The Washington Capitals have officially punched their ticket to the postseason dance already, and the Winnipeg Jets are well on their way to doing so as well (a win over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday would have done it, but that was not in the cards apparently).

Those two teams meet on Tuesday night (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+), and could meet again if they make the Stanley Cup Final. As of now, each is poised to face the second wild-card team in their respective conference — might they prefer one of the bubble teams over the others?

In Winnipeg’s case, the team currently in the second wild-card spot is the St. Louis Blues. The Jets have gone 2-1 against the Blues this season, with one of the wins coming via shootout, and they’ll face off again on Apr. 7. If the Calgary Flames slide into that spot for an old-school Smythe Division showdown, the Jets also went 2-1 against them this season (though the last game was back on Jan. 26).

The Utah Hockey Club could make a push into that spot, and — you guessed it — the Jets have gone 2-1 against the NHL’s newest team. The final team with a legit shot at the West’s last spot is the Vancouver Canucks, against whom the Jets have gone 1-1, with their final matchup this Saturday.

The Caps’ first-round opponent at the moment is the Montreal Canadiens; Washington won two of three against Montreal, with the loss coming in OT. If the New York Rangers slide in as the opponent, the Caps will hope to avenge their sweep in last year’s playoffs, and appear likely to do so based on regular-season results; they won each of the three matchups against the Blueshirts. Washington won its only matchup against the New York Islanders this season, with two games remaining.

The Capitals have also had success against the Columbus Blue Jackets (two wins in two games thus far, with two remaining in April) and Detroit Red Wings (two wins this month after a loss on Dec. 29).

So although the path will get more difficult as the playoff tournament wears on, it appears that both the Caps and Jets are in good shape — on paper, at least — heading into the opening round.

There is less than a month left until April 17, the final day of the regular season, and we’ll help you track it all with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide details on all the playoff races, along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Yesterday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

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Tuesday’s games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

Ottawa Senators at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia Flyers at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m.
Washington Capitals at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m.
Detroit Red Wings at Colorado Avalanche, 9 p.m.
Seattle Kraken at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.
New York Rangers at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.

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Monday’s scoreboard

Vancouver Canucks 4, New Jersey Devils 3 (SO)
Columbus Blue Jackets 4, New York Islanders 3 (SO)
Dallas Stars 3, Minnesota Wild 0
Detroit Red Wings 5, Utah Hockey Club 1

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Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 102.8
Next game: vs. UTA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 101.9
Next game: vs. PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 99.6
Next game: vs. PIT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 93.9
Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 98.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 89.1
Next game: @ STL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 48.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 84.3
Next game: @ COL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 3.0%
Tragic number: 22

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 78.6
Next game: @ ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 15

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 73.7
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 14

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Metro Division

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 119.5
Next game: @ WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 105.4
Next game: vs. NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 10
Points pace: 92.3
Next game: @ CHI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 94.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 86.7
Next game: vs. VAN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 28.0%
Tragic number: 24

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 85.5
Next game: @ LA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 17.9%
Tragic number: 22

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 85.5
Next game: vs. VAN (Friday)
Playoff chances: 9.4%
Tragic number: 23

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 78.6
Next game: @ TB (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 15

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 74.0
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 11

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Central Division

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 115.5
Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 110.1
Next game: @ EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 11
Points pace: 102.8
Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 98.2
Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 96.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 92.3
Next game: vs. MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 71.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 86.6
Next game: @ TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 13.3%
Tragic number: 17

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 70.3
Next game: @ CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 4

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 58.9
Next game: vs. NJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

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Pacific Division

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 107.8
Next game: @ MIN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 13
Points pace: 103.4
Next game: vs. NYR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 101.9
Next game: vs. DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 90.1
Next game: @ NYI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 8.9%
Tragic number: 20

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 91.5
Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 10.6%
Tragic number: 23

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 79.7
Next game: vs. BOS (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 12

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 75.1
Next game: @ CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 7

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 55.1
Next game: vs. TOR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Note: An “x” means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An “e” means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.

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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 No. 1 pick. Full details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL’s Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 22

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 22

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 17

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 24

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 31

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25

NEW YORK — With the clock winding down in regulation in a tie game, the Islanders appeared to get the go-ahead goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, it was immediately waved off by officials, and New York ended up losing 4-3 in a shootout.

Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri redirected a shot from Alexander Romanov past Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins with about 9 seconds remaining. After officials waved it off for goaltender interference, the situation room in Toronto reviewed the play and confirmed the no-goal call on the ice.

“If Toronto is afraid to overturn calls made by their referee, we don’t need Toronto,” Islanders coach Patrick Roy said. “That’s all I want to say.”

Shortly before the deflection, Palmieri skated in front of the crease and Merzlikins came forward and bumped into him.

According to the league’s explanation, “Palmieri impaired Merzlikins’ ability to play his position in the crease prior to the goal.”

Palmieri didn’t like the call.

“He said there was contact initiated in the crease,” Palmieri said of a conversation with the referee. “And I guess the goalie needs five minutes to get reset and ready for the shot, and it looked like he couldn’t wait to wave it off.”

With one point earned for the shootout loss, the Islanders pulled into a tie with the New York Rangers and one point behind Montreal for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. Columbus is another point back.

SALT LAKE CITY — Detroit goaltender Petr Mrazek exited with an apparent lower body injury early in the first period in the Red Wings’ 5-1 victory over Utah Hockey Club on Monday night.

Utah forward Dylan Guenther collided with Mrazek in the net on the tail end of a breakaway shot attempt 1:38 into the game. The contact sent Mrazek’s stick flying across the ice. Mrazek limped off the ice and headed straight to the locker room. Alex Lyon replaced him in the net.

Lyon finished with 16 saves against Utah. He came into Monday’s game with a 11-8-1 record as a starter this season, allowing 2.77 goals per game and boasting a .900 save percentage.

“I’m just staying ready every day,” Lyon said. “When you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.”

Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said Mrazek will not be available to play on Tuesday night when Detroit wraps up a four-game road trip at Colorado and will be further evaluated on Wednesday when the team returns to Detroit.

Mrazek is 12-21-2 in his 35 previous starts this season. He has a 3.35 goals against average and a .891 save percentage.

McLellan praised Lyon’s ability to lock down the net after taking the ice on short notice.

“Alex did a real good job coming (into) a difficult situation a minute into the game when you certainly don’t expect it,” McLellan said. “The first shot goes by him and now it’s ‘Okay, what are we going to get?’ but he really settled in and had a good game.”