PLAYOFF POSITIONING FRONT AND CENTER ON 14-GAME SATURDAY

The race to the Stanley Cup Playoffs continues on Saturday with 28 teams in action across a 14-game slate.

In the Western Conference, every team that currently holds down a playoff position or sits within three points of the final Wild Card spot are in action.

In the Eastern Conference, every team in a playoff position or within five points of one – save the Devils (36-31-8, 80 points), who sit five points back of the final Wild Card position – will also take to the ice.

First place in the Atlantic Division is on the line when the Lightning (43-26-5, 91 points) host the Panthers (41-24-9, 91 points). The Lightning currently hold top seed in the division by ROW tiebreaker (TBL: 40, FLA: 34).

All teams currently battling for Wild Card positions in the Eastern Conference are in action with the Red Wings (37-26-11, 85 points) – who sit outside the final playoff seed – hosting the Metropolitan Division’s third place Penguins (40-25-8, 88 points). The Islanders (39-25-9, 87 points) – who hold the first Wild Card position – visit the Hurricanes while the Flyers (36-24-13, 85 points) – who currently own the final Wild Card position – visit the Coyotes.

The Avalanche (38-32-4, 80 points) look to move within one point of a playoff spot when they host the team they are chasing for the final Wild Card position in the Western Conference, the Wild (36-28-11, 83 points), who have won four consecutive games.

The Stars (44-22-9, 97 points) look to hold on to the top record in the Central Division and Western Conference when they travel to San Jose to play the Pacific Division’s third place Sharks (41-27-6, 88 points).

Chasing the Stars are the Blues (44-22-9, 97 points) – equal in points but trailing because of ROW tiebreaker (DAL: 42, STL: 39) – who visit the NHL-leading Capitals (53-15-5, 111 points) where T.J. Oshie (WSH) and Troy Brouwer (STL) could each face their former team for the first time since being part of the same trade last summer.

CANADIENS AGREE TO TERMS ON A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT WITH FREE AGENT TOM PARISI

Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin announced today that the team has agreed to terms on a two-year, two-way contract (2016-17 and 2017-18) with free agent defenseman Tom Parisi.

Parisi, 22, played 38 games with the Providence College Friars (Hockey East) in 2015-16, recording 16 points (1 goal and 15 assists). The 5’11’’ and 195 lbs defenseman displayed a +12 differential and served 24 penalty minutes.

Since making his college debut in 2012-13, Parisi appeared in 144 regular season games with Providence College, contributing 55 points (12 goals and 43 assists) with 96 penalty minutes. Parisi also suited up with the U.S. National Development Team (USHL) and the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (EJHL) during the 2011-12 season.

A native of Commack, New York, Parisi took part in the Canadiens’ last Development Camp in July 2015 on a try-out basis.

TODAY’S CLINCHING SCENARIOS

The Capitals will clinch the Presidents’ Trophy and the No. 1 seed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs if they get at least one point against the Blues OR if the Stars lose to the Sharks in any fashion or defeat the Sharks in a shootout.

The Sharks will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Stars in any fashion OR if they get one point against the Stars AND the Coyotes lose to the Flyers in any fashion OR if the Coyotes lose to the Flyers in regulation.

FRIDAY’S RESULTS

Home Team in Caps
Washington 1, NEW JERSEY 0 (OT)
TAMPA BAY 7, NY Islanders 4
ST. LOUIS 4, Vancouver 0

SNEAK PEEK AT SATURDAY’S ACTION

All Times Eastern
Winnipeg @ Buffalo, 1:00 p.m.
Pittsburgh @ Detroit Red Wings, 2:00 p.m.
Minnesota @ Colorado, 3:00 p.m.
Dallas @ San Jose, 4:00 p.m.
Boston @ Toronto, 7:00 p.m.
NY Rangers @ Montreal, 7:00 p.m.
Anaheim @ Ottawa, 7:00 p.m.
Florida @ Tampa Bay, 7:00 p.m.
St. Louis @ Washington, 7:00 p.m.
NY Islanders @ Carolina, 7:00 p.m.
Columbus @ Nashville, 8:00 p.m.
Chicago @ Calgary, 10:00 p.m.
Philadelphia @ Arizona, 10:00 p.m.
Edmonton @ Los Angeles, 10:00 p.m.