NHL playoff watch: Vegas-Vancouver a first-round preview?

Published

9 months ago

April 9, 2024

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Rare is the night in the NHL when every team in action is in playoff position, or at least close to it. Monday is such a night — though it helps that there are only two games.

The early game pits the Pittsburgh Penguins (one point out of the second wild card) against the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). For the Penguins, this is a chance to help crystallize their positioning in the chaotic race for the second wild card; for the Leafs, a win would bolster their grip on the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 slot.

A more tantalizing matchup looms in the late game as the Vegas Golden Knights visit the Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). The hosts have surprisingly been at (or near) the top of the Pacific Division for much of the season, and that trend holds as of Monday. Based on the current standings, the Canucks will take on the West’s first wild-card team. As of Monday, that is the Nashville Predators, though the Knights are two points back with two games in hand.

This fourth matchup will provide another clue as to how a potential playoff series might play out. The Knights have won two of three against the Canucks, including a 6-3 Vegas victory last Tuesday.

So how likely is this matchup in Round 1? The Canucks have a 63.2% chance to win the Pacific, according to Stathletes. The Knights have a 22.9% chance of getting the West’s first wild card, a 28.9% chance at the second wild card, and a 47.1% chance of finishing third in the Pacific. The Los Angeles Kings are one point and three regulation wins ahead of Vegas in that position, though the Knights have a game in hand on them.

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
Monday’s schedule
Sunday’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 Detroit Red Wings
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

Monday’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).

Pittsburgh Penguins at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.

Sunday’s scoreboard

Detroit Red Wings 3, Buffalo Sabres 1
Minnesota Wild 4, Chicago Blackhawks 0
Carolina Hurricanes 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 0
Ottawa Senators 3, Washington Capitals 2 (OT)
Arizona Coyotes 5, San Jose Sharks 2
Nashville Predators 3, New Jersey Devils 2 (SO)
New York Rangers 5, Montreal Canadiens 2
St. Louis Blues 6, Anaheim Ducks 5 (SO)
Dallas Stars 7, Colorado Avalanche 4

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: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 37.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 2%
Tragic number: 3

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 77
Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 75
Next game: vs. PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Metropolitan Division

Points: 110
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 116
Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)
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: 68%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ TOR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 37.3%
Tragic number: 9

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ DET (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 31.9%
Tragic number: 9

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 87
Next game: @ MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 22.2%
Tragic number: 7

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.7%
Tragic number: 3

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 67
Next game: @ TB (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

Points: 107
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 107
Next game: vs. MIN (Tuesday)
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: 94
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 99
Next game: vs. WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. CHI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0.3%
Tragic number: 3

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ COL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 1

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 76
Next game: @ SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 54
Next game: @ STL (Wednesday)
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: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 99
Next game: @ VAN (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
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: 55
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 58
Next game: vs. LA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 47
Next game: vs. CGY (Tuesday)
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: 55
Regulation wins: 19

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 19

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 24

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 30

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 31

Points: 87
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.

Sports

Pens’ Crosby passes Sakic, now 9th on scoring list

Published

2 hours ago

January 10, 2025

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Pens' Crosby passes Sakic, now 9th on scoring list

Associated Press

Jan 9, 2025, 10:02 PM ET

PITTSBURGH — Sidney Crosby had a goal and two assists to move into ninth on the NHL’s career scoring list as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers 5-3 on Thursday night.

The Penguins’ captain tied Hall of Famer Joe Sakic at 1,641 points with an assist on Bryan Rust‘s first-period goal. Crosby then moved past Sakic with an assist on Drew O’Connor‘s sixth goal of the season later in the period as the Penguins raced to a 4-1 advantage.

Crosby’s 12th goal 5:42 into the second put the Penguins up 5-1, providing some welcome wiggle room for a team that has struggled to hold multiple-goal leads this season.

The next name ahead of Crosby on the career scoring list is none other than Penguins icon Mario Lemieux, who had 1,723 points.

“I’m running out of superlatives [about Crosby],” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan told reporters after the game. “What he’s accomplishing, first of all, his body of work in the league, his legacy that has been built to this point, speaks for itself. He’s the consummate pro. He just represents our sport, the league, the Pittsburgh Penguins in such a great way.

