Morning playoff check-up

The Habs and Panthers wins Tuesday night tightened the race up a little bit, and Montreal's game in hand on Florida, the Rangers and Carolina now looms very large. That game in hand is basically Monday's home game against the Senators, who should do Montreal the courtesy of laying down at least as weakly as they did for the Panthers last night. A victory in that game in hand, theoretically, would put Montreal a point up on the Rangers and only a point behind the Hurricanes. If the Sabres lose to the Thrashers tonight they will be removed from the chart, even with Ryan Miller back. The Pens are home to the struggling Devils tonight while the Flyers take on the Leafs, and if both Pennsylvania teams lose then this thing is wide open all over again.

Eastern Conference Playoff Race

Philadelphia Flyers - 4th place, 92 points, 41 wins, 5-5-0
7 games remaining - 4 on road, 3 at home, 2 against playoff teams
Last night – Did not play
Remaining schedule – Tonight @ Toronto, Fri. vs. Toronto, Sat. @ Ottawa, Tue. vs. Florida, April 9 @ NY Rangers, April 11 @ NY Islanders, April 12 @ NY Rangers

Carolina Hurricanes - 5th place, 91 points, 42 wins, 7-1-2
5 games remaining - 1 on road, 4 at home, 3 against playoff teams
Last night – Did not play
Remaining schedule – Thu. vs. NY Rangers, Sat. vs. Pittsburgh, Tue. vs. NY Islanders, April 9 vs. Buffalo, April 11 @ New Jersey

Pittsburgh Penguins - 6th place, 90 points, 41 wins, 7-1-2
6 games remaining - 4 on road, 2 at home, 3 against playoff teams
Last night – Did not play
Remaining schedule – Tonight vs. New Jersey, Sat. @ Carolina, Sun. @ Florida, Tue. @ Tampa Bay, April 9 vs. NY Islanders, April 11 @ Montreal

New York Rangers – 7th place, 89 points, 40 wins, 6-3-1
5 games remaining - 3 on road, 2 at home, 5 against playoff teams
Last night – Did not play
Remaining schedule – Thu. @ Carolina, Sat. @ Boston, Tue. vs. Montreal, April 9 vs. Philadelphia, April 12 @ Philadelphia

Montreal Canadiens - 8th place, 88 points, 39 wins, 4-3-3
6 games remaining - 4 on road, 2 at home, 3 against playoff teams
Last night – Won 4-1 over Chicago
Remaining schedule – Thu. @ NY Islanders, Sat. @ Toronto, Mon. 6 vs. Ottawa, Tue. @ NY Rangers, April 9 @ Boston, April 11 vs. Pittsburgh

Florida Panthers - 9th place, 87 points, 38 wins, 4-4-2
5 games remaining - 2 on road, 3 at home, 3 against playoff teams
Last night – Won 5-2 over Ottawa
Remaining schedule – Fri. vs. Atlanta, Sun. vs. Pittsburgh, Tue. @ Philadelphia, April 9 @ Atlanta, April 11 vs. Washington

Buffalo Sabres - 10th place, 82 points, 37 wins, 4-5-1
7 games remaining, 4 on road, 3 at home, 5 against playoff teams
Last night – Did not play
Remaining schedule – Tonight @ Atlanta, Fri. @ Washington, Sat. vs. New Jersey, Mon. vs. Detroit, April 8 @ Toronto, April 9 @ Carolina, April 11 vs. Boston