The clock is ticking on the 2014-2015 season, and anyone interested in the outcome of the draft lottery will have their eyes on the scoreboard tonight, as the Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, and Arizona Coyotes are all in action tonight.
The league probably wasn’t hoping for this kind of action late in the season as three out of four games tonight have little or no bearing on the playoff race.
After a weekend of losses and disappointment for the teams at the bottom, here are your draft lottery standings for Monday March 16th:
The Buffalo Sabres still have a game in hand on the teams that are threatening to disrupt the plan to draft either first or second. It would really suck if things got down to the last game of the year, and the Buffalo Sabres pick up a win to land in 29th place, to end up drafting 3rd overall.
Speaking of the NHL Draft Lottery – your all probably sipping your coffee wondering who wins this mornings spin of the wheel. There is a slight inaccuracy this morning on the site that I use, they have the Winnipeg Jets in on the game with 80 points, but the NHL standings have Winnipeg in the last wild card spot in the West.
It matters not however, because the algorithm has selected the Edmonton Oilers to stockpile another first overall pick; sliding the Buffalo Sabres to the second overall pick.
Buffalo Sabres On Schedule Tonight With Edmonton And Arizona
Just four games on the schedule tonight, one with a playoff implication, three with draft lottery implications, and one a battle for the top of the Atlantic Division and the race for the best regular season team in the Eastern Conference.
Washington Capitals @ Buffalo Sabres*
It isn’t an MSG game, so we get to hear the NBCSN broadcasters talk about how bad the Buffalo Sabres are and that the tank has been the effort all season. The season series has been a split, despite the Washington Capitals outscoring the Buffalo Sabres 7 to 3 in two games. Buffalo won back in November 2-1, but just over a week ago the Caps lit up the Buffalo Sabres for six goals.
Montreal Canadiens @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Montreal owns the top spot in the Atlantic, only two points up on Tampa, and both teams trail the New York Rangers for the top spot in the East, and the top spot in the league (Anaheim is in on the action for the President’s Trophy as well with 95 points).
Toronto Maple Leafs @ Edmonton Oilers
Just 1-7-2 in their last ten games, pride is on the line here, as the Edmonton Oilers could take advantage of the fact that Toronto has lost their last two games. Edmonton is in the midst of a homestand that could see them rise in the standings, playing very beatable teams on home ice.
Arizona Coyotes @ Los Angeles Kings
The Coyotes probably have the toughest schedule between the three teams battling for the draft lottery challenge. They play the Kings tonight in LA, as the Kings are battling to stay in the race for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference. They are just one point behind the Winnipeg Jets and four behind the Minnesota Wild. They are also only two points out from the Calgary Flames, who hold the last divisional playoff spot in the Pacific.
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