“He just carries himself with so much grace and humility and integrity. And he’s a fierce competitor on the ice.”

Rust also had a goal and two assists for Pittsburgh, which snapped a three-game losing streak by beating the Oilers for the first time since Dec. 20, 2019.

“For us, that was our goal — to be on our toes, be all over them, be on top of them, because they’re very fast, a skilled team,” Rust told reporters after the game. “I think just a result of that was us being able to get some offense.”

Alex Nedeljkovic made 40 stops for the Penguins and Rickard Rakell scored his team-high 21st goal as Pittsburgh won without injured center Evgeni Malkin.

McDavid finished with three assists. Leon Draisaitl scored twice to boost his season total to an NHL-best 31, but the Penguins beat Stuart Skinner four times in the first 14 minutes. Skinner settled down to finish with 21 saves but it wasn’t enough as the Penguins ended Edmonton’s four-game winning streak.

TAKEAWAYS

Oilers: Their attention to detail in the first period was shaky. Though Skinner wasn’t at his best, the Penguins also had little trouble generating chances.

Penguins: Pittsburgh remains a work in progress at midseason but showed it can compete with the league’s best.

UP NEXT

Edmonton finishes a four-game trip at Chicago on Saturday. The Penguins continue a five-game homestand Saturday against Ottawa.

Sports

Two Wild defenders added to lengthy injured list

Published

2 hours ago

January 10, 2025

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Two Wild defenders added to lengthy injured list

Associated Press

Jan 9, 2025, 12:46 PM ET

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild have added defensemen Jonas Brodin and Brock Faber to their list of key injured players, leaving them out of the lineup for their game against Colorado on Thursday night.

Brodin’s status is day to day. He has a lower-body injury from blocking a shot late in the 6-4 win over St. Louis on Tuesday night. Wild coach John Hynes had no update after the team’s morning skate on Thursday on the timetable for the return of Faber, who has an upper-body injury from an elbow he took from Blues forward Jake Neighbours at the end of his first shift.

The Wild already were missing captain Jared Spurgeon (lower body), who is expected to be out for another week or two after taking a slew foot from Nashville forward Zachary L’Heureux in their game on Dec. 31. That leaves Minnesota without three of its top four defensemen. Jake Middleton just returned from a 10-game absence because of an upper-body injury.

The Wild also have been without star left wing Kirill Kaprizov (lower body), who missed his seventh straight game on Thursday. Kaprizov, who is tied for fourth in the NHL with 23 goals and ninth in the league with 50 points, has skated on the last two days and could return soon.

Sports

Blue Jackets place Monahan (upper body) on IR

Published

2 hours ago

January 10, 2025

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Blue Jackets place Monahan (upper body) on IR

Field Level Media

Jan 9, 2025, 01:08 PM ET

The Columbus Blue Jackets placed forward Sean Monahan on injured reserve Thursday because of an upper body injury sustained in the 4-3 shootout win at Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

Adam Fantilli is expected to move up to center the top line when the Blue Jackets host the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.

“Guys have watched how [Monahan] conducts himself, and hopefully they try to do the exact same thing,” coach Dean Evason said Thursday. “Our bench is calm in large part because of him up front and [defenseman Zach Werenski] on the back end. They’re both very calming influence players, but we have other guys that do that as well.

“But if the guys that are playing in tonight’s hockey game have learned anything from ‘Monny,’ it’s that he’s even-keeled. He doesn’t get too high, too low, all those clichés. He just goes about his business. We expect our team to do that here tonight.”

In a corresponding move, the Blue Jackets added rookie forward Owen Sillinger on an emergency recall from the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters.

Monahan, 30, has 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists), 14 penalty minutes and a plus-17 rating in 41 games this season. He ranks second on the team in plus/minus rating and third in goals, assists and points.

He has 579 career points (258 goals, 321 assists) in 805 games with the Calgary Flames (2013-22), Montreal Canadiens (2022-24), Winnipeg Jets (2024) and Blue Jackets, who signed him as a free agent in July. The Flames selected him sixth overall in the 2013 NHL draft.

Sillinger, 27, is on a one-year, two-way NHL/AHL contract with the Blue Jackets. He has eight goals and 17 assists with 18 penalty minutes in 34 games with Cleveland this season.