NHL Push for the Playoffs: Another big day for West playoff races

Push for the Playoffs will run every morning through the end of the 2021-22 NHL season. We’ll highlight the current playoff picture in both conferences, take a look at what the first-round matchups might look like, see who’s leading the race for the best odds in the draft lottery and more.

Don’t try to sell Eastern Conference teams that their battles for positioning are trivial. They may snarl at you. But there’s no denying that the Western Conference features the juiciest, most desperate battles for playoff spots.

Tuesday puts said juicy battles on display in an all-you-can-watch buffet. Here are the most important games on a day brimming with them:

Beyond those more do-or-die West games, there’s plenty of intrigue out East, including a game that could influence a battle for the Metro title between the Rangers and Hurricanes.

Hockey fans won’t lack for viewing options, or suspense.

ATLANTIC DIVISIONPanthers vs. Capitals Maple Leafs vs. Lightning

METROPOLITAN DIVISIONHurricanes vs. Bruins Rangers vs. Penguins

CENTRAL DIVISIONAvalanche vs. Stars Wild vs. Blues

PACIFIC DIVISIONFlames vs. Predators Oilers vs. Kings

Blues vs. Bruins, 7 p.m. ET Hurricanes vs. Rangers, 7 p.m. ET Oilers vs. Wild, 8 p.m. ET Kings vs. Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. ET Lightning vs. Stars, 9:30 p.m. ET Golden Knights vs. Canucks, 10 p.m. ET

Panthers – clinched Maple Leafs – clinched Lightning – 100% Bruins – 100% Red Wings – eliminated Sabres – eliminated Senators – eliminated Canadiens – eliminated

Hurricanes – clinched Rangers – clinched Penguins – 100% Capitals – 99.98% Islanders – 0% Blue Jackets – 0% Flyers – eliminated Devils – eliminated

Avalanche – clinched Wild – 100% Blues – 99.98% Predators – 91.6% Stars – 85.3% Jets – 0.5% Blackhawks –