What tonight means for the San Jose Sharks' playoff race
The San Jose Sharks are 4-4-1, 9 points with a magic number of 151 and a tragic number of 151 — chasing Dallas Stars for a wild card spot.
Tonight they visit Montréal Canadiens.
Nothing is decided for a playoff berth tonight.
Playoff berth
Nothing is decided for a playoff berth tonight.
The San Jose Sharks can't clinch a playoff berth tonight — the magic number is 151 points, more than tonight's games can take off it. The earliest it could happen is 38 games from now.
The San Jose Sharks can't be eliminated tonight; the tragic number is 151 and tonight's games can't bring it to zero.
Games that matter tonight
- San Jose Sharks at Montréal Canadiens
- Boston Bruins at Dallas Stars
- Anaheim Ducks at New York Islanders
- Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues
- Colorado Avalanche at New Jersey Devils
5 other NHL games with a smaller bearing on this race were left out of the enumeration, so a path that depends on one of them isn't listed. Every path shown is a real guarantee.
Every combination of these results (0 in all) was checked with the same conservative math as the standings page, so each path listed is a mathematical guarantee — no tiebreaker assumptions in your favor. Want the result-by-result version? The rooting guide on the team page shows what each game does to the numbers.
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Frequently asked questions
How can the San Jose Sharks clinch a playoff spot tonight?
The San Jose Sharks can't clinch a playoff berth tonight — the magic number is 151 points, more than tonight's games can take off it. The earliest it could happen is 38 games from now.
Can the San Jose Sharks be eliminated tonight?
The San Jose Sharks can't be eliminated tonight; the tragic number is 151 and tonight's games can't bring it to zero.
What is the San Jose Sharks magic number right now?
The San Jose Sharks magic number is 151 and their tragic number is 151.
How are these scenarios calculated?
Every combination of results in the NHL games that bear on the race tonight is enumerated, and the magic and tragic numbers are recomputed in each one with the same conservative math as the standings page. The paths listed are the minimal sets of results that guarantee the outcome no matter how the other games end.