NHL playoff watch: Where will the Devils finish?
New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald acted decisively last spring and during the offseason to address his team’s needs, trading for goaltenders Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen, as well as signing defensemen Brett Pesce and Brenden Dillon in free agency.
For much of the season, the Devils looked like one of the league’s top contenders. But with injuries to key players — including Jack Hughes, who is out for the season — their spirits took a hit. Ultimately, where will they land in the Eastern Conference playoff bracket?
That will begin to be determined Thursday night when the Devils host the Edmonton Oilers (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+). Heading into that game:
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The Devils are in the No. 3 spot in the Metro Division with 76 points and 31 regulation wins in 66 games
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The Carolina Hurricanes are No. 2, with 82 points and 34 RW in 65 games
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The Columbus Blue Jackets are the East’s second wild card, with 70 points and 23 RW in 64 games
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If the Blue Jackets pass the Devils, they’ll have to worry about the Ottawa Senators, who have 73 points and 25 RW in 64 games
After the showdown with the Oilers, the Devils have just five games against current playoff teams out of 15 total contests.
Based on the current projections from Stathletes, the Devils are playoff bound with 94 points and likely to hold on to the No. 3 spot ahead of the Blue Jackets (projected for 86.7).
There is a lot of runway left until April 17, the final day of the regular season, and we’ll help you keep track of 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 Columbus Blue Jackets
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 Calgary Flames
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Thursday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at New Jersey Devils, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+)
New York Rangers at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m.
Washington Capitals at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday’s scoreboard
Detroit Red Wings 7, Buffalo Sabres 3
Vancouver Canucks 4, Calgary Flames 3 (SO)
Utah Hockey Club 4, Anaheim Ducks 3
Seattle Kraken 5, Montreal Canadiens 4 (OT)
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 17
Points pace: 104.7
Next game: @ TOR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 18
Points pace: 103.8
Next game: vs. FLA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 18
Points pace: 99.9
Next game: @ PHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 18
Points pace: 93.5
Next game: vs. BOS (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 97.8%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 87.1
Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 12.5%
Tragic number: 34
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 85.8
Next game: @ CAR (Friday)
Playoff chances: 7.3%
Tragic number: 33
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 84.5
Next game: @ OTT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 13.9%
Tragic number: 31
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18
Points pace: 71.8
Next game: vs. VGK (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 23
Metro Division
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 17
Points pace: 118.6
Next game: @ LA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 17
Points pace: 103.5
Next game: vs. DET (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 16
Points pace: 94.4
Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 95.8%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 18
Points pace: 89.7
Next game: vs. VGK (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 33.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 85.8
Next game: @ MIN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 24.7%
Tragic number: 33
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18
Points pace: 83.3
Next game: vs. EDM (Friday)
Playoff chances: 12.8%
Tragic number: 32
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 77.0
Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 1.1%
Tragic number: 25
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 75.9
Next game: vs. STL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0.4%
Tragic number: 23
Central Division
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 16
Points pace: 116.8
Next game: vs. DAL (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 18
Points pace: 110.2
Next game: @ WPG (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 16
Points pace: 100.6
Next game: @ CGY (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 17
Points pace: 98.4
Next game: vs. NYR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 95.3%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 87.1
Next game: @ PIT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 31.1%
Tragic number: 33
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 87.1
Next game: @ SEA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 25%
Tragic number: 33
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18
Points pace: 73.0
Next game: @ ANA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 23
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 61.8
Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 13
Pacific Division
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 18
Points pace: 106.3
Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 18
Points pace: 99.9
Next game: @ NJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 19
Points pace: 100.2
Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 98.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 18
Points pace: 91.0
Next game: vs. COL (Friday)
Playoff chances: 36%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 89.6
Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 14.3%
Tragic number: 35
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 79.5
Next game: vs. NSH (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 27
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 74.6
Next game: vs. UTA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 22
Points: 43
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 53.4
Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 5
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: 43
Regulation wins: 12
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Tulane coach Jon Sumrall has emerged as the clear favorite to be the next head coach of the Florida Gators, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Florida turned its attention away from Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin earlier this week after getting the sense through irregular communication that he is interested in other options, likely a move to LSU or remaining with the Rebels, sources told ESPN on Friday.
Sumrall is expected to make a decision on his future by Sunday morning as he considers staying at Tulane or a move to Gainesville. He also received significant interest from Auburn, but the Tigers have since shifted their focus to other candidates, another indicator that Florida looms as the clear leader for Sumrall’s services, sources said.
Sumrall, a former SEC player at Kentucky, where he later served as an assistant coach and co-defensive coordinator, is 18-7 in two seasons at Tulane. He also won back-to-back Sun Belt titles as head coach at Troy in 2022 and 2023.
Sumrall, 43, garnered outside interest after his first season with Tulane, earning a contract extension after just one season at the helm.
Tulane (9-2) hosts Charlotte on Saturday night in its regular-season finale. The Green Wave can clinch a spot in the American Conference championship game against North Texas with a win over the 49ers.
Rivalry Week has already seen one upset that will affect a conference championship and College Football Playoff seeding. Could we see another one?
On Friday, Texas upset the Texas A&M Aggies to give A&M its first loss of the season and knock the Aggies out of the SEC championship game. Michigan is in a strikingly similar position. Ohio State is undefeated and No. 1 in the CFP rankings. It needs a win to set up a meeting with Indiana in next week’s Big Ten title game.
OSU has been largely unchallenged since defeating Texas in Week 1, and now it faces its biggest rival, which is hasn’t beaten in four years. Can the Wolverines pull another upset? It’s “The Game,” and we’re tracking the top moments and biggest plays:
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