We no longer have to worry about magic numbers!
Thanks to losses by the Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers, and Detroit Red Wings tonight, the Tampa Bay Lightning have clinched a spot in the 2024 NHL Playoffs. Their final seeding and opponent are still to be determined, but at least we know they’ll be in the postseason.
While they were struggling to find their rhythm early in their season, the prediction models had their chances around 50% to make it, but a strong second half, and a red-hot March, solidified their chances. Their recent 10-0-1 stretch all but guaranteed they would make it, but now they have a few extra days to prepare themselves.
The Lightning became the sixth team to clinch a spot in the Eastern Conference, but no one has locked in their seeding as of Friday night. Boston has extended their lead over Florida to four points, but both teams have five games to play. The same goes for the Metro Division where the Rangers are leading the Hurricanes by five points with both having five games left on the schedule.
If the standings hold as they are now, the Lightning would face the Bruins in the first round, but there is still a chance they could open up against the Rangers, Hurricanes, or Panthers. They have created a gap in points over the second wild spot, with a ten-point lead over the Flyers, the team currently in the spot, and have a chance to claim the third spot in the Atlantic Division as they trail the Maple Leafs by just one point.
They could theoretically catch the Panthers for the second spot as well (and home ice advantage in the first round) but it would take a monumental collapse by Florida.
This marks the seventh consecutive year they’ve made it to the postseason and the tenth time in eleven seasons with Jon Cooper behind the bench.
Congratulations to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
