What tonight means for the Tampa Bay Lightning' playoff race
The Tampa Bay Lightning are 6-2-0, 12 points with a magic number of 150 and a tragic number of 155 — holding Atlantic #2 — trying to stay ahead of Ottawa Senators (next in Atlantic).
Tonight they visit Vegas Golden Knights.
Nothing is decided for a playoff berth tonight.
Playoff berth
Nothing is decided for a playoff berth tonight.
The Tampa Bay Lightning can't clinch a playoff berth tonight — the magic number is 150 points, more than tonight's games can take off it. The earliest it could happen is 38 games from now.
The Tampa Bay Lightning can't be eliminated tonight; the tragic number is 155 and tonight's games can't bring it to zero.
Games that matter tonight
- Tampa Bay Lightning at Vegas Golden Knights
- Boston Bruins at Dallas Stars
- Los Angeles Kings at Washington Capitals
- Toronto Maple Leafs at Columbus Blue Jackets
- Anaheim Ducks at New York Islanders
4 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 Tampa Bay Lightning clinch a playoff spot tonight?
The Tampa Bay Lightning can't clinch a playoff berth tonight — the magic number is 150 points, more than tonight's games can take off it. The earliest it could happen is 38 games from now.
Can the Tampa Bay Lightning be eliminated tonight?
The Tampa Bay Lightning can't be eliminated tonight; the tragic number is 155 and tonight's games can't bring it to zero.
What is the Tampa Bay Lightning magic number right now?
The Tampa Bay Lightning magic number is 150 and their tragic number is 155.
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.