On Tuesday night, the New York Rangers became the first NHL team to clinch a playoff berth. They handled their own business by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 6-5 in overtime, while the Washington Capitals helped out by beating the Detroit Red Wings 4-3.
As of Thursday morning, the Rangers remained the only NHL team to have punched its ticket to the postseason.
On Wednesday, the Boston Bruins could have clinched a playoff berth if they had defeated or lost in overtime to the Tampa Bay Lightning; however, the Lightning won in regulation 3-1. The Bruins are atop the Atlantic Divison with 99 points, but the Rangers were the first team in the East to reach 100 points.