Wild & Sabres playoff chase
The Minnesota Wild can clinch a playoff berth with a win over Boston on Saturday — a single result stands between them and the postseason (nhl.com). Buffalo’s magic number is also shrinking after a crucial win over Seattle, keeping their long playoff drought very much alive (sportingnews.com) (sabrenoise.com).
Boston’s 6-3 win over Minnesota on March 28 stopped the Wild from clinching on Saturday; Pavel Zacha scored twice and Jeremy Swayman made 31 saves in the victory. (espn.com) Minnesota enters Sunday at 41-21-12 for 94 points with eight games remaining, holding third place in the Central behind Colorado (106) and Dallas (99). (statmuse.com) Filip Gustavsson allowed six goals and missed a chance at his 100th career win, and Minnesota’s next game is scheduled as a home meeting with Vancouver on April 2. (espn.com) (nhl.com) Buffalo beat Seattle 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday, with Tage Thompson and Jack Quinn converting in the shootout and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopping both Kraken attempts. (espn.com) Rasmus Dahlin scored his 100th NHL goal in regulation, and the Sabres sit at 45-21-8 for 98 points — two points clear of Tampa Bay atop the Atlantic after Saturday’s results. (espn.com) Magic-number and clinch trackers at Sporting News and PlayoffMagic updated after Saturday’s games, reflecting Buffalo’s 98 points with eight games left and narrowing scenarios for finally ending the franchise’s long playoff drought. (sportingnews.com) (playoffmagic.com)
