Now it gets tense. The Eastern Conference contenders have between twelve and fourteen games remaining on their schedule. Going in to Monday’s schedule five points separate third and sixth place.
The Canadiens face another of those four-game weeks, their last of the season. It’s actually four games in six nights starting with home games against red-hot Washington and Tampa Tuesday and Thursday and then at the Rangers on Friday and Minnesota on Sunday. Over twelve nights the Canadiens will burn off seven of their remaining thirteen games on the schedule.
The Eastern Conference standings after games of Sunday, March 13: .
GP Pts. The Week Ahead
1st – Philadelphia 68 91 ** Tues @ Florida; Thurs @Atlanta
2nd – Washington 70 90 ** Tues. @ Montreal; Wed. @Detroit
3rd – Boston 68 85 ** Tues. @Columbus; Thurs@Nashville
4th – Pittsburgh 70 88 Tues@Otttawa; Sunday host Rangers
5th – Tampa Bay 69 85 Mon @Toronto; Thurs,@Montreal
6th – Canadiens 69 83 – Tues host Washington; Thurs host Tampa
7th – Buffalo 69 76 – Tues. host Carolina; Sat. host Atlanta
8th – NY Rangers 70 76 – Tues-host Islanders; Friday.host Canadiens
9th – Carolina 69 72 – Tues@Buffalo; Friday host Islanders
10th– Toronto 69 70 Mon-hostTBay/Wed@Carolina/Thurs@Fla
11th– Atlanta 69 70 Tues@NJersey; Thurs.host Washington
12th– New Jersey 68 68 Tues-host Atlanta; Thurs.@Ottawa
** = Division leaders
Based on their last ten games, the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference include Washington with eight wins in a row (9-1-0), New Jersey (8-2-0); Montreal (7-3-0) Boston and Buffalo (6-2-2) and Toronto (5-2-3).
The Devils were 27 points out of a playoff berth on January 8th. Since they they’re 23-3-2 and have won 14 of their last 16 games. They’re now eight points from 8th place and a playoff berth.
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