the Western Conference grab the spotlight on Wednesday night, with the Predators in Vancouver, the Stars in Los Angeles, and the Sharks in Chicago. Each of Nashville, Vancouver, Dallas, and San Jose are practically assured of Western playoff berths, but their final spot in the standings will be determined by their play over the next three weeks. The Avalanche are back in ninth place in the West, but they still have an outside shot of catching the Flames for eighth place; Colorado takes on Edmonton on Wednesday. As well, it's Washington at Buffalo and Philly at the Rangers.

Thursday
The Thrashers might end up playing one of their regional rivals (the Lightning or the Hurricanes) in the first round of the playoffs no matter where they end up in the division standings, but they'd still prefer to end up in top spot in the Southeast. Atlanta will get a tough game on Thursday though - they'll play a home game against San Jose. The Lightning, meanwhile, will host the Devils on Thursday, while the Hurricanes will get a visit from the Capitals. Also hitting the ice on a busy night around the league are Montreal at Boston, Pittsburgh at the Islanders, Ottawa at Florida, Columbus at Detroit, St. Louis at Minnesota, and also Anaheim at Phoenix in the day's only late-night contest.

Friday
Friday night only features five games, but those five games include two high-powered Western matchups in Nashville at Calgary and Dallas at Anaheim. Both the Preds and the Ducks are battling the Red Wings for first place overall in the conference, and the top seed in the playoffs. Two other Western games on the Friday schedule are Los Angeles at Chicago and Colorado at Edmonton, while the East's lone contest on the night has the Maple Leafs driving across the border for a game against the rival Sabres.

Saturday
The Leafs and Sabres hook up again on Saturday night, this time north of the border at the Air Canada Centre. Buffalo will be looking to hold onto their spot atop both the conference and division standings, while the Leafs are just looking to squeeze into the postseason. The other Eastern Conference bubble teams will also be in action on Saturday - the Rangers (at Boston), the Islanders (at Philadelphia), Montreal (vs. Washington), Carolina (vs. San Jose), and Tampa Bay (vs. Ottawa). Elsewhere on a busy Saturday schedule it'll be Atlanta at Pittsburgh, St. Louis at Detroit, New Jersey at Florida, Los Angeles at Minnesota, Dallas at Phoenix, and also Nashville at Edmonton.

Sunday
The week ends with a game that could have huge implications in the Eastern Conference playoff race - the Rangers at the Islanders. That is, of course, if neither of the two New York teams implode at any point in the preceding six days. The Penguins are also in action Sunday, with the Bruins coming to town, while the other three games are out West: Calgary at Chicago, St. Louis at Columbus, and Colorado at Vancouver.