NHL playoff watch: Stars, Avalanche face off in key clash in Central race
After an 11-game Super Saturday, it’s a somewhat milder nine-game Sunday of action in the NHL. But the playoff implications of the contests is no less grand.
Perhaps the most intriguing matchup is the late one, as the Dallas Stars visit the Colorado Avalanche (10 p.m. ET, ESPN).
The Stars are three points ahead of the Avs, but Colorado has a 40-37 edge in regulation wins (the first tiebreaker). At stake is the No. 1 seed in the Central Division, likely the Western Conference and possibly the entire league as the Stanley Cup playoffs approach on April 20. A regulation win here for Dallas would put it five points ahead with just four games remaining for each team.
Following Sunday’s action, the Stars close out against the Buffalo Sabres, Winnipeg Jets, Seattle Kraken and St. Louis Blues. Colorado has upcoming games versus the Minnesota Wild, Jets, Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers. The latter set of games would seem more challenging, but there have been some shocking results recently.
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
Sunday’s schedule
Saturday’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 Pittsburgh Penguins
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New York Islanders
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Sunday’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, 1 p.m. (TNT)
Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks, 3:30 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Carolina Hurricanes, 5 p.m.
Ottawa Senators at Washington Capitals, 6 p.m.
Arizona Coyotes at San Jose Sharks, 6 p.m.
Nashville Predators at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Anaheim Ducks, 8 p.m.
Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche, 10 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday’s scoreboard
Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Tampa Bay Lightning 4
Boston Bruins 3, Florida Panthers 2 (OT)
Chicago Blackhawks 3, Dallas Stars 2
Winnipeg Jets 4, Minnesota Wild 2
San Jose Sharks 3, St. Louis Blues 2 (OT)
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Montreal Canadiens 2
New Jersey Devils 4, Ottawa Senators 3
Columbus Blue Jackets 6, Philadelphia Flyers 2
New York Islanders 2, Nashville Predators 0
Edmonton Oilers 4, Calgary Flames 2
Los Angeles Kings 6, Vancouver Canucks 3
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 107
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 107
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 97
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. PIT (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 99
Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 43.4%
Tragic number: 11
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 84
Next game: @ DET (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 2.1%
Tragic number: 6
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 76
Next game: @ WSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 76
Next game: @ NYR (Sunday
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Metropolitan Division
Points: 108
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 115
Next game: vs. MTL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 103
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 110
Next game: vs. CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 91
Next game: vs. NYR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 57%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ TOR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 18.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 87
Next game: @ MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 46.7%
Tragic number: 8
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. OTT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 31.5%
Tragic number: 11
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.5%
Tragic number: 5
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 68
Next game: @ CAR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 105
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 112
Next game: @ COL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. DAL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 98
Next game: @ NJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 91
Next game: @ ANA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.8%
Tragic number: 3
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 87
Next game: @ CHI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.3%
Tragic number: 1
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 75
Next game: @ SJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 55
Next game: vs. MIN (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. VGK (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 107
Next game: vs. VGK (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 99
Next game: @ ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 99
Next game: @ VAN (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. ARI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 79
Next game: @ SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 58
Next game: vs. STL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 48
Next game: vs. SJ (Sunday)
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: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 32
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 29
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Dan Wetzel
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Dan Wetzel
ESPN
- Dan Wetzel is a senior writer focused on investigative reporting, news analysis and feature storytelling.
Sherrone Moore was in custody in the Washtenaw (Michigan) County Jail on Wednesday night as a suspect in an alleged assault, just hours after he was fired as Michigan’s football coach for having what the school said was an “inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”
Moore was initially detained by police in Saline, Michigan, on Wednesday and turned over to authorities in Pittsfield Township “for investigation into potential charges.”
Pittsfield police released a statement Wednesday night saying they responded at 4:10 p.m. to the 3000 block of Ann Arbor Saline Road “for the purposes of investigating an alleged assault. … A suspect in this case was taken into custody. This incident does not appear to be random in nature, and there appears to be no ongoing threat to the community.
“The suspect was lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail pending review of charges by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor,” the statement continued. “At this time, the investigation is ongoing. Given the nature of the allegations, the need to maintain the integrity of the investigation, and its current status at this time, we are prohibited from releasing additional details.”
Pittsfield police did not name the suspect in its statement.
Earlier, Saline police stated they “assisted in locating and detaining former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore. Mr. Moore was turned over to the Pittsfield Township Police Department for investigation into potential charges.”
Michigan fired Moore on Wednesday following an investigation into his conduct with a staff member.
“U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately,” the school said in a statement. “Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”
Moore, 39, spent two seasons as Michigan’s coach, after serving as the team’s offensive coordinator.
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves signed veteran outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year deal Wednesday that includes a club option for 2028.
The 35-year-old Yastrzemski hit .233 with 17 home runs and 46 RBIs in 146 games last year between San Francisco and Kansas City.
Yastrzemski, who spent the first six-plus seasons of his career with the Giants before being sent to the Royals in July, will make $9 million in 2026 and $10 million in 2027. Atlanta holds a club option for 2028. Yastrzemski will make $7 million if the Braves pick up the option. He will receive a $4 million buyout if they do not.
The versatile Yastrzemski, the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, can play all three outfield positions and is a career .238 hitter. His best season came in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign, when he batted .297 with 10 homers in 54 games and finished in the top 10 in NL MVP voting.
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Jorge Castillo
ORLANDO, Fla. — The New York Yankees made their first selection in a Rule 5 draft since 2011 on Wednesday, taking right-hander Cade Winquest from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Winquest was one of 13 players — and 12 right-handed pitchers — chosen in the major league portion of the draft.
The Rockies took RJ Petit, a 6-foot-8 reliever, with the first pick from the Detroit Tigers. Petit, 26, had a 2.44 ERA in 45 relief appearances and two starts between Double A and Triple A last season. The Minnesota Twins chose the only position player, selecting catcher Daniel Susac from the Athletics.
Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player and must keep him on the active major league roster for the entire following season unless he lands on the injured list. Players taken off the roster must be offered back to the former club for $50,000.
The 25-year-old Winquest recorded a 4.58 ERA with a 48% groundball rate in 106 innings across 25 games, including 23 starts, between Single A and Double A last season. He features a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and touches 98 mph plus a curveball, cutter and sweeper. He is expected to compete for a spot in the Yankees’ bullpen next season.
Right-hander Brad Meyers was the last player the Yankees had chosen in a Rule 5 draft. He suffered a right shoulder injury in spring training and was on the injured list for the entire 2012 season before he was offered back to the Washington Nationals. He never appeared in a major league game.
Also picked were right-hander Jedixson Paez (Colorado from Boston), right-hander Griff McGarry (Washington from Philadelphia), catcher Carter Baumler (Pittsburgh from Baltimore), right-hander Ryan Watson (Athletics from San Francisco), right-hander Matthew Pushard (St. Louis from Miami), right-hander Roddery Munoz (Houston from Cincinnati), right-hander Peyton Pallette (Cleveland from Chicago White Sox), right-hander Spencer Miles (Toronto from San Francisco), right-hander Zach McCambley (Philadelphia from Miami) and right-hander Alexander Alberto (White Sox from Tampa Bay).
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