Last year’s Philadelphia Flyers regular-season finale featured an oddity in which they pulled their goalie for an extra skater late in the third period, even though their game with the Washington Capitals was tied.
The move didn’t work. Washington scored an empty-net goal, the Capitals clinched a playoff spot and the Flyers, Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated.
Why did it happen? Because of the NHL’s tiebreaker procedures, the Flyers needed a regulation win that would allow them to match the Capitals on the first four tiebreakers and win the fifth one on goal differential.
Tuesday night, the Columbus Blue Jackets are in a similar situation in Philadelphia. They need to win in regulation in order to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Here’s a look at the NHL’s tiebreaker procedure and what it means for three playoff races:
NHL tiebreakers: What is the first tiebreaker in NHL standings?
If two teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:
Regulation wins
Regulation and overtime wins (ROW)
Total wins
Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded.
Goal differential
Total goals
How tiebreakers affect Eastern Conference wild-card race
The Montreal Canadiens (89 points, after Monday’s shootout loss) and Blue Jackets (85) are in the running. If Columbus wins its final two games and Montreal loses its final game in regulation, the teams would be tied with 89 points. The Canadiens currently lead in regulation wins 29-28 and have an insurmountable lead in ROW. The Blue Jackets would have to win both of their games in regulation (giving them a 30-29 edge in the first tiebreaker) in order to make the playoffs.
Upcoming schedule: The Blue Jackets visit the Flyers on Tuesday and host the New York Islanders on Thursday. The Canadiens host the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday.
How tiebreakers affect Western Conference wild-card race
The Minnesota Wild (95), St. Louis Blues (94) and Calgary Flames (92) are in the hunt for the first and second wild-card seed. Minnesota and St. Louis have one game left and Calgary, with two games left, potentially could pass both teams in points to make the playoffs. All three teams play Tuesday.
If Calgary wins out and Minnesota loses in overtime or a shootout to be tied at 96, Minnesota would have the edge in regulation wins and make the playoffs.
If St. Louis and Calgary end up tied at 94 or 95 points, the Blues would advance. Even if the Flames pick up a regulation win to give the teams 31 each, the Blues would have the edge in ROW.
If all three teams end up with 95 points, Minnesota and St. Louis would advance.
Calgary’s best bet to make the playoffs is to win its final two games and hope Minnesota loses in regulation or that St. Louis loses its finale. The Flames would also make it if they pick up three points in their last two games and the Blues lose in regulation.
The Blues can’t pass the Wild in regulation wins. St. Louis would have to top Minnesota in points to finish ahead of that team.
Upcoming schedule: The Wild host the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. The Blues host the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday. The Flames host the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday and visit the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.
How tiebreakers affect Atlantic Division title race
The No. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs (104) lead the No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning (100), and each team has two games left. They’re tied in regulation wins at 40 and the Maple Leafs have an insurmountable lead in ROW. The Lightning’s only chance for a division title is to win their final two games and the Maple Leafs to lose theirs in regulation, leaving them tied at 104. Assuming one Lightning win in that scenario is in regulation, Tampa wins the division.
Upcoming schedule: The Maple Leafs visit the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday and host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday. The Lightning host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday and visit the New York Rangers on Thursday.