With six Eastern conference games all impacting the playoff race in some way, here’s the up-to-date standings:

Top seed race – Pittsburgh and Montreal are both well on their way to wins (Pens up 5-2 late on Tampa Bay, Montreal up 4-1 late on the fading Sabres) so barring a miracle in either game, this is what the standings will look like in the next half hour:

1. Penguins 62 points (28 ROW) – 7 games left
2. Canadiens 57 points (23 ROW) – 8 games left
4. Bruins 56 points (22 ROW) – 8 games left

Southeast race – Winnipeg’s up 6-2 on Florida after two periods up north, I think it’s safe to count that in the W column.  Their third straight win would also tie them for the eighth seed with the Rangers, though New York has two games in hand.  Washington continued their surge toward the postseason earlier tonight with their sixth straight win, downing the Canes 3-1 at the Verizon Center.

3. Capitals 46 points (19 ROW) – 7 games left
—  Jets 44 points (20 ROW) – 6 games left

Avoid going home race – Both Ottawa and the Isles registered big wins, with Ottawa beating the Flyers 3-1 to snap their five-game losing streak while the Isles went into Boston and won a tight 2-1 game (gee, why can’t we ever do that?).

For all intents and purposes, the Flyers and Sabres’ losses realistically eliminated them from the bubble, given the Sabres are now six points out with two more games played than the Rangers and the Flyers are seven points out with one more game played.  The only reason I’m keeping the Devils on the list is their three games left combined against the Rangers and Senators, though another loss tomorrow would pretty much be the last nail in our coffin as well.

5. Leafs 49 points (22 ROW) – 8 games left
6. Senators 46 points (16 ROW) – 8 games left
7. Islanders 46 points (18 ROW) – 7 games left
8. Rangers 44 points (16 ROW) – 8 games left
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9. Jets 44 points (20 ROW) – 6 games left
10. Devils 40 points (13 ROW) – 8 games left

Tonight’s results:
Islanders 2, Boston 1
Ottawa 3, Philadelphia 1
Montreal 5, Buffalo 1
Washington 3, Carolina 1

Pittsburgh 6, Tampa Bay 2 – late third
Winnipeg 6, Florida 2 – mid third

Tomorrow’s games:
Ottawa at New Jersey