NHL playoff watch: Postseason picture on an off-night
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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
After a 14-game night Thursday, and leading into a 16-game slate Saturday, tonight’s NHL calendar is … completely empty. So, enjoy a night of watching other sports or catching up on all those books you’ve been meaning to read.
But there were 28 teams in action last night, so we’ll cut the preamble short and get you to the current playoff matchups, standings with playoff projections, the race for the No. 1 pick and everything else.
And come on back Saturday as we preview that monster slate, including a tripleheader on the ABC/ESPN+ Hockey Saturday docket: Pittsburgh Penguins–Detroit Red Wings (1 p.m. ET), Vegas Golden Knights–Dallas Stars (3:30 p.m. ET) and New Jersey Devils–Boston Bruins (8 p.m. ET).
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
Last night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 New York Islanders
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Florida Panthers
M2 New Jersey Devils vs. M3 New York Rangers
Western Conference
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC1 Seattle Kraken
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Thursday’s scoreboard
Watch “In the Crease” on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.
Boston Bruins 2, Toronto Maple Leafs 1 (OT)
Buffalo Sabres 7, Detroit Red Wings 6 (SO)
Florida Panthers 7, Ottawa Senators 2
Montreal Canadiens 6, Washington Capitals 2
New Jersey Devils 8, Columbus Blue Jackets 1
Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Minnesota Wild 1
New York Islanders 6, Tampa Bay Lightning 1
Nashville Predators 3, Carolina Hurricanes 0
St. Louis Blues 3, New York Rangers 2 (OT)
Dallas Stars 4, Philadelphia Flyers 1
Vancouver Canucks 3, Chicago Blackhawks 0
Vegas Golden Knights 5, Los Angeles Kings 2
Colorado Avalanche 6, San Jose Sharks 2
Seattle Kraken 4, Arizona Coyotes 2
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 127
Regulation wins: 50
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 134
Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 103
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 108
Next game: vs. MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 3
Points pace: 100
Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ WSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 74%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 88
Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 2%
Tragic number: 4
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 84
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 84
Next game: vs. PIT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 71
Next game: @ TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Metropolitan Division
Points: 109
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 115
Next game: @ BUF (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 108
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 112
Next game: @ BOS (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 104
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 3
Points pace: 108
Next game: @ CBJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. PHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 80%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 91
Next game: @ DET (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 44%
Tragic number: 5
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 81
Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 75
Next game: @ NYI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 59
Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. VGK (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 4
Points pace: 103
Next game: vs. STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 94
Next game: vs. NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 55%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 93
Next game: @ WPG (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 20%
Tragic number: 7
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 84
Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 70
Next game: vs. ANA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 59
Next game: @ SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 106
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 103
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 3
Points pace: 104
Next game: vs. COL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 101
Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ VAN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 25%
Tragic number: 6
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 81
Next game: vs. CGY (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 63
Next game: vs. EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 59
Next game: @ ARI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
P — Clinched Presidents’ Trophy; 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 can 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: 56
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 16
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 30
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Wisconsin will start true freshman quarterback Carter Smith at No. 2 Indiana on Saturday, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel, replacing Danny O’Neil after the sophomore was carted off the field with a right leg injury last week.
O’Neil was injured on a 21-yard keeper during the first quarter of last Saturday’s 13-10 win over then-No. 23 Washington. He had a towel over his head as he was carted to the locker room.
Smith made his season debut following O’Neil’s injury, completing 3 of 12 passes for 8 yards while rushing for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Also available to the Badgers at quarterback is senior Hunter Simmons, who is 48-for-95 for 485 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions this season.
For Indiana, wide receiver Elijah Sarratt is doubtful to play, sources said. Sarratt, who is tied for the Big Ten lead with 10 touchdown receptions, injured his hamstring against Maryland on Nov. 1 and missed the Penn State game last week.
With Indiana having a bye next week, Sarratt is on track to return against Purdue on Nov. 28.
Quarterback issues have hindered Wisconsin all season and throughout coach Luke Fickell’s three-year tenure.
Billy Edwards Jr. was Wisconsin’s first-team quarterback at the start of the season, but he sprained his knee in the second quarter of the Badgers’ opener and has played only one full series since.
Tanner Mordecai missed 3½ games with a broken hand in 2023. Miami transfer Tyler Van Dyke tore his ACL in the third game of the 2024 season.
Wisconsin’s intended season-opening starting quarterback has been available for the entirety of only 11 of the 34 games the Badgers have played since the beginning of the 2023 season. The last time Fickell had his season-opening starting quarterback healthy for a full game was in a 27-13 victory over South Dakota on Sept. 7, 2024.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava will not play Saturday against No. 1 Ohio State because of a concussion, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Iamaleava was injured during last week’s loss to Nebraska. He began experiencing concussion symptoms after the game, according to On3, which first reported that Iamaleava would not play.
With Iamaleava out, redshirt sophomore Luke Duncan will make his first career start. Duncan has not attempted a pass in college as he tries to take down the top-ranked Buckeyes.
Iamaleava has thrown for 1,659 yards with 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in his first year with the Bruins after transferring from Tennessee.
He led UCLA to three straight wins in October, including a victory over then-No. 7 Penn State, but the Bruins (3-6) have lost two straight and need to win out to become bowl eligible.
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