from NHL.com,

The Pittsburgh Penguins (43-26-11), Carolina Hurricanes (44-29-7) and Colorado Avalanche (37-29-14) all enter Thursday with the chance to clinch berths in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Penguins are third in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind the second-place New York Islanders (46-27-7), who have already clinched a playoff berth. Pittsburgh can assure itself of a 13th straight trip to the postseason, which would extend the longest active streak in the NHL, by defeating the Detroit Red Wings at PPG Paints Arena....

The Hurricanes, who haven't qualified for the playoffs since 2008-09, lead the Columbus Blue Jackets (45-31-4) by one point for the first wild card from the Eastern Conference entering their game against the New Jersey Devils at PNC Arena. The Montreal Canadiens (43-29-8) are tied in points with the Blue Jackets for the second wild card but trail them 44-41 in regulation/overtime wins (ROW). The Canadiens visit the Washington Capitals and a loss by Montreal and a regulation win by Carolina will put the Hurricanes into the postseason.

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