No help for the Sabres from the Western Conference the last two nights, so they'll have to try to clinch their playoff berth on their Friday night against the Flyers in HSBC Arena.
Montreal pulled out an overtime win over Chicago on Tuesday (with PK Subban's OT goal celebration destined to be a video classic), and the Carolina Hurricanes wrapped up a 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings tonight as Cam Ward made 42 saves.
Elsewhere in the East, the Washington Capitals beat Florida, 5-2, to inch closer to wresting No. 1 away from the Flyers and Boston beat the New York Islanders, 3-2, to keep its outside shot at second place alive.
So here' s the rundown:
1. WAS 107
2. PHI 103
3. BOS 101
4. PIT 102
5. TBL 99
6. MON 93
7. BUF 92
8. NYR 91
9. CAR 89
So the Sabres still need one point in their last two games or for Carolina to drop a point in their last two. The Hurricanes are off until playing Friday at Atlanta, and then host Tampa Bay in Saturday's season finale.
All teams have two games left except Washington, which has only one. The Caps' magic number to clinch is one point in their final at Florida or one lost point by the Flyers in either of their two games, including here Friday night.
---MIke Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
