The Chicago Blackhawks (44-26-10, 98 points) have clinched a spot in the NHL's Western Conference playoff bracket, but with two games left heading into Thursday's games, there is still the possibility they could improve upon their current position as the No. 6 seed. Chicago is just two points behind Nashville and three points behind Detroit, and their hold on the sixth seed is safe with the Coyotes trailing them by five points.
Here is an updated look at the NHL Western Conference playoff picture heading into Thursday's games:
| WESTERN | GP | W | L | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | y - Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 50 | 21 | 109 |
| 2 | y - St. Louis Blues | 80 | 48 | 21 | 107 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 40 | 27 | 93 |
| 4 | x - Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 48 | 27 | 101 |
| 5 | x - Nashville Predators | 80 | 46 | 26 | 100 |
| 6 | x - Chicago Blackhawks | 80 | 44 | 26 | 98 |
| 7 | Phoenix Coyotes | 80 | 40 | 27 | 93 |
| 8 | San Jose Sharks | 80 | 41 | 29 | 92 |
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