Morning playoff check-up

The Panthers are really playing like a team that has no interest in breaking a nine-year playoff drought, losing 3-1 at home to the Atlanta Thrashers last night. The rest of the playoff pack can pull away a little farther from Florida tonight as everyone but the Panthers take the ice. The two big matchups have the Penguins visiting Carolina and the Rangers in Boston. The game in Carolina pits the two hottest teams in the east against each other, and it has three-pointer written all over it. Should the Rangers lose in Boston it would nullify the Panthers loss last night and leave them teetering on the edge with three tough games left to play. A Habs win in Toronto would essentially ice their spot with a five-point lead on the Panthers with only four games to play.


Eastern Conference Playoff Race

Philadelphia Flyers - 4th place, 94 points, 42 wins, 5-5-0
5 games remaining - 3 on road, 2 at home, 2 against playoff teams
Last night – Won 8-5 over Toronto
Remaining schedule – Tonight @ Ottawa, Tue. vs. Florida, Thurs. @ NY Rangers, Sat. @ NY Islanders, April 12 @ NY Rangers

Carolina Hurricanes - 5th place, 93 points, 43 wins, 7-1-2
4 games remaining - 1 on road, 3 at home, 2 against playoff teams
Last night – Did not play
Next week – Tonight vs. Pittsburgh, Tue. vs. NY Islanders, Thurs. vs. Buffalo, Sat. @ New Jersey

Pittsburgh Penguins - 6th place, 92 points, 42 wins, 7-1-2
5 games remaining - 4 on road, 1 at home, 2 against playoff teams
Last night – Did not play
Remaining schedule – Tonight @ Carolina, Sun. @ Florida, Tue. @ Tampa Bay, Thurs. vs. NY Islanders, Sat. @ Montreal

Montreal Canadiens - 7th place, 90 points, 40 wins, 4-3-3
5 games remaining - 3 on road, 2 at home, 3 against playoff teams
Last night – Did not play
Remaining schedule – Tonight @ Toronto, Mon. vs. Ottawa, Tue. @ NY Rangers, Thurs. @ Boston, Sat. vs. Pittsburgh

New York Rangers – 8th place, 89 points, 40 wins, 5-4-1
4 games remaining - 2 on road, 2 at home, 4 against playoff teams
Last night – Did not play
Remaining schedule – Tonight @ Boston, Tue. vs. Montreal, Thurs. vs. Philadelphia, April 12 @ Philadelphia

Florida Panthers - 9th place, 87 points, 38 wins, 4-4-2
4 games remaining - 2 on road, 2 at home, 3 against playoff teams
Last night – Lost 3-1 to Atlanta
Remaining schedule – Sun. vs. Pittsburgh, Tue. @ Philadelphia, Thurs. @ Atlanta, Sat. vs. Washington