NHL playoff watch: A ‘loser leaves town match’ for Flyers, Sabres on Friday?
As the chaotic final stretch of the Eastern Conference wild-card race continues, Friday’s schedule includes four teams that could occupy the final spot when the Eastern schedule concludes April 17.
The Washington Capitals, fresh off a loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins, are skating against the Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). Don’t feel bad for the Caps; the Canes are also on the second half of a back-to-back as they lost to the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.
Elsewhere, the Detroit Red Wings are hosting the New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). Given the way the winds are currently blowing, the Rangers will be the team taking on whichever club winds up in the final wild-card slot.
Finally, the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers will take the ice (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+) in a matchup that will be devastating for the losing team’s playoff chances.
Heading into Friday night’s action, the Flyers (83 points, 28 regulation wins) hold the No. 3 spot in the Metro Division, the idle New York Islanders (83, 25) have the second wild card, while the Caps (82, 28), Red Wings (82, 26) and Sabres (77, 30) are chasing.
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
Clinching scenarios
Friday’s schedule
Thursday’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 New York Islanders
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
Clinching scenarios
The idle Toronto Maple Leafs will clinch a playoff berth if any of the following occurs on Friday night:
The idle Tampa Bay Lightning will clinch a playoff berth if the Capitals, Red Wings and Flyers all lose in regulation.
Friday’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).
Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
New York Rangers at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.
Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m.
Seattle Kraken at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
Thursday’s scoreboard
Tampa Bay Lightning 7, Montreal Canadiens 4
Florida Panthers 6, Ottawa Senators 0
Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Washington Capitals 1
Boston Bruins 4, Carolina Hurricanes 1
New York Islanders 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 2
Nashville Predators 6, St. Louis Blues 3
Colorado Avalanche 5, Minnesota Wild 2
Winnipeg Jets 5, Calgary Flames 2
Los Angeles Kings 2, San Jose Sharks 1
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 105
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 112
Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 101
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 108
Next game: @ BOS (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 104
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 100
Next game: @ PIT (Saturday)
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: 48.5%
Tragic number: 13
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. PHI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0.7%
Tragic number: 6
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 77
Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 1
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 77
Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 1
Metropolitan Division
Points: 106
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 114
Next game: @ DET (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 101
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. WSH (Friday)
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: 53.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 46.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 90
Next game: @ CAR (Friday)
Playoff chances: 36.1%
Tragic number: 13
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 87
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 14.5%
Tragic number: 10
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.3%
Tragic number: 5
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 67
Next game: vs. PHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 105
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 113
Next game: @ CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ EDM (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 106
Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 99
Next game: @ NYI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 91
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.6%
Tragic number: 5
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.3%
Tragic number: 4
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 73
Next game: vs. VGK (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 54
Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. COL (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 101
Next game: @ ARI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 98
Next game: vs. VAN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ ANA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 80
Next game: vs. EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 58
Next game: vs. SEA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 42
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 46
Next game: vs. STL (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: 42
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 16
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 31
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 30
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 30
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
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.
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Ryan S. Clark
Chicago Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno will miss four weeks after injuring his hand Saturday in his team’s 3-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, coach Jeff Blashill said.
Foligno, 38, suffered the injury with 90 seconds left in the second period when he was skating near the top of the Blackhawks’ defensive zone and Jake McCabe‘s shot on net deflected off Foligno’s hand.
Foligno immediately hunched over and favored his hand while skating back to the Blackhawks’ bench. Foligno, who did not return for the third period, finished with three shots on goal and logged 10:41 in ice time.
The absence of Foligno, who has six points in 15 games, means the Blackhawks will be without their fourth-line center who was anchoring a combination featuring Sam Lafferty and Landon Slaggert. His injury is also the second to impact the Blackhawks’ forward group with winger Jason Dickinson currently on injured reserve.
After finishing last season with the second-fewest points in the NHL, the Blackhawks (9-5-4) have emerged into one of the biggest surprises through the first quarter of the regular season. With their win against the Maple Leafs, they enter Sunday third in the Central Division and a point ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken in the Western Conference wild-card race.
New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes had successful surgery on his finger Saturday, the team announced. The expected recovery time is eight weeks, though he will be reevaluated in six weeks.
According to sources, Hughes injured his hand in a “freak accident” that involved getting cut by glass at a team dinner Thursday.
Hughes’ procedure was performed by Dr. Robert Hotchkiss at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
The 24-year-old was off to a terrific start for New Jersey, which is 12-4-1 and atop the Metropolitan Division entering Friday. The American-born star has 10 goals and 20 points in his first 17 games.
The injury will create an interesting predicament for Team USA ahead of the 2026 Olympics in Milan. Hughes’ brother, Quinn, has already been named to the team while the Devils star was expected to be a front-runner for the roster. Federations must submit rosters by Dec. 31. The Devils’ projected return-to-play timeline is around the second week of January. The Olympic men’s hockey tournament begins Feb. 11.
Olympic rosters feature 25 players, which is two more spots than teams had at Four Nations.
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Ryan S. Clark
Center David Kampf signed a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, just a day after the Toronto Maple Leafs terminated his previous deal.
Kampf, whose deal with the Canucks will carry a $1.1 million cap hit, was entering the third year of his four-year contract with the Maple Leafs that was worth $2.4 million annually.
The Leafs waived Kampf before the season, and he began the year with their AHL affiliate. Kampf played four games in the AHL before taking a voluntary leave of absence, which wasn’t sanctioned by the Leafs, to evaluate his options.
Kampf, who scored 5 goals and 13 points in 59 games last season, gives the Canucks a two-way center who has logged more than 110 short-handed minutes in seven straight seasons.
The Canucks have faced defensive challenges under first-year coach Adam Foote, who already has had to navigate injuries to Filip Chytil, Thatcher Demko, Derek Forbort, Filip Hronek and Quinn Hughes, among others.
Entering Saturday, the Canucks were allowing 3.53 goals per game, which is the fifth most in the NHL, while their penalty kill is the worst in the league at 66.1%. The Los Angeles Kings set the NHL record for the worst penalty kill in league history with a 68.2% success rate in the 1979-80 campaign.
Kampf also provides a veteran presence at center for the Canucks, who entered the season with questions at the position. Those concerns have intensified with Teddy Blueger and Chytil on injured reserve.
Entering Saturday, the Canucks (8-9-2) had the second-fewest points in the Pacific Division but were two points behind the Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets for Western Conference wild-card spots.
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