NHL playoff watch: The Wild’s path to win the West
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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
The Minnesota Wild are a first-place hockey team heading into Monday night’s game against the Seattle Kraken (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu). But might they have their sights set even higher?
There is quite a jumble atop the Western Conference, and leading into the Monday slate, the Wild (93 points, 30 regulation wins) are five points and four regulation wins behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the conference’s No. 1 playoff seed. The Los Angeles Kings are next (96, 33), followed by the Dallas Stars (92, 32), Colorado Avalanche (92, 30), and Edmonton Oilers (91, 37).
Based purely on strength of schedule, the Stars still have the easiest path, but the Wild have two pivotal upcoming games if they want to catch Vegas: They’ll play a home-and-home against the Knights on April 1 (in Vegas) and April 3 (in St. Paul). That pair of games will tell us a lot.
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 Minnesota Wild vs. WC1 Seattle Kraken
C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Dallas Stars
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Monday’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).
Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
New Jersey Devils at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
Seattle Kraken at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
Colorado Avalanche at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m.
Sunday’s scoreboard
Watch “In the Crease” on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.
Colorado Avalanche 4, Arizona Coyotes 3 (SO)
Boston Bruins 4, Carolina Hurricanes 3 (SO)
Vancouver Canucks 4, Chicago Blackhawks 2
Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Nashville Predators 2
Los Angeles Kings 7, St. Louis Blues 6
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 119
Regulation wins: 49
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 134
Next game: vs. NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 97
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. FLA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 8
Points pace: 100
Next game: @ CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 89
Next game: @ OTT (Monday)
Playoff chances: 37%
Tragic number: 16
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 87
Next game: vs. MTL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 7%
Tragic number: 15
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 84
Next game: vs. FLA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 2%
Tragic number: 12
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 81
Next game: vs. PIT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 10
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 72
Next game: @ BUF (Monday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 1
Metropolitan Division
Points: 103
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 117
Next game: vs. TB (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 112
Next game: @ NYI (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 9
Points pace: 108
Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. NJ (Monday)
Playoff chances: 74%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ DET (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 78%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 84
Next game: vs. NYI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 11
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 77
Next game: vs. MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 7
Points: 53
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 60
Next game: @ NYR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. SEA (Monday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 105
Next game: @ ANA (Monday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 9
Points pace: 103
Next game: @ CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 94
Next game: @ SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 78%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 91
Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 9%
Tragic number: 16
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 81
Next game: vs. VAN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 6
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 74
Next game: vs. EDM (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 61
Next game: vs. DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 110
Next game: vs. EDM (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 108
Next game: @ CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 9
Points pace: 102
Next game: @ ARI (Monday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 100
Next game: @ MIN (Monday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. LA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 14%
Tragic number: 13
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ STL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 7
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 63
Next game: vs. COL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 53
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 60
Next game: vs. WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Y — Clinched division; 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: 53
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 53
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 27
*Notes on traded picks impacting the top 16:
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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Ball State fired coach Mike Neu, the school announced Saturday. The Cardinals are 3-7.
Neu was 40-63 in nine seasons at Ball State. Neu led the Cardinals to the MAC title in 2020, which was his only winning season at Ball State.
Sources told ESPN that the staff was informed of Neu’s dismissal early Saturday.
Offensive line coach Colin Johnson will serve as the interim head coach for the last two games, athletic director Jeff Mitchell said in a statement. Ball State hosts Bowling Green on Nov. 23 then plays at Ohio on Nov. 29.
Neu, 53, is a beloved alum with a strong campus reputation, but the lack of results ultimately led to his dismissal. Ball State lost 51-48 in overtime at Buffalo this week and fell to 2-4 in MAC play.
That clinched a fourth consecutive losing season for Ball State.
“Coach Neu has poured his heart into the Ball State football program,” Mitchell said in the statement. “I commend him for his professionalism and the positive team culture he has constructed. His efforts have greatly impacted the lives of hundreds of young men. He has represented the Ball State brand with integrity and class, and I wish him well in future pursuits.”
Neu led Ball State to two bowl games. That included a win over San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl to conclude the 2020 season, when Ball State finished 7-1 and won its first MAC title since 1996.
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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein will not play against No. 20 Clemson on Saturday, with redshirt junior Nate Yarnell getting the start for the Panthers.
Holstein hadn’t been cleared medically, sources said, and was considered a game-time decision by coach Pat Narduzzi after leaving two of Pitt’s past three games following apparent head injuries. Holstein took part in warmups Saturday.
Yarnell, who lost a camp battle to Holstein, will make his first start this season and fourth in his career for the Panthers. He has a 2-1 record as a starter, with wins over Western Michigan (2022) and Boston College (2023) and a loss to Duke (2023).
Yarnell has a strong amount of experience for a backup, as he has thrown for 1,104 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career. That includes a 65.3% completion percentage and an average of 8.9 yards per attempt. This season, he has thrown for five touchdowns and two interceptions while playing in the past three games.
Holstein has been a revelatory player for the Panthers under new offensive coordinator Kade Bell. Holstein, a transfer from Alabama, has thrown for 17 touchdowns with six interceptions.
Pittsburgh has the country’s No. 16 scoring offense at 36.7 points per game. That’s up from No. 114 last season, when it averaged 20.2 points.
Holstein has completed 61.9% of his passes and thrown for 2,174 yards.
Indiana has agreed to a contract extension with Curt Cignetti amid the Hoosiers’ unprecedented 10-0 start, the school announced Saturday.
Cignetti’s new eight-year contract runs through the 2032 season and will pay him an average of $8 million per year with an annual $1 million retention bonus, putting the total value of the new contract at $72 million.
“I am beyond appreciative for the tremendous commitment, confidence, and support from President Pam Whitten and Athletic Director Scott Dolson,” Cignetti said in a statement. “Manette [his wife] and I love Bloomington and are grateful for how the IU community has embraced us. I look forward to leading this outstanding program and doing my part to continue the momentum for Hoosier football.”
Cignetti originally received a six-year, $27 million contract when he was hired in December. He took the Indiana job after leading James Madison to an 11-1 season in 2023 — when he made $677,311 — with the goal of changing the Hoosiers’ historically woeful image in football.
He then led Indiana to the first 10-win season in school history and a possible push for the College Football Playoff. No. 5 Indiana (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) has one more win than its combined total over the previous three seasons. Its No. 5 ranking is one spot shy of the team’s highest ever, last reached in 1967, also the last time the Hoosiers won or shared a Big Ten title.
Indiana has scored at least 40 points seven times, won nine times by 14 or more points and trailed only twice briefly all season.
“We were confident IU could become a winning program and we love what he’s building here,” Dolson said in a statement. “We love the student-athletes that he’s bringing here. We love how our fanbase has rallied around this team and made Memorial Stadium the place to be on Saturday afternoons. And now, we love the fact that he’s going to be doing all those things right here in Bloomington for a long, long time.”
A source told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg that Indiana will also significantly increase the pool for Cignetti’s assistants and staff.
The Hoosiers are on a bye this week before a pivotal matchup with No. 2 Ohio State next Saturday that could determine Indiana’s playoff hopes and a potential spot in the Big Ten championship game.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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