The NHL's latest playoff-buzz coverage still has the East squeezed into a narrow band, and Thursday's schedule keeps that pressure in one place.
Why this is news today
NHL.com's March 31 race update says the Eastern field remains crowded enough that one result can shift several teams at once. April 2 puts Buffalo-Ottawa, Philadelphia-Detroit and Carolina-Columbus into the same evening window, so the swing value is immediate.
What it means on the board
When multiple cut-line games overlap, late movement can spill from one rink to another. That creates a cleaner live-market picture for bettors who wait for confirmed goalie news and line combinations.
Related reading
For the Finland-focused version, read Kerroinkuningas.