from NHL.com,

Here is a look at the NHL Standings and everything else that could impact the playoff picture.

Eight games on the Thursday schedule will have a direct impact on the races in each conference for the Stanley Cup Playoffs:

Florida Panthers at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET; FS-O, FS-F, NHL.TV) -- Two of the hottest teams in the League meet with plenty at stake. The Blue Jackets have won nine in a row and are in third place in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind the second-place Pittsburgh Penguins, but only one point ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers, who hold the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Panthers are 11-2-1 in their past 14 games and trail the New Jersey Devils by one point for the second wild card in the East with two games in hand.

Los Angeles Kings at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; ALT, FS-W, NHL.TV) -- The Kings and Avalanche each are trying to hold onto a playoff spot; Los Angeles holds the second wild card in the West, one point behind Colorado, which holds the first wild card, and two points ahead of the St. Louis Blues. The Kings are also one point behind the Anaheim Ducks for third place in the Pacific and four points behind the San Jose Sharks for second in the division. The Avalanche can move into third place in the Central Division with a win.

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