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:

• The Devils are in the No. 3 spot in the Metro Division with 76 points and 31 regulation wins in 66 games

• The Carolina Hurricanes are No. 2, with 82 points and 34 RW in 65 games

• The Columbus Blue Jackets are the East’s second wild card, with 70 points and 23 RW in 64 games

• 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