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Official guide to NHL playoff clinching scenarios this weekend

Greg Wyshynski
Official guide to NHL playoff clinching scenarios this weekend

The National Hockey League’s 2015-16 regular season comes to a rollicking conclusion this weekend, with several playoff seeds still in flux for the Eastern and Western Conferences. Not to mention the postseason fates for the Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers.

The NHL released its official playoff scenarios for Saturday, clearing up any questions you might have about who needs to win what.

Note: The NHL decided not to include the scenarios involving Sunday’s games for the Flyers, Islanders and Ducks. Which is either a nice way to streamline the scenarios for Saturday’s games or super-annoying, depending on your team’s playoff predicament. Anyhoo, here ... we ... go.

For the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday (Opponent: at NY Rangers)

Regulation/OT win: Will clinch playoff berth

Shootout win: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:

(1) Bruins lose to the Senators in any fashion

(2) Bruins defeat Senators in a shootout

(3) Flyers lose to Penguins in any fashion

* Cannot be eliminated with shootout win

OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:

(1) Bruins lose to Senators in any fashion

(2) Flyers lose to Penguins in regulation

* Cannot be eliminated with OT/shootout loss

Regulation loss: Will clinch playoff berth if:

(1) Bruins lose to Senators in regulation

Will be eliminated if all of the following occur:

(1) Bruins get at least one point against Senators

(2) Flyers defeat Penguins in any fashion

The Boston Bruins bench greets Bruins defenseman Torey Krug (47) and left wing Matt Beleskey (39) after Krug's goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 7, 2016, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
The Boston Bruins bench greets Bruins defenseman Torey Krug (47) and left wing Matt Beleskey (39) after Krug's goal against the Detroit Red Wings in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 7, 2016, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

For the Boston Bruins on Saturday (Opponent: home vs. Ottawa)

Regulation/OT win: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:

(1) Red Wings lose to Rangers in any fashion

(2) Red Wings defeat Rangers in a shootout

(3) Flyers lose to Penguins in any fashion

* Cannot be eliminated with regulation/OT win

Shootout win: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:

(1) Red Wings lose to Rangers in any fashion

(2) Flyers lose to Penguins in any fashion

* Cannot be eliminated with shootout win

OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:

(1) Red Wings lose to Rangers in regulation

(2) Flyers lose to Penguins in regulation

* Cannot be eliminated with OT/shootout loss

Regulation loss: Cannot clinch playoff berth

Will be eliminated if:

(1) Flyers defeat Penguins in any fashion

Philadelphia Flyers' Steve Mason (35) looks up after picking up the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators, Saturday, April 2, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Flyers' Steve Mason (35) looks up after picking up the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Ottawa Senators, Saturday, April 2, 2016, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

For the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday (Opponent: home vs. Pittsburgh)

Regulation/OT win: Will clinch playoff berth if any of the following occurs:

(1) Red Wings lose to Rangers in regulation

(2) Bruins lose to Senators in regulation

* Cannot be eliminated with regulation/OT win

Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win

OT/Shootout loss: Cannot clinch playoff berth

Will be eliminated if all of the following occur:

(1) Red Wings defeat Rangers in any fashion

(2) Bruins defeat Senators in any fashion

Regulation loss: Cannot clinch playoff berth

Will be eliminated if all of the following occur:

(1) Red Wings get at least one point against Rangers

(2) Bruins get at least one point against Senators

(NOTE: The Philadelphia Flyers end their season on Sunday against the New York Islanders. We cover the clinching implications of that game here.)

