NHL playoff watch: How high can the Predators climb in the standings?

Heading into the 2023-24 season, it was unclear what to make of the Nashville Predators. GM Barry Trotz had been busy in the offseason, and that included cutting ties with veteran centers Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen. Andrew Brunette took over as the new head coach.

The club hovered in the mushy middle for much of the season, then lost 9-2 to the Dallas Stars on Feb. 15. The team canceled a planned trip to see U2 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, and subsequently went on an 18-game point streak. That streak was snapped with a couple of lopsided defeats this past Thursday (8-4 to the Arizona Coyotes) and Saturday (7-4 to the Colorado Avalanche), so their contest on Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins (8 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+) is a chance to get back on the right side of the ledger.

But beyond the game against the B’s, how high can this team climb in the standings?

If the Preds win out, they’ll finish with 106 points. The Dallas Stars (currently at 103 points) and Avalanche (100) might be tough to catch, particularly since those clubs are on heaters of their own as of late. But the Winnipeg Jets, with 96 points to the Preds’ 90, are in bit of a tailspin, going 4-5-1 in their past 10.

After the Bruins game, the Preds have seven games remaining, six of which are against teams currently outside of playoff position. The other game is against, you guessed it, Winnipeg. As for the Jets, their final seven games include clashes with the Stars, Avs and Vancouver Canucks.

So based on schedules, it would appear the door is open for Nashville to overtake Winnipeg. What do the projections say? Stathletes’ model has the Jets finishing with 103 points to the Preds’ 100, and gives Winnipeg a 69.2% chance of taking the No. 3 seed compared to 26.7% for Nashville.

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
Tuesday’s schedule
Monday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 New York Rangers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers

Western Conference

C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Los Angeles Kings
C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights

Tuesday’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).

Washington Capitals at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh Penguins at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Ottawa Senators at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.
Vancouver Canucks at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.

Monday’s scoreboard

Toronto Maple Leafs 6, Florida Panthers 4
Detroit Red Wings 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 2
Pittsburgh Penguins 5, New York Rangers 2
New York Islanders 4, Philadelphia Flyers 3 (OT)
Columbus Blue Jackets 4, Colorado Avalanche 1
St. Louis Blues 3, Edmonton Oilers 2 (OT)
Winnipeg Jets 4, Los Angeles Kings 3
Seattle Kraken 4, San Jose Sharks 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 101
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 108
Next game: @ MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 95
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 8
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. TB (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 99
Next game: @ TOR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. NYR (Friday)
Playoff chances: 28%
Tragic number: 14

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.3%
Tragic number: 7

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 79
Next game: @ MIN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 6

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 76
Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 4

Metropolitan Division

Points: 104
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 114
Next game: vs. NJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 101
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 110
Next game: vs. BOS (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 90
Next game: @ BUF (Friday)
Playoff chances: 71.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 75.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 88
Next game: vs. CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 15.6%
Tragic number: 13

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 85
Next game: @ NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 1.8%
Tragic number: 11

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 84
Next game: vs. PIT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 6.9%
Tragic number: 10

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 68
Next game: vs. NYI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

Points: 103
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 109
Next game: @ MIN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. CGY (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 100
Next game: vs. BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ NSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 1.8%
Tragic number: 11

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 1.4%
Tragic number: 10

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 74
Next game: vs. VAN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 54
Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 111
Next game: @ VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 95
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 8
Points pace: 100
Next game: vs. VAN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 96
Next game: vs. SEA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 98.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ LA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 4

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 4

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 57
Next game: @ CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 42
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 47
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 Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston University.

Points: 42
Regulation wins: 13

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 16

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 19

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 25

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 18

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 31

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 29

* The Penguins’ first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.