NHL playoff watch: Can the Devils win the Metro Division crown?
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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
With 11 games left in their 2022-23 season, the New Jersey Devils remain within striking distance of winning the Metropolitan Division (two points and one regulation win behind the Carolina Hurricanes). After finishing last season with 63 points — 37 out from a wild-card spot — this has been quite the impressive leveling up for the franchise.
So what are the chances they actually take the proverbial crown off the Hurricanes’ collective heads?
The process begins Friday night with their game against the Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). The Devils won the lone previous matchup between the clubs, 3-1 back on Nov. 25, and the two teams will play again on April 11. In the nine non-Sabres games on the Devils’ remaining schedule, they’ll play playoff-contending teams five times.
The Canes have an extra game in hand, and they’ll take on playoff contenders five times as well from here until the end of the season, including a rough upcoming homestand against the Toronto Maple Leafs (Saturday), Boston Bruins (Sunday) and Tampa Bay Lightning (Tuesday).
Still, Money Puck isn’t buying the Devils’ case; it gives the Canes a 84.3% chance of winning the Metro.
As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2023 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via FiveThirtyEight.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s games
Last night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Pittsburgh Penguins
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 New York Islanders
M2 New Jersey Devils vs. M3 New York Rangers
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC1 Seattle Kraken
C2 Minnesota Wild vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Friday’s games
Note: All times Eastern. All games not on ESPN, TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
New Jersey Devils at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
New York Islanders at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m. (NHLN)
Arizona Coyotes at Colorado Avalanche, 9 p.m.
Thursday’s scoreboard
Watch “In the Crease” on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.
Philadelphia Flyers 5, Minnesota Wild 4 (SO)
Boston Bruins 4, Montreal Canadiens 2
New York Rangers 2, Carolina Hurricanes 1
St. Louis Blues 4, Detroit Red Wings 3
Toronto Maple Leafs 6, Florida Panthers 2
Ottawa Senators 7, Tampa Bay Lightning 2
Washington Capitals 6, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Nashville Predators 2, Seattle Kraken 1 (SO)
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Calgary Flames 2
Dallas Stars 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 2
Winnipeg Jets 3, Anaheim Ducks 2
Vancouver Canucks 7, San Jose Sharks 2
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 115
Regulation wins: 48
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 133
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ CAR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 9
Points pace: 101
Next game: @ BOS (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 48%
Tragic number: 19
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 85
Next game: @ NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 3%
Tragic number: 15
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 84
Next game: vs. NJ (Friday)
Playoff chances: 2%
Tragic number: 16
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ PHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 13
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 71
Next game: vs. CBJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 2
Metropolitan Division
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 117
Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 113
Next game: @ BUF (Friday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 10
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 93
Next game: @ CBJ (Friday)
Playoff chances: 84%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 91
Next game: vs. WSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 59%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 85
Next game: @ PIT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 3%
Tragic number: 14
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 76
Next game: vs. DET (Saturday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 8
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 60
Next game: vs. NYI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. VAN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 104
Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 103
Next game: vs. ARI (Friday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 96
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 76%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 94
Next game: vs. SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 23%
Tragic number: 19
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 81
Next game: @ ANA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 7
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 75
Next game: @ COL (Friday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 1
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 62
Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 109
Next game: @ EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 106
Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 10
Points pace: 103
Next game: vs. VGK (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 99
Next game: @ NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 95%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 7%
Tragic number: 12
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 80
Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 6
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 64
Next game: vs. STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 53
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 60
Next game: @ CGY (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
X — Clinched playoff berth; E — Eliminated from playoff contention
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team might move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer is Connor Bedard, who has been lauded as a generational talent.
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 53
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
*Notes on traded picks impacting the top 16:
The Baltimore Orioles are “very, very hopeful” that star shortstop Gunnar Henderson (intercostal strain) will be ready for Opening Day.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde told reporters Wednesday that Henderson suffered a mild strain on his right side.
“I’m very, very hopeful. But we’re going to not push a strain there, and we want to make sure that he gets it taken care of. It’s one of those sensitive areas where we don’t want anything to reoccur,” Hyde said.
Henderson departed last Thursday’s 11-8 spring training victory over the Toronto Blue Jays after the first inning with what the team termed “lower right side discomfort.” Henderson made a leaping catch in the top of the first inning and apparently felt soreness after hitting the ground.
Henderson is batting .167 in six plate appearances so far this spring.
The 2023 American League Rookie of the Year earned his first All-Star nod in 2024 batting .281/.364/.529 with 37 home runs and 92 RBIs. He also stole 21 bases. He finished fourth in MVP balloting.
Henderson dealt with a left oblique injury during spring training in 2024 but recovered in time for the start of the regular season.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – New Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker was scratched from the lineup for a spring training game Wednesday because of soreness in his left oblique.
Walker missed more than a month last season with Arizona because of a strained left oblique muscle. He joined the Astros on a $60 million, three-year contract during the offseason.
In his first four spring training games for Houston, Walker was 4 for 8 with three doubles. He also had two walks.
Adding a first baseman over the offseason was a priority for the Astros after struggling Jose Abreu was released less than halfway through a $58.5 million, three-year contract.
Walker, who turns 34 on March 28, hit .251 with 26 home runs and 84 RBIs in 130 games for the Diamondbacks last season. He won his third consecutive Gold Glove at first base.
In 832 big league games, Walker has hit .250 with 147 homers. All but 13 of those games came with Arizona over the past eight seasons, after his MLB debut with Baltimore in 2014 and 2015.
Walker had two stints on the injured list because of right oblique issues in 2021. He played 160 games in 2022 and 157 in 2023, hitting 69 homers and driving in 197 runs combined over those two seasons.
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — The Hall of Fame made some small adjustments to its veterans committee system to limit people with relatively little support from repeatedly remaining on future ballots, a decision that could make it harder to gain entry to Cooperstown for steroids-tainted stars such as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.
Any candidate on the eight-person ballot who receives fewer than five votes from the 16-member panel will not be eligible for that committee’s ballot during the next three-year cycle, the hall said Wednesday. A candidate who is dropped, later reappears on a ballot and again receives fewer than five votes would be barred from future ballot appearances.
Bonds, Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro and Albert Belle each received fewer than four votes in December 2022, when Fred McGriff was a unanimous pick. Bonds and Clemens were on a hall ballot for the first time since their 10th and final appearances on the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot. The rules change could limit reappraisals of their candidacies.
In addition, the historical overview committee appointed by the BBWAA that selects the ballot candidates must also be approved by the hall’s board of directors. The hall said the decisions were made by its board during a Feb. 26 meeting in Orlando, Florida.
In 2022, the hall restructured its veterans committees for the third time in 12 years, setting up panels to consider the contemporary era from 1980 on, as well as the classic era. The contemporary baseball era holds separate ballots for players and another for managers, executives and umpires.
Each committee meets every three years: contemporary players from 1980 on will be considered this December; managers, executives and umpires from 1980 on in December 2026; and pre-1980 candidates in December 2027.
Dave Parker and Dick Allen were elected last December and manager Jim Leyland in December 2023.
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