Playoff percentages: Avs fail to put Blues on ropes; Panthers stay alive
Through the remainder of the regular season, we'll take a look at how the night's action impacts the playoff races, highlighting which teams' postseason odds went up or down significantly.
Western Conference
| Team | Result | Playoff Chances | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blues | Off | 46.2% | +11.8% |
| Avalanche | 4-2 L vs. SJ | 53.8% | -11.8% |
The Colorado Avalanche entered Thursday night with a one-point advantage over the St. Louis Blues for the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference and the last playoff position up for grabs.
However, with a 4-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks, the Avs failed to stretch their lead over St. Louis and have now put their playoff hopes into the hands of the Blues, who have a game in hand heading into the weekend.
Eastern Conference
| Team | Result | Playoff Chances | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panthers | 3-2 W vs. BOS | 6.3% | -5.4% |
| Flyers | 4-3 W vs. CAR | 93.7% | +0.7% |
The Florida Panthers did everything right Thursday night to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. They topped the mighty Boston Bruins 3-2 in a tight affair. Just one problem; they didn't get help from anyone else.
The New Jersey Devils edged the Toronto Maple Leafs to clinch a playoff spot and the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes to remain four points up on Florida.
The Panthers must win their remaining two games, but even then, the Flyers can claim the final playoff spot in the East with just a single point in their final game against the New York Rangers on Saturday.
To see percentages for the entire NHL, visit Sports Club Stats.