I had trouble today coming up with something to post considering what we're doing here this next week is marking tine until the season is over, we know the Leafs place in the standings and we can start making up fanciful tales based on lottery odds.

One note on that, there are no official odds for this year's lottery yet, not least because they have to figure out what they're doing if Ottawa – set at pick 32 – don't make the playoffs. We'll have the exact figures and process sometime between next week and May 5, the date of the lottery.

I decided to post some stories on topics I don't care about at all.

Playoff team tiers: What is the outlook for everyone in the race?
As the NHL regular season heads into its final weekend, Justin Bourne puts everyone still alive into a tier based on their Stanley Cup outlook.
Sportsnet.caJustin Bourne
Playoff format under scrutiny once again as high-end clashes loom in Central, Atlantic Divisions
The NHL playoff format is once again in focus, as some of best teams in the league will meet in the first-round of the postseason.
TSNTSN.ca Staff
Road to the Playoffs: What teams are playing for this weekend
While Friday is a rare quiet night in the NHL without any games scheduled, that allowed Rory Boylen to take a step back and look at what’s at stake as we get set for a huge weekend of games ahead, filled with playoff implications.
Sportsnet.caRory Boylen
Caufield’s 50th goal put him in exclusive club with Canadiens legends | NHL.com
Forward latest to hit milestone, following Richard’s lead
NHL logoDave Stubbs
Verbeek signs multiyear contract to remain Ducks GM | NHL.com
Has built core that can clinch Anaheim’s 1st playoff berth since 2018 on Saturday
NHL logoNHLMedia

And finally, I bet they thought this would play better when they arranged it...

But this was fun to watch:

More later on the standings, the Panthers and who is playing tonight.

From The Branches