The race for the last few playoff spots in the Eastern Conference is wide open after Montreal beat Tampa Bay and Columbus lost to Boston on Tuesday night. The Canadiens and Blue Jackets are currently tied for eighth place in the East with 94 points, but the Blue Jackets hold the tiebreaker with two games to play. With just a couple more games left in the season for most teams, the playoff race dominates the headlines today.
The Habs had to complete a colossal task to keep their playoff hopes alive. They did, and alive, they are.
READ ➡ https://t.co/QIog5O12dM#GoHabsGo
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 3, 2019
Allons Canadiens! Montreal beat the best regular season team we have seen in quite some time to keep their playoff hopes alive on Tuesday night. Artturi Lehkonen notched a goal and an assist in a 4-2 win over the Lightning.
#CBJ drop game, but remain in playoff hunt.https://t.co/g9YJPFU4u2
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 3, 2019
The Blue Jackets had won five straight to give themselves some breathing room, but a loss to Boston on Tuesday night gives them no margin for error. Columbus closes out its season with road tilts against the Rangers on Friday and the Sabres on Saturday.
WE'RE IN!!! The Dallas Stars are heading to the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs! #GoStars | #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/XfBSD90Xl9
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) April 3, 2019
Dallas broke a two-year playoff drought and punched its ticket to the postseason after a 6-2 win over Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Alexander Radulov led the effort with a four-point game.
Sharks D Karlsson will be ready for playoffs. MORE: https://t.co/G8OhPvC290 pic.twitter.com/McJRrggeWX
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 3, 2019
Two-time Norris Trophy winning defenseman Erik Karlsson was a big pick-up for San Jose in the offseason, but the former Ottawa captain hasn’t played since February 26 due to injury. Karlsson and the Sharks are both optimistic that he will be ready for the playoffs.
PLAYER TRACKING NEWS: The NHL considered camera-based, optical tracking "obsolete." So why is it planing to use it to supplement its sensor-based puck and player tracking system? My story: https://t.co/qY7UEoG9zI
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) April 3, 2019
Greg Wyshynski has been at the vanguard of reporting on the NHL’s player tracking system set to debut next season. The NHL is looking to add more advanced metrics to help analyze the game, and this is an interesting look.
TOP STORIES
- Electrifying win jolts Habs’ playoff hopes | Canadiens.com
- Jackets take a step backward in playoff race | Columbus Dispatch
- They did it: Stars torch Flyers to secure playoff spot | NHL.com
- Sharks D Karlsson will be ready for playoffs | TSN
- NHL player tracking system plans to use ‘obsolete’ optical option | ESPN
