Maple Leafs Eye Atlantic Title as Playoff Races Intensify

TORONTO, Canada — With only five days remaining in the NHL regular season, the race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs is heating up, particularly in the Atlantic Division. The Toronto Maple Leafs (49-26-4) aim to secure their division title in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes (47-27-5) on Sunday, while a handful of teams, including the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues, are fighting to clinch playoff berths.

The Maple Leafs hold a four-point lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning. A victory against the Hurricanes would allow Toronto to finish no lower than second in the division and clinch home-ice advantage for at least the first round of the playoffs. Toronto recently defeated the Montreal Canadiens 1-0 in overtime, giving them crucial momentum as they head into this matchup.

The Hurricanes, already locked into second place in the Metropolitan Division, will face the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the playoffs regardless of the outcome of their game against Toronto. Meanwhile, the Lightning will take on the Buffalo Sabres, who have been eliminated from playoff contention after their recent struggles.

As the playoff picture becomes clearer, the remaining games in the league are critical. For instance, the Columbus Blue Jackets must win their final three games to have any chance of qualifying for the playoffs. They face a tough opponent in the Washington Capitals, who are entrenched as the top seed in the Metropolitan Division.

The playoff race is especially fierce in the Western Conference as well. The Edmonton Oilers will take on the Winnipeg Jets, who are poised to clinch the Presidents’ Trophy with a win. The Oilers are currently chasing the Los Angeles Kings for home-ice advantage in their first-round matchup.

In another pivotal matchup, the Calgary Flames need a win against the San Jose Sharks to stay in contention for the playoffs. They are currently trailing both the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues for the two wild-card spots in the Western Conference, making every game crucial as the regular season winds down.

The stakes are high across the league, with all eyes on the playoff picture as teams battle not just for wins but also for positioning and playoff berths.