NHL roundup: Predators, Kings clinch playoff spots, Presidents’ Trophy still up for grabs

With the win, the Stars have moved four points clear of Vegas in the standings, though the Golden Knights can still catch them. Vegas needs to win their final two games of the season and they need the Stars to lose both of their games. If that happens, both teams would be tied at 95 points and the Golden Knights would squeeze in based on regulation wins.

Vegas picking up only one point also means that the L.A. Kings have clinched the third spot in the Pacific Division. They’ll play the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the playoffs. Despite beating the Seattle Kraken, the Vancouver Canucks have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Elsewhere in the Western Conference, the Calgary Flames and Nashville Predators had a wild game in what very likely could be a first-round preview. Matthew Tkachuk scored with one second left and then the Flames won in overtime.

The loser point resulted in Nashville clinching a spot, but the big story from that game is the health of goaltender Juuse Saros, who left in the third period with an apparent foot injury and didn’t return.

Hurricanes clinch Metropolitan Division

With a win over the New York Rangers, the Carolina Hurricanes have clinched the Metropolitan Division, guaranteeing themselves home-ice advantage through the first two rounds of the playoffs.

The Rangers are locked into second place and will either host the Pittsburgh Penguins or Washington Capitals. The Penguins have 101 points and one game left while the Caps are at 100 points with two games remaining.

It’s the same deal in the Atlantic Division, as the Panthers are locked into first place and the Toronto Maple Leafs have guaranteed themselves second place. The Tampa Bay Lightning are currently in third with 108 points and two games left but the Bruins can still catch them as they have 105 points and two games remaining.