Monday might have been a quiet day in the Buffalo Sabres' push for the playoffs, but a 10-game slate on Tuesday means that the Sabres have the chance to trim their magic number by at least two.
Here is the full 10-game slate for Tuesday's NHL action:
Capitals vs Flyers
Sabres vs Islanders
Panthers vs Senators
Penguins vs Red Wings
Hurricanes vs Blue Jackets
Bruins vs Stars
Lightning vs Canadiens
Rangers vs Devils
Blackhawks vs Jets
Kraken vs Oilers
The Sabres cannot clinch a playoff berth today, but their magic number to clinch a postseason spot could be trimmed down to three games if most of the results they need to go their way do indeed lean in their favor. That would confirm that Thursday would serve as the earliest day in which Buffalo could secure their playoff return.
Buffalo Sabres can clinch a playoff spot with help from Capitals, Panthers
If the Sabres are to make any progress towards clinching a postseason berth, they must beat the Islanders. Beating the Islanders in any fashion would take the Sabres' magic number down by two regardless of what happens in terms of the out-of-town scoreboard.
Elsewhere, the Capitals have to beat the Flyers in regulation. While Washington could still catch the Sabres in the standings, they would have to win out, and Buffalo would have to lose all of their remaining games in regulation. In addition, as the Flyers are tied for ninth in the Eastern Conference, a regulation loss would help put Buffalo two points closer to a postseason berth.
The Panthers would also have to beat the Senators in regulation. Like with the Flyers-Capitals game, the Sabres' magic number would drop if the Senators, who are one of the two teams tied with the Flyers, lost in regulation. It's worth noting that Florida has won three of their last five games against Eastern Conference playoff contenders, winning both of the games played on home ice during that stretch. Add on the fact that this is a Tkachuk Bowl, and you have the recipe for a close game, one that could see the younger Tkachuk and his team drop points.
The Sabres would also need the Penguins to beat the Red Wings in regulation. Pittsburgh has already beaten the Red Wings twice this year, with one of the two victories coming in regulation. That said, the Penguins have won just five of their last 13 games that have served as second legs of a back-to-back.
Sabres could be alone a top the Atlantic Division if Canadiens beat Lightning
Sitting six points back of the Sabres heading into Tuesday's action, the Bruins hold an outside shot at the top spot in the Atlantic. That said, they only have eight games to work with, and two of the three teams ahead of them (not including the Sabres) have games in hand.
Sabres fans should root for the Bruins to lose against the Stars, a result that would only reinforce Buffalo's odds at a top-three finish in the division. It is worth noting that the Sabres need the Bruins to go to overtime twice more to clinch the regulation wins tiebreaker; while Buffalo currently has 37 regulation wins to the Bruins' 30, Boston is only two back in the regulation + overtime wins tiebreaker.
The game between the Canadiens and Lightning will be the most important matchup to focus on in this category. The Lightning are currently tied with the Sabres for the Atlantic Division lead, while the Habs trail the two teams by just four points.
What makes this game even more of a "pick your poison" matchup is that both the Habs and Bolts have a game in hand on Buffalo. Honestly, it matters more if this game doesn't go to overtime; Sabres fans wouldn't be wrong to back either of these two teams, but what's most important is that this game is decided in 60 minutes.
Can the Sabres' position in the standings change on Tuesday?
Just like how there are four teams separated by two points in the Wild Card race, things can absolutely change on the Sabres' end of the picture.
In the Atlantic Division, the Sabres can take control of first place with a win and a Habs win of any kind over the Lightning. They could also take control of the division lead with an overtime loss and a Habs win in regulation.
In terms of the race for first in the Eastern Conference, the Sabres are currently in a three-way tie with the Lightning and Hurricanes for the top seed in the conference. A Sabres win of any kind and losses by the Hurricanes and Lightning would see the Sabres take control of the Eastern Conference.
With the above explanations in mind, here's every result that Sabres fans should root for on Tuesday night:
A Sabres win vs the Islanders
A Capitals win in regulation vs the Flyers
A Panthers win in regulation vs the Senators
A Penguins win in regulation vs the Red Wings
A Blue Jackets win vs. the Hurricanes
A Stars win in regulation vs the Bruins
Any regulation result in the Habs vs Lightning game