The Winnipeg Jets now officially have a firm hold on second place in the Central Division, but second overall in the Western Conference remains a battle between them and the Vegas Golden Knights.

The Jets win over Toronto coupled with the Minnesota Wild loss in Dallas insured that the Jets will start the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs with home ice in the first round.

The Jets however are still a point behind the Golden Knights – although the Jets still have a game in hand on them – as they also won with a 3-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. That win officially clinches the Pacific Division for Vegas and they did it in style with this game winning goal…

Good grief.

Anyway, we’ll add Vegas to our list of teams we’re following because that home-ice advantage in the third round *could* be important in about a month’s time. (And because let’s be honest, the Vegas story is a pretty fun one if you have any kind of feelings for hockey at all)

Meanwhile…

The Wild loss to Dallas along with the Blues loss in Arizona (6-0 to the Coyotes? Ouch.) kept the Stars very faint playoff hopes alive for at least one more night. That Blues loss also helps out the Wild as they four points ahead of both the Blues and Avalanche.

One more bit of Wild news and it could be the biggest loss they’ll have in March as Ryan Suter may be lost for an extended length of time…

Nashville also lost on Saturday night (7-4 to Buffalo, which again… Ouch) which keeps the Jets five points back with four games left for both teams to play.

Points needed to clinch second place in West: 8
This is any combination of points earned by Winnipeg or lost by Vegas.

Last Game: Win @ Toronto 3-1 (03/31)
Next Game: @ Ottawa – April 2
Games Remaining: 4
2 Home: CGY, CHI
2 Road: OTT, MTL
Headline: Buff is just Buff (Winnipeg Free Press)

Last Game: Loss Vs Buffalo 5-3 (03/29)
Next Game: @ Tampa Bay – April 1
Games Remaining: 4
1 Home: CBJ
3 Road: TBL, FLA, WSH
Headline: The power play could be Preds Achilles Heel (Predlines)

Last Game: Win Vs San Jose 3-2 (03/31)
Next Game: @ Vancouver – April 3
Games Remaining: 3
0 Home:
3 Road: VAN, EDM, CGY
Headline: Knights retire “58” to honor shooting victims (Sportsnet)

Last Game: Loss @ Dallas 4-1 (03/31)
Next Game: Vs Edmonton – April 2
Games Remaining: 4
1 Home: EDM
3 Road: ANA, LAK, SJS
Headline: Wild hope Greenway lives up to ELC (The Hockey Writers)

Last Game: Win Vs Chicago 5-0 (03/30)
Next Game: @ Anaheim – April 1
Games Remaining: 4
1 Home: STL
3 Road: ANA, LAK, SJS
Headline: Johnson out six weeks, Varlamov out for season (Mile High Hockey)

Last Game: Loss @ Arizona 6-0 (03/31)
Next Game: Vs Washington – April 2
Games Remaining: 4
2 Home: WAS, CHI
2 Road: CHI, COL
Headline: Blues lay an egg in Arizona (STL Today)

Last Game: Win Vs Minnesota 4-1 (03/31)
Next Game: @ San Jose – April 3
Games Remaining: 3
0 Home
3 Road: SJS, ANA, LAK
Headline: Final thoughts on a redeeming win (Blackout Dallas)