If the NHL season ended this afternoon — which, to be clear, it did not — the New York Islanders (33-25-8, 74 pts.) would hold the first wild card and draw the Carolina Hurricanes for the first round of the playoffs, while the Pittsburgh Penguins (32-22-9, 73 pts.) would draw the Boston Bruins.
An Isles regulation loss tonight in Pittsburgh would reverse those positions.
I don’t know how you feel about either scenario, but contemplating them does bring up a few “Wait, what is it we’re fighting for exactly?” feelings. But that’s for another day. Things can change.