NHL playoff watch: Does anyone want the second East wild card?
Heading into today’s massive 14-game slate, one of the major storylines we’re following is: Who will win the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference?
As it stands now, the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings both have 72 points; the Isles are given the tiebreaker in the standings right now as they have a higher points percentage, but when regulation wins come into play, the Red Wings sit two ahead. But thanks to some up-and-down play from those teams as of late, there are four teams within five points behind them.
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The Isles have the best chances of making the playoffs, per Stathletes’ projections, at 61.1%. Eight of their final 17 games are against teams currently outside the playoffs — including today’s matchup against the Ottawa Senators (12:30 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+).
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The Red Wings, who have a 12.1% chance of a playoff berth, play nine of their final 16 against non-playoff clubs, though they face the razor-hot Buffalo Sabres today (12:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network).
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Speaking of the Sabres, they’ve gone 6-3-1 in their last 10 to pull within three points of the Isles and Wings, and have a 13.2% chance of reaching the postseason. Just seven of their remaining 15 games are against teams out of playoff position, but they’ve dispatched playoff-bound teams as well during the recent heater (including a 7-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights). Of note, the most recent Red Wings-Sabres tilt went to Buffalo, 7-3.
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The Washington Capitals are looming one point behind the Isles and Wings, and Stathletes projects their playoff chances at 37.8%. They’ll skate in one of the evening’s nightcaps, at the Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). Washington’s schedule is tough, with just seven out of 17 games against teams not in playoff position.
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One of those games will come against their classic rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are currently five back of the Isles and Wings. The Penguins — who play the New York Rangers this afternoon (3 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+) — are the longest shot of the teams we’ll mention here, with a 4.0% chance of the playoffs. And much like the Caps, seven of their final 17 contests are vs. teams currently outside the postseason mix.
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Finally, the New Jersey Devils — who had the highest projected point totals of any of these teams heading into the season — will hope their annual trip to Arizona State University earns them two points today against the Arizona Coyotes (5 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). Including today’s game against the Yotes, six of the Devils’ final 16 games are against teams not in playoff position, and Stathletes gives them a 14.0% chance of qualifying for the postseason.
With a matchup against one of the East’s dominant powers on tap in the first round as the prize, this race is far from over. And while matching up against the Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins, Rangers or Carolina Hurricanes doesn’t sound appealing, the Panthers did author a stunning upset of the juggernaut No. 1 seed Bruins last spring. Could one of these teams do the same?
As we traverse the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check in on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2024 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
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 Florida Panthers vs. WC2 New York Islanders
A2 Boston Bruins vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 New York Rangers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Dallas Stars
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Saturday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
Buffalo Sabres at Detroit Red Wings, 12:30 p.m. (NHLN)
Ottawa Senators at New York Islanders, 12:30 p.m.
New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins, 3 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)
New Jersey Devils at Arizona Coyotes, 5 p.m.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers, 6 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
Philadelphia Flyers at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.
Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
San Jose Sharks at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at Calgary Flames, 7 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.
Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m.
Washington Capitals at Vancouver Canucks 10 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.
Friday’s scoreboard
Winnipeg Jets 6, Anaheim Ducks 0
Los Angeles Kings 5, Chicago Blackhawks 0
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 15
Points pace: 115
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 112
Next game: vs. PHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 17
Points pace: 106
Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 16
Points pace: 94
Next game: @ FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 92.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. BUF (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 12.1%
Tragic number: 32
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 85
Next game: @ DET (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 13.2%
Tragic number: 27
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 76
Next game: @ CGY (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 21
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18
Points pace: 74
Next game: @ NYI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 22
Metropolitan Division
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 16
Points pace: 112
Next game: @ PIT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 16
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 15
Points pace: 93
Next game: @ BOS (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 65.2%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 17
Points pace: 91
Next game: vs. OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 61.1%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 90
Next game: @ VAN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 37.8%
Tragic number: 33
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 85
Next game: @ ARI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 14.0%
Tragic number: 28
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 85
Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 4.0%
Tragic number: 29
Points: 55
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 68
Next game: vs. SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 15
Central Division
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 16
Points pace: 111
Next game: @ CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 15
Points pace: 109
Next game: @ EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 14
Points pace: 107
Next game: vs. LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 15
Points pace: 98
Next game: @ SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 95%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 89
Next game: @ STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 25.8%
Tragic number: 26
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 88
Next game: vs. MIN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 2.6%
Tragic number: 26
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 72
Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 12
Points: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 50
Next game: vs. SJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 15
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. WSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 18
Points pace: 106
Next game: vs. COL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 16
Points pace: 98
Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 85.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 16
Points pace: 96
Next game: vs. NJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 84.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 86
Next game: vs. MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 2.8%
Tragic number: 24
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 86
Next game: vs. NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 4.1%
Tragic number: 25
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 60
Next game: @ STL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 2
Points: 39
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 49
Next game: @ CBJ (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 Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston University.
Points: 39
Regulation wins: 12
Points: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 55
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 26
* The Penguins’ first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.
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Daniel Oyefusi
FRISCO, Texas — Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders said Saturday he is unsure if he will throw at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis next month.
Sanders is attending the East-West Shrine Bowl but will not participate in practice or in the game Thursday. He was at the West team’s first practice at the University of North Texas on Saturday morning but stood on the field, watching the other prospects.
While Sanders won’t conduct any on-field work at the Shrine Bowl, he reiterated his belief that he’s worthy of being the top pick in the 2025 NFL draft. He has been training in the Dallas area with former Miami‘s Cam Ward, another top quarterback prospect in this year’s draft.
