Each of the teams in the Eastern Conference playoff mix has 15 to 17 games remaining in the regular season.
Three teams in the Atlantic Division have all but clinched their spots — the Florida Panthers , Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning — and two from the Metro are essentially shoo-ins, the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes . The New Jersey Devils are knocking on that door, and a current three-game winning streak certainly helps.
The Ottawa Senators have opened up a nice gap as the first wild card, with 75 points and 26 regulation wins in 65 games. Beyond them, things get interesting.
The Columbus Blue Jackets technically are in the second wild-card spot thanks to getting to 70 points in fewer games played (65) than the New York Rangers (66). The Montreal Canadiens (69 points) are right behind them, followed by the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins , both with 68 points.
If it comes down to the regulation-wins tiebreaker at season’s end, the Rangers have an upper hand over all the rest, with 29 in that column, compared with 23 for the Jackets, Red Wings and Bruins, and just 22 for the Habs.
Four of the five teams are in action Saturday:
The Bruins host the Lightning at 7 p.m. (ESPN+ )
The Canadiens host the Panthers also at 7 p.m. (NHL Network )
The Blue Jackets face the visiting Rangers also at 7 p.m. (ESPN+ )
And if they have their sights set on catching the Senators, these clubs are all rooting for the Maple Leafs, who host Ottawa (7 p.m., ESPN+ ). It’s a great night for multiple streaming devices!
There is a lot of runway 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 Columbus Blue Jackets M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 C algary Flames C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Saturday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
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Vegas Golden Knights at Buffalo Sabres , 12:30 p.m.New Jersey Devils at Pittsburgh Penguins , 3 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)Washington Capitals at San Jose Sharks , 5 p.m.Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins , 7 p.m.Ottawa Senators at Toronto Maple Leafs , 7 p.m.Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens , 7 p.m. (NHLN)Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers , 7 p.m.New York Rangers at Columbus Blue Jackets , 7 p.m.St. Louis Blues at Minnesota Wild , 8 p.m.Nashville Predators at Los Angeles Kings , 8 p.m.Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks , 10 p.m.
Friday’s scoreboard
Carolina Hurricanes 4, Detroit Red Wings 2Edmonton Oilers 2, New York Islanders 1 (OT)Winnipeg Jets 4, Dallas Stars 1Colorado Avalanche 4, Calgary Flames 2Anaheim Ducks 2, Nashville Predators 1Seattle Kraken 4, Utah Hockey Club 2
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 85Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A1Games left: 16Points pace: 105.6Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: A2Games left: 17Points pace: 102.2Next game: vs. OTT (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: A3Games left: 17Points pace: 99.7Next game: @ BOS (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.8%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: WC1Games left: 17Points pace: 94.6Next game: @ TOR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 98.7%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 69Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 87.1Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 10%Tragic number: 34
Points: 68Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 84.5Next game: vs. VGK (Sunday)Playoff chances: 11.1%Tragic number: 31
Points: 68Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 83.2Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)Playoff chances: 8%Tragic number: 29
Points: 56Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 71.8Next game: vs. VGK (Saturday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 23
Metro Division
Points: 94Regulation wins: 36Playoff position: M1Games left: 16Points pace: 116.8Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: M2Games left: 16Points pace: 104.4Next game: @ PHI (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: M3Games left: 15Points pace: 95.5Next game: @ PIT (Saturday)Playoff chances: 97.1%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 70Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: WC2Games left: 17Points pace: 88.3Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 19.2%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 70Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 87.0Next game: @ CBJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 41%Tragic number: 33
Points: 66Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 83.3Next game: vs. FLA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 12.7%Tragic number: 31
Points: 64Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 78.3Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 1.7%Tragic number: 25
Points: 64Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 77.2Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.6%Tragic number: 23
Central Division
Points: 96Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: C1Games left: 15Points pace: 117.5Next game: @ SEA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: C2Games left: 17Points pace: 108.5Next game: @ COL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: C3Games left: 15Points pace: 101.6Next game: vs. DAL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: WC1Games left: 16Points pace: 98.2Next game: vs. STL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 94.6%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 69Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 85.7Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)Playoff chances: 22.7%Tragic number: 31
Points: 69Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 85.7Next game: @ VAN (Sunday)Playoff chances: 31.8%Tragic number: 31
Points: 57Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 71.9Next game: @ LA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 21
Points: 49Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 60.9Next game: @ VAN (Saturday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 11
Pacific Division
Points: 85Regulation wins: 36Playoff position: P1Games left: 17Points pace: 107.2Next game: @ BUF (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: P2Games left: 16Points pace: 99.4Next game: @ NYR (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.4%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: P3Games left: 18Points pace: 101.2Next game: vs. NSH (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.4%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: WC2Games left: 17Points pace: 89.6Next game: @ TOR (Monday)Playoff chances: 29.2%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 89.6Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday)Playoff chances: 22.9%Tragic number: 35
Points: 65Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 80.8Next game: @ STL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 27
Points: 62Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 75.9Next game: vs. WPG (Sunday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 22
Points: 45Regulation wins: 13Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 55.1Next game: vs. WSH (Saturday)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: 45Regulation wins: 13
Points: 49Regulation wins: 17
Points: 56Regulation wins: 21
Points: 57Regulation wins: 21
Points: 62Regulation wins: 23
Points: 64Regulation wins: 17
Points: 64Regulation wins: 18
Points: 65Regulation wins: 21
Points: 66Regulation wins: 23
Points: 68Regulation wins: 23
Points: 68Regulation wins: 23
Points: 69Regulation wins: 21
Points: 69Regulation wins: 22
Points: 69Regulation wins: 22
Points: 70Regulation wins: 29
Points: 71Regulation wins: 23