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 07: Ryan Pulock #6 of the New York Islanders and Tanner Glass #15 of the New York Rangers collide during the third period at Madison Square Garden on April 7, 2016 in New York City. The Islanders defeated the Rangers 4-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 07: Ryan Pulock #6 of the New York Islanders and Tanner Glass #15 of the New York Rangers collide during the third period at Madison Square Garden on April 7, 2016 in New York City. The Islanders defeated the Rangers 4-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

For the New York Islanders on Saturday (Opponent: home vs. Buffalo)

Regulation/OT win: Will clinch No. 3 seed in Metropolitan Division if:

(1) Rangers lose to Red Wings in any fashion

Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win

OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch No. 3 seed in Metropolitan Division if:

(1) Rangers lose to Red Wings in regulation

Regulation loss: Cannot clinch No. 3 seed in Metropolitan Division

Will clinch 1st Wild Card if:

(1) Rangers defeat Red Wings in any fashion

***

For the New York Rangers on Saturday (Opponent: home vs. Detroit)

Regulation/OT win: Will clinch No. 3 seed in Metropolitan Division if:

(1) Islanders lose to Sabres in regulation

Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win

OT/Shootout loss: Cannot clinch No. 3 seed in Metropolitan Division

Will clinch 1st Wild Card if:

(1) Islanders defeat Sabres in any fashion

Regulation loss: Cannot clinch No. 3 seed in Metropolitan Division

Will clinch 1st Wild Card if:

(1)   Islanders get at least one point against Sabres

(Note: The Islanders finish the season against the Flyers on Sunday, and we discuss the playoff implications of that game here.)

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 12: Stephen Johns #28 of the Dallas Stars controls the puck against Jori Lehtera #12 of the St. Louis Blues in the second period at American Airlines Center on March 12, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 12: Stephen Johns #28 of the Dallas Stars controls the puck against Jori Lehtera #12 of the St. Louis Blues in the second period at American Airlines Center on March 12, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

For the Dallas Stars on Saturday (Opponent: home vs. Nashville)

Regulation/OT win: Will clinch Central Division title and No. 1 seed in Western Conference

Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win

OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch Central Division title and No. 1 seed in Western Conference if:

(1) Blues lose to Capitals in any fashion

Will clinch No. 2 seed in Central Division if:

(1) Blues defeat Capitals in any fashion

Regulation loss: Will clinch Central Division title and No. 1 seed in Western Conference if:

(1) Blues lose to Capitals in regulation

Will clinch No. 2 seed in Central Division if:

(1) Blues get at least one point against Capitals

***

For the St. Louis Blues on Saturday (Opponent: home vs. Washington)

Regulation/OT win: Will clinch Central Division title and No. 1 seed in Western Conference if:

(1) Stars lose to Predators in any fashion

Will clinch No. 2 seed in Central Division if:

(1) Stars defeat Predators in any fashion

Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win

OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch Central Division title and No. 1 seed in Western Conference if:

(1) Stars lose to Predators in regulation

Will clinch No. 2 seed in Central Division if:

(1) Stars get at least one point against Predators

Regulation loss: Will clinch No. 2 seed in Central Division

Los Angeles Kings center Vincent Lecavalier, left, and Anaheim Ducks right wing Chris Wagner vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 7, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Kings center Vincent Lecavalier, left, and Anaheim Ducks right wing Chris Wagner vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, April 7, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

For the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday (Opponent: home vs. Winnipeg)

Regulation/OT win: Will clinch Pacific Division title

Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win

OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch Pacific Division title if:

(1) Ducks lose to Avalanche in any fashion

Regulation loss: Will clinch Pacific Division title if:

(1) Ducks lose to Avalanche in regulation

***

For the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday (Opponent: at Colorado)

Regulation/OT win: Cannot clinch Pacific Division title

Will clinch No. 2 seed in Pacific Division if:

(1) Kings defeat Jets in any fashion

Shootout win: Same as regulation/OT win

OT/Shootout loss: Will clinch No. 2 seed in Pacific Division if:

(1) Kings get at least one point against Jets

Regulation loss: Will clinch No. 2 seed in Pacific Division

(Note: The Ducks face the Washington Capitals on Sunday. They can get the top seed in the Pacific with any combination of three points from the Avs and Caps games, provided the Kings lose.)

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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