If the Philadelphia Flyers and Florida Panthers are even in points Adidas Mike Hoffman Jersey , regulation and overtime wins, and goal differential at the end of the season, they will play a one-game tiebreaker to determine who goes to the playoffs.The NHL announced the unlikely but possible tiebreaker Friday as Philadelphia had one game and Florida two remaining. For the tiebreaker to happen on Tuesday, the Flyers would need to lose their regular-season finale Saturday against the New York Rangers by exactly two goals and the Panthers would need to beat the Buffalo Sabres and the Boston Bruins in a shootout Saturday and Sunday.In that case, Philadelphia and Florida would each have 39 regulation/overtime wins and a plus-1 goal differential over the season, since a shootout victory counts as a goal. The teams split their season series (which by rule eliminates the odd game between them to even out home ice) and the league does not have any further tiebreakers.Philadelphia has 96 points to Florida’s 92 and needs just a point against New York to clinch the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.This most recently happened in 2000 when the NHL announced Montreal and Buffalo would play a tiebreaking game if they finished the season tied for the final spot in the East. It did not come down to that Adidas Jonny Brodzinski Jersey , but it’s the precedent the league used to make this decision.The league contacted the teams and the NHL Players’ Association before announcing the plan. After a coin flip was the mechanism in 2000, a lottery machine such as the one that determines the top three draft picks would be used this time to decide which team gets home-ice advantage.Panthers general manager Dale Tallon declined comment and a Flyers spokesman said GM Ron Hextall was not speaking about the tiebreaker.Given the tightness of the standings in the East and West, it’s likely this situation spawns a longer list of tiebreakers beginning next season. Records against common opponents and within the conference could be used, as they are in the NFL.— NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — When Taylor Hall was asked in the offseason who is the toughest goalie to play against, he’d say Sergei Bobrovsky.Maybe he’s just that for the Devils Adidas Peter Budaj Jersey , or maybe he actually is. This season, it’s been a combination of both.Bobrovsky made 39 saves, Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the New Jersey Devils 3-0 on Sunday for their fourth consecutive victory.It was the second shutout of the season for Bobrosky, the 26th of his career and third against the Devils.“I don’t know if it’s just like us he plays like that.” Hall said. “You have to have perfect shots and it doesn’t seem like any goal is ever his fault. He’s either getting screened or a backdoor tap or whatever. Like you said, we had some really good chances. Sustained pressure Adidas Matt Read Jersey , second chances, chances in tight. I don’t know what there is to do other than that.”Cam Atkinson and Oliver Bjorkstrand added first-period goals for the Blue Jackets, who trail first-place Washington by two points in the Metropolitan Division going into the league’s holiday break.“It’s always good to get the first one, especially in the away barn,” Atkinson said. “We knew we’d see their best and to feel good right away, it’s good for us. We can enjoy this and get a little bit of a rest here and be ready for the Rangers.”Atkinson opened the scoring at 4:03 of the first period on the Blue Jackets’ first shot of the game when he took a pass from Panarin and sent it past Devils goalie Keith Kinkaid for his 23rd goal of the season.Bjorkstrand made it 2-0 just 1:28 later when he converted a pass from Alexander Wennberg for his fourth goal of the season.Kinkaid gave up a fast-break goal by Panarin to put the Blue Jackets up 3-0 midway through the second period. Panarin stole the puck from Taylor Hall in the neutral zone Adidas Matt Hendricks Jersey , and the goal got Kinkaid (eight saves) pulled for Mackenzie Blackwood.The Devils had a two-man advantage late in the second period but were unable to score.Their victory win Friday — which included a five-goal outburst — was just their fourth in their last 17 games. Blackwood had nine saves in a period and a half of play on Sunday.“He played well the first game and he came in and he played pretty well and he’s going to get some serious looks here after break,” Devils coach John Hynes said.NOTES: The Blue Jackets also beat the Devils last Thursday in Columbus. … The Devils wore their heritage jerseys. … Stefan Noesen, Egor Yakovlev and Mirco Mueller were scratches for the Devils while Sonny Milano, Dean Kukan and Lukas Sedlak were scratches for the Blue Jackets.UP NEXTBlue Jackets: At Rangers on Thursday night.Devils: At Boston Bruins on Thursday night.
