NHL playoff watch: Are the Minnesota Wild in trouble?

As of Dec. 6, the Minnesota Wild were 18-4-4 and atop the NHL standings. Fast-forward to Thursday, and they have a tenuous hold on a wild-card position in the Western Conference.

Is the Wild’s playoff future in peril?

Minnesota has 85 points and 32 regulation wins through 72 games, just ahead of the red-hot St. Louis Blues (83 and 28 through 73 games), with the Vancouver Canucks (80 and 26 through 72 games) and Calgary Flames (79 and 26 through 70 games) still in the mix.

The Wild host the league-leading Washington Capitals on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+), followed by a home-and-home series against the New Jersey Devils. Their road trip continues against the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, before a home date against the Dallas Stars.

Perhaps most notable on the remaining schedule are games at the Flames (April11) and Canucks (April 12), both of which are dreaded “four-point games,” as a regulation win for one team will have an outsize impact. Stress levels in the State of Hockey will surely rise if the standings are close as that pair of games approaches.

Despite trouble lurking for the Wild, Stathletes still likes their chances, giving them a 91.4% chance to make the playoffs.

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 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Florida Panthers 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

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).

Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
Ottawa Senators at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.
Utah Hockey Club at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
Washington Capitals at Minnesota Wild, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+)
St. Louis Blues at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Dallas Stars at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Colorado Avalanche, 10 p.m. (ESPN)
Edmonton Oilers at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday’s scoreboard

Vancouver Canucks 5, New York Islanders 2
New Jersey Devils 5, Chicago Blackhawks 3
Dallas Stars 4, Edmonton Oilers 3
Anaheim Ducks 6, Boston Bruins 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 102.8
Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 102.8
Next game: vs. UTA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 11
Points pace: 100.5
Next game: vs. UTA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 92.5
Next game: @ DET (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 98.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 87.9
Next game: @ PHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 47.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 83.2
Next game: vs. OTT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 5.2%
Tragic number: 20

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 77.5
Next game: @ DET (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 13

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 75.0
Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 14

Metro Division

Points: 103
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 119.0
Next game: @ MIN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 103.9
Next game: vs. MTL (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 9
Points pace: 93.2
Next game: @ WPG (Friday)
Playoff chances: 94.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 85.5
Next game: @ TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 24.5%
Tragic number: 22

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 84.3
Next game: @ ANA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 16.5%
Tragic number: 20

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 85.5
Next game: vs. VAN (Friday)
Playoff chances: 13.1%
Tragic number: 23

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 77.5
Next game: @ BUF (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 13

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 73.0
Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 9

Central Division

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 116.2
Next game: vs. NJ (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 110.9
Next game: @ CGY (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 10
Points pace: 103.6
Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 96.8
Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 96.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 93.2
Next game: @ NSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 77.6%
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: 6.2%
Tragic number: 15

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 71.6
Next game: vs. STL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 2

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 58.1
Next game:
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 108.6
Next game: @ CHI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 104.3
Next game: @ COL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 100.5
Next game: @ SEA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 91.1
Next game: @ CBJ (Friday)
Playoff chances: 8.2%
Tragic number: 18

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 92.5
Next game: vs. DAL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 11.8%
Tragic number: 21

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 80.9
Next game: vs. NYR (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 10

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 75.2
Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 4

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.

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: 62
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 17

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 24

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 70
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: 79
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26