NHL playoff watch: Isles control their playoff destiny
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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
There was a point quite recently when the New York Islanders seemed quite secure in a playoff position. Nothing was guaranteed, of course, but a wild card seemed a near given, and with Ilya Sorokin between the pipes, their destiny as a tough first-round out for the Boston Bruins or Carolina Hurricanes was all but locked in.
Thanks to a stretch where they’ve lost five of their past nine games — including to the lowly Columbus Blue Jackets — their position is more tenuous. Heading into Wednesday night’s contest with the Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+), the club is most definitely in “must-win” mode, but a little bit of pressure was released when the Chicago Blackhawks shockingly defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins Tuesday night.
Both the Isles and Pens have one game remaining — the Pens’ regular-season closer is Thursday night against the Blue Jackets — and New York holds a one-point and four-regulation win edge in the standings. A win of any type Wednesday seals the deal for their postseason entry, as does an overtime or shootout loss (given their edge in regulation wins, the first tiebreaker). A loss in regulation opens the door for the Penguins to climb past them.
Currently, FiveThirtyEight gives the Isles an 86% chance at making the playoffs, while the Penguins’ is down to 14% after the loss to Chicago.
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 schedule
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
Wednesday’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 New York Islanders, 7 p.m.
Dallas Stars at St. Louis Blues, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
San Jose Sharks at Calgary Flames, 10 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday’s scoreboard
Watch “In the Crease” on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.
Boston Bruins 5, Washington Capitals 2
Carolina Hurricanes 4, Detroit Red Wings 1
New Jersey Devils 6, Buffalo Sabres 2
Philadelphia Flyers 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 3 (OT)
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 3
Chicago Blackhawks 5, Pittsburgh Penguins 2
Winnipeg Jets 3, Minnesota Wild 1
Edmonton Oilers 2, Colorado Avalanche 1 (OT)
Vancouver Canucks 3, Anaheim Ducks 2
Vegas Golden Knights 4, Seattle Kraken 1
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 133
Regulation wins: 53
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 135
Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 109
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ NYR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 97
Next game: vs. DET (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 93
Next game: vs. CAR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. OTT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 86
Next game: @ BUF (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 81
Next game: @ TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 70
Next game: @ NYI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Metropolitan Division
Points: 111
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 112
Next game: @ FLA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 110
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 111
Next game: @ WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 107
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 108
Next game: vs. TOR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. MTL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 86%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 91
Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 14%
Tragic number: 1
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 80
Next game: vs. NJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 74
Next game: @ CHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 58
Next game: vs. PIT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 105
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 108
Next game: vs. WPG (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 104
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ STL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 103
Next game: @ NSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 96
Next game: @ COL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. MIN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 70
Next game: vs. VAN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 59
Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 109
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ SEA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 107
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 108
Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 103
Next game: @ ANA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 101
Next game: vs. VGK (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. SJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ ARI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 62
Next game: @ CGY (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 60
Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)
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: 57
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 16
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 31
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 31
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 30
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs and free agent Colin Rea have agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract, reuniting the right-hander with manager Craig Counsell, a source told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers on Friday.
The 34-year-old Rea made one appearance with Milwaukee in 2021 and then pitched in Japan during the 2022 season before returning to the Brewers. He went 12-6 with a 4.29 ERA over 27 starts and five relief appearances for the NL Central champions last year.
Counsell managed Milwaukee for nine years before he was hired by Chicago in November 2023.
Rea gives Counsell and Chicago another versatile arm for their pitching staff. The Cubs have Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd for their rotation, but Rea could push Javier Assad for the fifth spot or work out of the bullpen.
Rea became a free agent when Milwaukee declined its $5.5 million club option on his contract in November. The Iowa native was paid a $1 million buyout.
Rea was selected by San Diego in the 12th round of the 2011 amateur draft out of Indiana State. He made his big league debut with the Padres in 2015.
He pitched for the Cubs during the 2020 season, going 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in nine appearances, including two starts.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has banned two fans who interfered with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts during a World Series game at Yankee Stadium from attending games at big league ballparks.
The league sent a letter to Austin Capobianco and John P. Hansen this week informing them of the decision.
“On Oct. 29, 2024, during Game 4 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium, you interfered with play by intentionally and forcefully grabbing a player. Your conduct posed a serious risk to the health and safety of the player and went far over the line of acceptable fan behavior,” said the letter, the contents of which were first reported by the New York Post and later obtained by The Associated Press.
“Based on your conduct, Major League Baseball is banning you indefinitely from all MLB stadiums, offices, and other facilities,” the letter said. “You are also hereby banned indefinitely from attending any events sponsored by or associated with MLB. Please be advised that if you are discovered at any MLB property or event, you will be removed from the premises and subject to arrest for trespass.”
MLB has previously issued leaguewide bans for fans who trespass on the field or threaten baseball personnel. A fan who approached Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. at Colorado’s Coors Field in 2023 received a similar ban.
Capobianco and Hansen were ejected from the game on Oct. 29 and banned from Game 5 the following night.
Betts leaped at the retaining wall in foul territory and caught Gleyber Torres‘ pop fly in the first inning, but a fan in the first row with a gray Yankees road jersey grabbed Betts’ glove with both hands and pulled the ball out. Another fan grabbed Betts’ bare hand.
The Yankees at the time called the behavior “egregious and unacceptable.”
The team said Friday the two fans MLB banned were not season-ticket holders. The Post reported Friday that the person who is the season ticket holder was not at the game and will be allowed to keep them.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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