[Cobra Mgr]

So 2 nights later.............

Buffalo, Washington & Edmonton all won. Sabres win broke a 3 way tie w/Montreal & Tampa. Washington's win helped them keep pace. Edmonton stayed in 1st.

Last night, the Mammoth clinched Utah's first Cup playoff, beating Nashville 4-1. Predators lost a chance to stay ahead of the Kings for the final playoff berth. LA took care of Vancouver 4-1. Kings are now a single point ahead. LA has 4 games remaining, Predators 3.

Ducks kept pace in the Pacific, 6-1 over San Jose. Vegas fell to the Kraken. So Oilers stay one point ahead of the Knights as Anaheim pulls even w/Vegas. All 3 have 3 games remaining none vs each other.

Stars were one goal better than the Wild. That all but sews up home ice for Dallas in their 1st round matchup w/Minnesota. Dallas is 4 points up w/3 games left for both.

In the East, Buffalo shut out Columbus & Montreal won by a single goal over Tampa. Montreal moves ahead of the Lightning for 2nd place. They stay 2 point behind Buffalo. Sabres have only 2 left, Canadians & Tampa have 3 more to go.

Blue Jackets loss keeps them 2 behind Philly for the 3rd Metro spot. The Sens beating the Panthers puts them 4 points behind Ottawa w/only 3 games left. So they & Washington's only real hope is to catch up to the Flyers. Islanders stopped their free fall, beating the Leafs. They are one point in back of Philly, who lost a chance to solidify their spot by getting doubled up by the Red Wings, 6-3. Detroit is holding on to hope they can catch Ottawa, who are 3 pts ahead.

Penguins clinch their spot 5-2 over Jersey. They will have home ice advantage over the 3rd team from the Metro.

Carolina stayed in front of Buffalo for the east's best record. Despite sitting their top line & top 3 scorers (Aho, Jarvis & Svechnikov), their 2 best defensive defensivemen (Jaccob SLavin & Chatfield) & their 2 most veteran locker room leaders ( Captain Staal & Martinook), they best Chicago 7-2. The Canes "2nd line" of Blake Stankhoven & Hall has been the Canes best 5 on 5 of late. Stank had 2 goals, giving him 7 in his last 6. Because of all the subs, it looked like a Chicago vs Chicago game since the Wolves are the team's AHL affiliate. Included in the call ups was future prospect Bradly Nadeau, Skyler Brind'Armor (coach's son) & Josiah Slavin (Jaccob's brother).

Nobody plays tonight. Thirty skate Saturday. So many big games.

Ottawa visits the Islanders
Oilers go to LA
Nashville hosts Minnesota
Columbus travel to Montreal
Vegas has to play in Colorado
Carolina makes their only trip to Utah
Tampa plays in Boston just after noon
Caps play the Penguins

Lots of scoreboard watching