With their win, the Winnipeg Jets picked up two points on idle Minnesota in the race for second in the Central Division and now have a nine point lead.

The Wild however have a game in hand which they will use tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Wild are about to enter a back to back set with their visit to Sin City followed by a trip to Arizona on Saturday.

The Jets didn’t gain any ground on the Nashville Predators who came from behind and beat the Arizona Coyotes by a 3-2 score. Nashville still sits eight points ahead of the Jets and they too have a game in hand which they will also use up tonight against the Avalanche.

Speaking of the Avs, their win Thursday night in St. Louis vaulted them over Dallas into the first wild card spot. While they play the Preds, Dallas continues their road trip in Ottawa.

A few people have asked what the Jets “magic number” for the playoff is. There is two of them we can actually follow along.

The first is to clinch the playoffs. That magic number currently sits at 12. Any combination of points earned by the Jets or points “lost” by the team in the first non-playoff spot – in this case the Anaheim Ducks – would equal clinched playoffs for the Jets.

The Ducks – who face Detroit tonight – with 11 games left in the season can at most earn 104 points the rest of this season. Winnipeg only needs 12 more points to ensure that they will not be caught by a team currently not in a playoff position.

The Wild (again theoretically) if they won out the rest of the way – could have up to 109 points. Any combination of Jets points earned and Wild points lost totally 16 means there is zero chance the Wild can catch the Jets in the standings.

Last Game: Win vs Chicago 3-2 (03/15)
Next Game: @ Colorado – March 16
Games Remaining: 11
7 Home: DAL, LAK, ANA, NSH, BOS, CGY, CHI
4 Road: CHI, TOR, OTT, MTL
Headline: Trouba returns and more could be coming soon (Winnipeg Sun)

Last Game: Win @ Arizona 6-2 (03/15)
Next Game: Vs Dallas – March 18
Games Remaining: 12
5 Home: TOR, MIN, SJS, BUF, CBJ
7 Road: COL, BUF, MIN, WPG, TBL, FLA, WSH
Headline: Calle Jarnkrok to miss rest of regular season (Tennessean.com)

Last Game: Loss vs Colorado 5-1 (03/13)
Next Game: @ Vegas – March 16
Games Remaining: 12
5 Home: LAK, NSH, BOS, DAL, EDM
7 Road: VGK, ARI, NSH, DAL, ANA, LAK, SJS
Headline: Who has had bigger impact: Suter or Parise? (The Hockey Writers)

Last Game: Win @ St. Louis 4-1 (03/15)
Next Game: Vs Nashville – March 16
Games Remaining: 12
7 Home: NSH, DET, LAK, VGK, PHI, CHI, STL
5 Road: CHI, VGK, ANA, LAK, SJS
Headline: Avalanche stay on roll against Blues (Denver Post)

Last Game: SOL @ Toronto 6-5 (03/14)
Next Game: @ Ottawa – March 16
Games Remaining: 11
4 Home: BOS, VAN, PHI, MIN
7 Road: OTT, WPG, WAS, MIN, SJ, ANA, LAK
Headline: Reviewing the good and bad from Toronto (Defending Big D)