NEWSLETTER
Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk … I’m a woman’s man, no time to talk … Music loud and women warm, I’ve been kicked around since I was born.
After a stunning come from behind win over the Nashville Predators last night, the Chicago Blackhawks kept their Stanley Cup Playoff hopes alive in the Central Division. The win was their first against the Predators this season and although the Predators got the overtime loss pity point, Chicago still closed the gap in the Central Division playoff race with Nashville and the Dallas Stars.
Central Division Standings:
1. Carolina Hurricanes (30-10-5) – 65 points
2. Florida Panthers (30-12-5) – 65 points
3. Tampa Bay Lightning (30-14-2) – 64 points
4. Nashville Predators (25-21-2) – 52 points
5. Dallas Stars (19-14-12) – 50 points
6. Chicago Blackhawks (22-20-5) – 49 points
7. Detroit Red Wings (16-25-7) – 39 points
8. Columbus Blue Jackets (15-24-9) – 39 points
A three-point gap still exists between the Blackhawks and Predators, with their final game against each other coming on Friday night. The Blackhawks closed the gap between them and the Dallas Stars to just one point, with two games remaining between the teams at the end of the regular season on May 9th and 10th at the United Center.
Discover – Central Division Playoff Race#nhlplayoffrace pic.twitter.com/SkVEEKmoyI
— Damian Echevarrieta (@Ech28) April 22, 2021
Chicago has one game in-hand over the Predators, but the Stars hold two games in-hand over the Blackhawks and three games in-hand over Nashville. Currently based on points, the Predators are in the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division, but based on points percentage, the Stars (.556) are in fourth-place ahead of the Predators (.542) and Blackhawks (.521).
The regular season tiebreaker is regulation wins and the Blackhawks (14) trail both the Stars (16) and Predators (17) in that category, so for them to get into the postseason, they will need to do it based on points or win maybe six or seven of their last nine games all in regulation. Chicago has nine games remaining this season and all nine are against teams ahead of them in the standings.
