Make or Break Saturday for Pit, Bos & Ott

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The Ottawa Senators can win to complete an extraordinary run into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Pittsburgh Penguins can win to avoid an unlikely fall from them.

Ottawa will clinch a berth from the Eastern Conference by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

The Senators and Flyers play at 12:30 p.m., so the Penguins and Boston Bruins will know where they stand before playing at night. If Ottawa wins or gets to overtime, only one of Pittsburgh and Boston can qualify. If the Senators lose in regulation, the Penguins and Bruins each can get in with a victory.

Pittsburgh, 3-9-2 since March 12 and winless in April, plays at the Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET); Boston plays at the Tampa Bay Lightning (7:30 p.m. ET). The Penguins lead the Bruins by one point and would make the playoffs for a ninth straight season with a win.

Ottawa, 22-4-4 since Feb. 10, can finish third in the Atlantic Division with a win and a regulation loss by the Detroit Red Wings at the Carolina Hurricanes.

Almost every other playoff position will be set Saturday.

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EASTERN CONFERENCE

* The Senators would clinch a playoff berth if they get at least one point against the Flyers OR if the Penguins lose to the Sabres in regulation OR if the Bruins lose to the Lightning in any fashion.

* The Senators would clinch the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic Division if they defeat the Flyers in any fashion AND the Red Wings lose to the Hurricanes in regulation.

* The Penguins would clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Sabres in any fashion OR if they get one point against the Sabres AND either the Senators lose to the Flyers in regulation or the Bruins fail to defeat the Lightning in regulation or overtime OR if the Bruins lose to the Lightning in any fashion.

* The Bruins would clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Lightning in any fashion AND either the Senators or Penguins lose in regulation. If the Bruins defeat the Lightning in regulation or overtime, they would qualify with either a Senators regulation loss or Penguins loss in any fashion.

* The Canadiens would clinch the Atlantic Division title if they get at least one point against the Maple Leafs OR if the Lightning lose to the Bruins in any fashion.

* The Lightning would clinch the Atlantic Division title if they defeat the Bruins in any fashion AND the Canadiens lose to the Maple Leafs in regulation.

* The Red Wings would clinch the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic Division if they get at least one point against the Hurricanes OR if the Senators lose to the Flyers in any fashion.

* The Rangers, who are locked in as the top seed in both the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference, will face the No. 2 Wild Card team in the First Round – either the Red Wings, Senators, Penguins or Bruins.

* The Capitals would clinch the No. 2 seed in the Metropolitan Division if they defeat the Rangers in any fashion OR if they get one point against the Rangers AND the Islanders fail to defeat the Blue Jackets in regulation or overtime OR if the Islanders lose to the Blue Jackets in any fashion.

* The Islanders would clinch the No. 2 seed in the Metropolitan Division if they defeat the Blue Jackets in regulation or overtime AND the Capitals lose to the Rangers in any fashion OR if they defeat the Blue Jackets in a shootout AND the Capitals lose to the Rangers in regulation.

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Ottawa wins, they pull further away in the 7th seed.

Pitt playing Buffalo while Boston plays Tampa for the 8th seed