Breaking down 3 teams’ routes to the East’s last playoff spot

Thanks to a Tampa Bay Lightning win over the Toronto Maple Leafs and a New York Islanders victory over the Carolina Hurricanes, we are no closer to figuring out who will claim that second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Maple Leafs had their second chance to punch their ticket to the postseason, but dropped a 4-1 decision to the Lightning just 48 hours after a similar result against the Washington Capitals.

As for the Islanders, they got up 3-0 before the second period was a minute old against the Hurricanes and shut things down after that, keeping their slim playoff hopes alive.

Related - Playoff percentages: Door ajar for Bolts, Isles after Leafs fail to clinch

With the Lightning and Islanders both coming out victorious, the race continues. Heading into the weekend, here's how each of these three playoff hopefuls will need to conclude their season in order to claim that final spot.

Brace yourselves, this might get confusing:

Maple Leafs

Quite simply, the Maple Leafs control the fate of the final spot, and those of the Lightning and Islanders as a result.

A victory in one of their final two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins or the Columbus Blue Jackets would secure the spot for Toronto. Meanwhile, a single point in the final two games would force both New York and Tampa Bay to go nearly perfect in their final two games.

A single regulation loss by the Lightning or the Islanders would also sen.

Lightning

It's quite simple for the Lightning: beat both the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres in regulation and hope the Maple Leafs get no more than a single point over their final two games.

The Maple Leafs currently have two more combined regulation and overtime wins than the Lightning, which is the first tiebreaker in the standings. In other words, the Lightning must win both their contests before they reach a shootout.

Luckily, the Lightning hold the second tiebreaker against the Maple Leafs, as a result of collecting more points against them in the regular-season series.

Islanders

Just like Tampa Bay, the Islanders' best bet is to go perfect in their final two games against the New Jersey Devils and the Ottawa Senators.

In the event that the Islanders and Maple Leafs tie in points, the factor will be whether the Islanders pick up one more regulation or overtime win. As it stands now, the Maple Leafs have one more than the Islanders, but the Islanders hold the second tiebreaker against Toronto.

That means the Islanders can afford to go 1-0-1 in their next two games if the Maple Leafs go pointless.

Islanders/Lightning

Cover your eyes Maple Leafs fans, but in the case both the Islanders and Lightning go perfect down the stretch and the Maple Leafs fail to record a single point, New York would have the edge in ROW over Tampa Bay.

However, if the Lightning can make up that single regulation or overtime win on the Islanders, the Lightning would head to the postseason, having gone 3-0-0 against the Islanders during the regular season.

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On the Fly: 4 playoff rookies we’re excited to watch

With the NHL playoffs less than a week away, "On the Fly," theScore's NHL weekly roundtable series, looks at four postseason newcomers we're excited to watch.

David Pastrnak

McLaren: 2016-17 has been Pastrnak's coming-out party, and there's a sense the 20-year-old is just getting started.

In his first full NHL season, the Czech winger has given the Boston Bruins near point-per-game production, with 34 goals and 36 assists in 74 games. Impressive numbers to be sure, but the manner in which he's done it suggests a further breakout could be coming.

Pastrnak possesses game-breaking ability unseen in Boston since Tyler Seguin, and has demonstrated an ability to put the game on his stick, as evidenced by team-leading two overtime winners.

That he plays in a Bruins top six comprised of savvy veterans who've made numerous playoff treks should boost not only his confidence but his production, as the likes of David Krejci, Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand have a knack for setting the table.

Pastrnak has had a formidable regular season, but don't be surprised if he makes an even better first playoff impression.

Connor McDavid

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Gold-Smith: It's hard enough to look away when McDavid is on the ice in the regular season. Good luck doing it in the playoffs.

The NHL's points leader will soon get his first taste of postseason action, and there's no doubt it'll be appointment viewing.

McDavid has had no trouble adjusting to the speed of the league as a 20-year-old in his first full NHL campaign, and while the playoffs require another gear, it shouldn't take the youngest captain in league history much time to make an impact.

He's already one of the NHL's most dynamic playmakers as well as one of its most dangerous scorers, and he has a realistic shot at hitting the 100-point plateau before the regular season wraps up.

McDavid will surely collect some individual accolades as the probable Art Ross Trophy winner and a likely nominee for the Hart, but his shifts will be can't-miss entertainment come playoff time with the ultimate team prize in his sights.

Jordan Eberle

O'Leary: Doubling up on the playoff-bound Edmonton Oilers, it's hard not to feel good for Eberle.

With 505 NHL games and numerous rebuilds under his belt, Eberle will appear in the postseason for the first time in his career, and while he's shifted to more of a depth role since the arrival of No. 97, keep an eye on the Oilers veteran.

