NHL playoff watch: The key games to watch Sunday for the wild-card races
A 13-game schedule on Saturday finished with some big results:
It’s a smaller batch of games on Sunday, but there are playoff implications in most.
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The New York Islanders host the Washington Capitals (12:30 p.m. ET, TNT), and while attempting to hold Alex Ovechkin off the scoresheet, the Isles also are trying to claw their way back into the wild-card race. They begin play seven points back of the Montreal Canadiens for the final spot. The Canadiens visit the Nashville Predators (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
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The final spot in the West currently is held by the Minnesota Wild, who welcome the Dallas Stars to the Twin Cities (3 p.m. ET, TNT). Minnesota is four points ahead of the idle Calgary Flames, and six points ahead of the Vancouver Canucks, who host the Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET, ESPN). Dallas begins play four points back of the Winnipeg Jets for the West’s top overall seed.
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Perhaps the biggest game of the day features the Columbus Blue Jackets heading to Canada’s capital to take on the Ottawa Senators (5 p.m., ESPN+). The Blue Jackets are six points behind the Canadiens, while the Senators are starting to look ahead to the No. 3-seeded Florida Panthers; they begin the day four points back. Speaking of the Cats, they visit the Detroit Red Wings (5:30 p.m. ET, TNT), who are also six points behind the Canadiens for WC2.
For those concerned with draft lottery positioning, the Boston Bruins take on the Buffalo Sabres (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+) and the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Chicago Blackhawks (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
With the regular season ending April 17, 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 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 Minnesota Wild
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 St. Louis Blues
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Sunday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Washington Capitals at New York Islanders, 12:30 p.m. (TNT)
Dallas Stars at Minnesota Wild, 3 p.m. (TNT)
Columbus Blue Jackets at Ottawa Senators, 5 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Detroit Red Wings, 5:30 p.m. (TNT)
Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres, 6 p.m.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Chicago Blackhawks, 6 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at Nashville Predators, 7 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.
Saturday’s scoreboard
New Jersey Devils 4, New York Rangers 0
Ottawa Senators 3, Florida Panthers 0
Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Dallas Stars 3
Vancouver Canucks 6, Anaheim Ducks 2
Los Angeles Kings 3, Edmonton Oilers 0
Boston Bruins 5, Carolina Hurricanes 1
Buffalo Sabres 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (SO)
Toronto Maple Leafs 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 0
Montreal Canadiens 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2
St. Louis Blues 5, Colorado Avalanche 4
Utah Hockey Club 4, Winnipeg Jets 1
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Calgary Flames 2 (OT)
Seattle Kraken 5, San Jose Sharks 1
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 105.7
Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 101.4
Next game: @ NYR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 99.3
Next game: @ DET (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 95.0
Next game: vs. CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 89.6
Next game: @ NSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 56.6%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 84.2
Next game: vs. FLA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 6.3%
Tragic number: 9
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 78.7
Next game: vs. BOS (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 4
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 75.6
Next game: @ BUF (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Metro Division
Points: 107
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 115.5
Next game: @ NYI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 103.6
Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 94.8
Next game: vs. BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 85.2
Next game: vs. TB (Monday)
Playoff chances: 24.4%
Tragic number: 9
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 84.2
Next game: @ OTT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 10.2%
Tragic number: 9
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 83.1
Next game: vs. WSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 3.2%
Tragic number: 8
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 78.8
Next game: @ CHI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 2
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 75.6
Next game: @ NYR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 108
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 115.0
Next game: vs. STL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 104
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 112.2
Next game: @ MIN (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 4
Points pace: 103.0
Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 97.8
Next game: @ ANA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 97.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 94.8
Next game: vs. DAL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 86.1%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 87.3
Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.2%
Tragic number: 4
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 66.9
Next game: vs. MTL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 56.1
Next game: vs. PIT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 107.9
Next game: @ VAN (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 97
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 104.7
Next game: vs. SEA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 100.3
Next game: @ ANA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 91.7
Next game: @ SJ (Monday)
Playoff chances: 14.7%
Tragic number: 10
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 89.6
Next game: vs. VGK (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 1.1%
Tragic number: 7
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 79.8
Next game: vs. EDM (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 76.7
Next game: @ LA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 54.0
Next game: vs. CGY (Monday)
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: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 27
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Jorge Castillo
NEW YORK — New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, who is on the injured list with a fractured hamate bone, will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday, manager Carlos Mendoza announced.
Alvarez suffered his injury while taking a swing during spring training last month. At the time, the Mets said he would miss six to eight weeks, making a return by the end of April a possibility.
“We’ll see,” Mendoza said. “I think it’s going to come down to him catching back-to-back, hopefully, nine innings. Getting four or five at-bats. But the progression starts kind of like spring training — five innings, off day, and we’ll go from there. But the fact that he’s going to start playing games and build competition, that’s a good sign.”
A year ago, Alvarez suffered a torn thumb ligament on the same hand that required surgery and sidelined him for more than seven weeks. He returned to produce a disappointing offensive season, posting a .710 OPS with 11 home runs in 100 games after clubbing 25 homers with a .721 OPS as a rookie in 2023.
The 23-year-old catcher took pregame batting practice on the field Tuesday for the first time since his injury in preparation for his first game action for single-A Port Lucie. Without Alvarez, Luis Torrens, who has been recently limited by a forearm contusion, has served as the Mets’ catcher with six starts in the first 10 games. Hayden Senger, a 28-year-old rookie, is the team’s backup.
Jeff McNeil also took batting practice at Citi Field on Tuesday for the first time since landing on the injured list with an oblique strain last month. Mendoza said the veteran second baseman, who also took ground balls on Tuesday, will begin his own rehab assignment this weekend. Mendoza said a late April return remains the target for McNeil, who turned 33 on Tuesday.
Brett Baty and rookie Luisangel Acuña have each struggled splitting time at second base in McNeil’s absence. Baty entered Tuesday 2 for 21 (.095) with eight strikeouts and zero walks in eight games. Acuña was 2-for-17 (.118) with two walks and four strikeouts in nine games.
Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles has a small fracture in the humeral head of his left shoulder and will miss at least 12 weeks — and potentially the entire season if he needs surgery.
Mariners executive vice president/general manager Justin Hollander on Tuesday said the team believes Robles, who had an MRI, does not need surgery at this time but will continue to monitor the injury.
If Robles avoids surgery, the team estimated that it would take six weeks for the fracture to heal and another six of rehab before he returned to action.
If surgery is eventually required, Robles would be expected to miss the remainder of the season.
He was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday, one day after he made a jumping catch of a long ball hit by Patrick Bailey of the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the ninth that had barely turned foul.
His glove hand still outstretched, Robles’ elbow appeared to make contact with a padded wall, and he also got tangled in netting. Robles was carted off the field.
The 27-year-old joined the Mariners after being waived by the Washington Nationals during the 2024 season. Robles was Seattle’s leadoff batter in its first 10 games of this season, and he was hitting .273 with 3 doubles, 3 RBIs, 3 runs and 3 stolen bases.
Robles has batted .248 in his 617-game career with Washington (2017-24) and Seattle, recording 35 homers, 185 RBIs, 257 runs and 103 stolen bases.
ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez and Field Level Media contributed to this report.
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