“We changed the program at Jackson [State University],” Sanders said. “We went to Colorado, changed the program. And we did everything people didn’t think we were able to do. So, that’s why I know I’m the most guaranteed risk you can take.”
Sanders met with multiple teams Friday, including the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, who hold the first three picks in the draft, respectively. The Titans met with Sanders for 45 minutes.
“I like that I’m able to get in the forefront of everything and they’re able to understand me and ask me whatever questions they want,” Sanders said. “I’m not ducking. I ain’t hiding. I’m right here, live in the flesh and able to answer whatever questions are out there.”
While Sanders is confident in his worthiness as the first overall pick, he said he would be “thankful for whatever situation and whoever drafts me. I know I’ll be able to change their program.”
Asked what he will bring to a team, Sanders smiled and said, “A lot of wins.”
Shedeur’s older brother Shilo, a safety, is also in Texas for the game. Colorado is also represented by wide receivers Will Sheppard, LaJohntay Wester, Jimmy Horn Jr. and cornerback Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig.
ESPN’s Turron Davenport contributed to this report.
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Jorge Castillo
NEW YORK — The New York Mets held their first winter event for fans in five years at Citi Field on Saturday, and there was one notable absence. Pete Alonso wasn’t in attendance because, for the first time since the 2016 draft, he isn’t a member of the Mets’ organization.
The homegrown star first baseman remains a free agent and, though a reunion remains possible, he might have played his last game as a Met.
Owner Steve Cohen bluntly said as much Saturday after taking the stage for a fireside chat with fans to chants of “We want Pete!”
“Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation,” Cohen explained. “I mean, [Juan Soto’s negotiation] was tough. This is worse. A lot of it is, we’ve made a significant offer. I don’t like the structures that are being presented back to us. I think it’s highly asymmetric against us and I feel strongly about it.”
Alonso, along with third baseman Alex Bregman, is one of the two best position players left on the free agent market. The first baseman, who is represented by Scott Boras, originally sought a long-term deal, but he is open to returning to the Mets on a three-year contract and the Mets have been open to such a deal, according to a source. The obstacle has been money.
“I will never say no,” Cohen said. “There’s always the possibility. But the reality is we’re moving forward and we continue to bring in players. As we continue to bring in players, the reality is it becomes harder to fit Pete into what is a very expensive group of players that we already have and that’s where we are.
“I’m being brutally honest. I don’t like the negotiations. I don’t like what’s being presented to us. Maybe that changes. I’ll always stay flexible. But if it stays this way, I think we’re going to have to get used to the fact that we may have to go forward with the existing players that we have.”
The Mets recently re-signed outfielder/designated hitter Jesse Winker to a one-year, $7.5 million contract and added left-handed reliever A.J. Minter on a two-year, $22 million deal. They’ve also signed Soto (15 years, $765 million), Sean Manaea (three years, $75 million), Clay Holmes (three years, $38 million), and Frankie Montas (two years, $34 million), among other moves, this winter.
Preparing for life without Alonso, the Mets recently instructed third basemen Mark Vientos and Brett Baty to work out at first base. Vientos and Baty both confirmed the organization’s request Saturday.
“We all love Pete, and we’ve said that many times,” Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “And I think, as we’ve gone through this process, we’ve continued to express that. We also understand that this is a business and Pete, as a free agent, deserves the right and has the right and earned the privilege, really, to see what’s out there. We also feel really good about the young players who are coming through our system who have the ability to play at the major-league level.”
Vientos, 25, enjoyed a breakout season as one of the best hitters in the National League after solidifying himself as the Mets’ every-day third baseman in May and helping fuel the team’s run to the NL Championship Series. Baty, a former top prospect, was the club’s opening day third baseman last season. He struggled after a hot start before he was demoted to Triple-A and didn’t return to the majors.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza also named veterans Jared Young and Joey Meneses, both of whom signed this winter, as other options at first base if Alonso doesn’t return.
“Pete’s been here since I’ve been here,” said Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, who has starred for the franchise since 2021. “He was here before me. So, yeah, it would be different if he goes somewhere else. Yeah, it would be different. But I think he should take his time. I think he should make the best decision for himself and not feel that he’s rushed.”
Alonso, 30, became a fan favorite while becoming a franchise cornerstone over his six seasons in Queens. He’s hit 226 home runs since making his major-league debut — the second-highest total in baseball behind only Aaron Judge. His 53 home runs in 2019 set a rookie record. He’s been a reliable everyday presence; he’s never missed more than nine games in a season and played in all 178 games, postseason included, in 2024. He’s made four All-Star teams and won the Home Run Derby twice.
But he rates as a poor defender and baserunner whose offensive production has declined over the last three seasons, creating a free-agent market that hasn’t been as fruitful as projected when he declined a seven-year, $158 million contract extension in 2023.
“Listen, he’s a special player,” Hall of Famer and former Mets catcher Mike Piazza said Saturday. “Guys that can hit 40 home runs are not walking on the street. So when he’s really in his game, he’s a special player. I hope, from a personal standpoint, I hope they work something out.”
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo, the longest-tenured player on the roster after debuting in 2016, signed an eight-year, $162 million contract to remain with the Mets two offseasons ago. Like Alonso, Boras is his agent. Unlike Alonso, he reached a resolution in December, not with spring training around the corner.
“I would love to see Pete back with us, but I also understand that I don’t make those decisions,” Nimmo said. “And that’s between Pete and our front office and David [Stearns] and Steve [Cohen]. And from what I understand, there’s been a lot of talks between them. I’m still hopeful that we’ll sign him.”
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