If you're familiar with his world juniors resume, or have seen his first NHL goal, you're well aware of Eberle's reputation for enjoying the big moments. Unfortunately for him, the gap between opportunities to shine on the sport's grandest stages has dragged on longer than he probably expected, but now's his chance. Expect him to take advantage.

Alexander Wennberg

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Wilkins: It's not often a team trades its top center, but the Columbus Blue Jackets cashed in on Ryan Johansen, knowing they had their next middle man around the corner in Wennberg.

The 22-year-old stepped into the top job last season after Johansen was dealt to the Nashville Predators, a trade that brought defenseman Seth Jones to Columbus. Not only did the deal strengthen the team's back end, but Wennberg has played a pivotal role down the middle with fellow center Brandon Dubinsky.

Wennberg leads the Blue Jackets with 45 assists this season. His production has played a big part in the team locking down just its third-ever playoff berth. The dynamic center will soon have the chance to showcase his skill on a bigger stage when he makes his postseason debut.

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Ritchie to have hearing for sucker punch on Rozsival

Anaheim Ducks forward Nick Ritchie will go before the NHL's Department of Player Safety for sucker-punching Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Michal Rozsival, the league announced Friday.

The play occurred in the third period of Thursday's contest between the Ducks and Blackhawks. Ritchie was assessed a match penalty as a result of the incident.

Ritchie has appeared in 77 games with the Ducks this season, registering 28 points and 62 penalty minutes.

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When it’s your night, it’s your night: Lucic relishes 3rd-period hat trick

It took Milan Lucic just over 12 minutes to score three goals in the third period of Thursday's game against the San Jose Sharks.

Lucic's third career hat trick propelled the team to a 4-2 win over the Sharks helping them keep pace with the Anaheim Ducks for top spot in the Pacific Division.

It was a big night for Lucic, who pushed his goal-scoring streak to three games while hitting his highest regular-season total in three years. As for the hat trick coming in a single period, that was a bit of an oddity for him.

"First time I've scored three in one period that's for sure and when it's one of your nights it's one of your nights," Lucic told Sportsnet's Gene Principe postgame.

Nevertheless, the Oilers will take it. They'll also hope to see more of it, as with just a single point over their next two games, they can guarantee home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

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Talbot sets Oilers’ single-season wins record

Move over, Grant Fuhr.

With a victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night, Cam Talbot earned his 41st win of 2016-17 to establish an Edmonton Oilers record for most in a single regular season.

The win came in Talbot's 72nd appearance of the season, and put the Oilers two points up on San Jose for second place in the Pacific Division.

Talbot owes Milan Lucic a dinner after the rugged winger recorded a natural hat-trick to help propel the Oilers to the goalie's historic win.

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Watch: Ducks’ Ritchie assessed match penalty for punch on Blackhawks’ Roszival

Nick Ritchie may find himself in hot water with the Stanley Cup Playoffs quickly approaching.

The Anaheim Ducks forward was assessed a match penalty after dropping a defenseless Michal Rozsival with a punch to the face during Thursday's game against the Blackhawks.

Rozsival earned a minor for cross-checking Corey Perry, an act that drew the disproportionate reaction from Ritchie.

A call from the NHL's Department of Player Safety may be forthcoming.

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Watch: Flames’ Wideman scores breakaway goal after exiting penalty box

That's one way to redeem yourself after taking a penalty.

Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman left the box, took a breakout pass, and managed to beat Ben Bishop on a rare breakaway opportunity during Thursday's game against the Kings.

The goal was Wideman's fifth in 56 games this season.

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Babcock: Leafs need to ‘go back to the drawing board’ after loss to Lightning

Mike Babcock was understandably disappointed after the Toronto Maple Leafs squandered a chance to clinch a playoff berth Thursday night.

"We made it way harder than it should (have been)," the head coach told reporters after the 4-1 win by the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to TSN's Mark Masters. "We didn't play like we normally do."

The Leafs never led in the game, which ultimately kept Tampa Bay's playoff hopes alive, moving them within three points of Toronto for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

"We never established the game we normally play," Babcock said. "We got to go back to the drawing board and get re-energized."

Morgan Rielly also lamented the missed opportunity.

"We knew what was at stake," the defenseman said. "We didn't do our job. Not very pleased with the game and it just puts more pressure on the next one."

James van Riemsdyk took a more optimistic view.

"We're in a good spot," the Leafs forward said. "Great spot, actually. We control our own destiny still ... we'll be ready to go for Saturday."

Toronto hosts the Pittsburgh Penguins that evening in their penultimate regular-season game before Sunday's clash with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Both the Lightning and the New York Islanders sit three points back of the Leafs with two games to play.

The Islanders will play the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, then the Ottawa Senators on Sunday. The Lightning travel to Montreal to face the Canadiens on Friday night, then host the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday in their regular-season finale.

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