NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Preview 2013: Final Spots Could Be Clinched On Thursday;

With the NHL season winding down, the attention has turned to the Stanley Cup playoffs. On Thursday evening, the remaining playoff spots could potentially be clinched.

Eastern Conference

As it stands six teams have already assured themselves a trip to the playoffs and three teams are battling it out for the final two spots: the New York Rangers, the Winnipeg Jets, and the Ottawa Senators. The Jets are the outsiders and sit in ninth with 51 points while the Senators and Rangers are in seventh and eight respectively with 52 points each. However, the Jets have one game remaining on the docket while NY has two more games to play and Ottawa has three.

All three teams are in action on Thursday with a Jets loss in regulation clinching the final spots for New York and Ottawa. The Jets will take on a struggling Montreal Canadiens and need to win and hope for a loss from either side to keep their hopes alive; however, a loss for both would be even better.

The Rangers face the Carolina Hurricanes while the Senators will visit the surging Washington Capitals. The Capitals have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL over the last month and have already clinched the Southeast division.

Western Conference

 In the west, the Detroit Red Wings are back in the eighth spot after a 3-1 win over the LA Kings. The team currently sits just one point behind the Minnesota Wild but only one point ahead of ninth place Columbus. Minnesota can clinch a playoff spot (they don't play Thursday) if the Columbus Blue Jackets lose against the Dallas Stars. If the Red Wings defeat the Nashville Predators and the Jackets lose, they will also clinch a playoff spot. Columbus needs to win its final two matches, including Thursday's tilt, in order to keep its waning postseason hopes alive. A win for Columbus coupled with a Detroit victory would keep them in ninth even though they'd potentially tie Minnesota; the Wild have a game in hand and have won the ROW tiebreaker.