Stanley Cup playoff watch: The stakes in play for Wednesday’s games
With a combination of results on Tuesday, the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues clinched the two wild-card spots in the Western Conference, eliminating the Calgary Flames from postseason contention.
On the other side of the continent, the Columbus Blue Jackets won in regulation against the Philadelphia Flyers, keeping their slim chances intact. Will Wednesday see the clinching of team No. 16 in the playoff field, or will Thursday’s games be the determinant?
Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
This is the most important game of the night by a considerable margin. With a win of any variety, or a loss in overtime/shootout, the Canadiens clinch the second Eastern wild-card spot. The only thing that keeps the Blue Jackets’ hopes intact is a regulation loss for Montreal. It’s unclear what type of roster the Habs will face from the Canes, as the latter have been locked into the No. 2 in the Metro for a while now.
Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
The Ducks will finish no lower than ninth in the draft lottery order — they enter this game with 79 points, and the teams lower than them have 82 or more. But a loss here followed by wins Thursday by the Penguins and Sabres could get them as high as seventh. The Jets recently locked up the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season team (and No. 1 seed for as long as they last in the playoffs).
Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils
7:30 p.m. (TNT)
The Wings are currently 12th in the draft lottery order, with 83 points and 29 regulation wins, and can move up as high as 10th (if the Islanders win Thursday, and they lose their next two games). Like the Hurricanes, the Devils have been locked in to their playoff position for a while now, and it is Carolina against whom they match up in Round 1.
Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators
8 p.m. (ESPN+)
Two teams at opposite ends of the Central Division, and neither can make a move based on the results of this game; the Stars will open the playoffs in the No. 2 spot in the Central against the No. 3-seeded Colorado Avalanche, while the Predators are locked in to the No. 3 position in the draft lottery order.
Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks
10 p.m. (TNT)
And here are a pair of Pacific Division teams whose results tonight will not change the standings. The Golden Knights clinched the No. 1 seed in the Pacific Division recently, and the Canucks are locked in as the No. 15 team in the draft lottery order.
Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks
10:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
… and here’s another pair of Pacific teams that are already locked in as well. San Jose has been in the No. 1 spot in the draft lottery order for quite some time, a position they clinched recently. Meanwhile, the Oilers will be the No. 3 seed in the Pacific Division bracket, taking on the No. 2-seeded Los Angeles Kings in Round 1.
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 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
Wednesday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets, 7 p.m.
Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m. (TNT)
Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday’s scoreboard
New Jersey Devils 5, Boston Bruins 4 (OT)
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Buffalo Sabres 0
Chicago Blackhawks 4, Ottawa Senators 3 (OT)
Columbus Blue Jackets 3, Philadelphia Flyers 0
Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Florida Panthers 1
Washington Capitals 3, New York Islanders 1
St. Louis Blues 6, Utah Hockey Club 1
Minnesota Wild 3, Anaheim Ducks 2 (OT)
Calgary Flames 5, Vegas Golden Knights 4 (SO)
Los Angeles Kings 6, Seattle Kraken 5
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 106
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 107.3
Next game: vs. DET (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 103.3
Next game: @ NYR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 0
Points pace: 98
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 96.2
Next game: vs. CAR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 90.1
Next game: vs. CAR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 89.6%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 85.1
Next game: @ NJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 78.0
Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Points pace: 76
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Metro Division
Points: 111
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 112.4
Next game: @ PIT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 101.5
Next game: @ MTL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 92.1
Next game: vs. DET (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 88.1
Next game: vs. NYI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 10.4%
Tragic number: 1
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 84.0
Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 83.0
Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 79.0
Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 77.0
Next game: @ BUF (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 114
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 115.4
Next game: vs. ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 106
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 107.3
Next game: @ NSH (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 0
Points pace: 102
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 97
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 0
Points pace: 97
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 0
Points pace: 96
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Points pace: 89
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 66.8
Next game: vs. DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Points pace: 61
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 108
Regulation wins: 45
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 109.3
Next game: @ VAN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 105
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 106.3
Next game: vs. CGY (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 100.2
Next game: @ SJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 95.2
Next game: LA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 91.1
Next game: vs. VGK (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 80.0
Next game: @ WPG (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Points pace: 76
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 52.6
Next game: vs. EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Note: A “p” means that the team has clinched the Presidents’ Trophy as the top team in the regular season. A “z” means that the team has clinched the top record in the conference. A “y” means that the team has clinched the division title. 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. More details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL’s Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 34
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 30
TORONTO — The Blue Jays‘ George Springer homered on the first pitch from Seattle‘s Bryce Miller in the American League Championship Series opener Sunday, moving past the New York Yankees‘ Derek Jeter into sole possession of fifth place on the career list with his 21st postseason home run.
Springer’s 385-foot drive to right field on a fastball at the outside corner put Toronto ahead with the first postseason leadoff home run in Blue Jays history. Springer has 63 leadoff homers in the regular season, second to Rickey Henderson’s record 81.
Manny Ramirez hit a record 29 postseason homers and is trailed by Jose Altuve (27), Kyle Schwarber (23) and Bernie Williams (22).
However, also in the first inning, Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes fouled a ball off his right knee, falling in pain. He stayed in the game and drew a 12-pitch walk, then flied out leading off the third and was replaced by Myles Straw for the start of the fourth.
The team said he bruised his knee and was being further evaluated.
Lukes went 4-for-12 with five RBIs in Toronto’s division series win over the Yankees, including a key two-run single in the Game 4 clincher. He also made a diving catch in Toronto’s Game 1 win.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Jesse Rogers
MILWAUKEE — The Los Angeles Dodgers will start lefty Blake Snell in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night while righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto will get the ball in Game 2. It means Shohei Ohtani will get just one start in the series, during the middle leg back in Los Angeles.
“He’ll pitch at some point, but we just don’t know which day,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Sunday.
Unlike in previous spots, the Dodgers are not concerned with pitching Ohtani before a day off, choosing to maximize rest for the other starters as the team embarks on its first best-of-seven series this postseason.
“Not as important,” Roberts said. “I think just appreciating having four starters in a potential seven-game series and who can pitch potentially twice, and that’s kind of the impetus, versus Shohei having that day off after a game.”
Ohtani is hitting just .148 this month with a 4.50 ERA over six postseason innings. Roberts was asked if the pitching plan for him was related to his slump at the plate.
“No, not at all,” Roberts answered. “I think it was just kind of Shohei’s going to pitch one game this series. So, it’s one game and then you have two other guys that potentially can pitch on regular rest.”
The Brewers are likely to counter with an opener in Game 1 before handing the ball to a starter for “bulk” innings.
“Game 1 looks, ‘OK, who on our team that can give us length,'” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “[Jose] Quintana, [Quinn] Priester, something like that — give us bulk.”
Murphy indicated righty Freddy Peralta would start Game 2 and then they’ll figure out Game 3 after that. He wasn’t sure yet if rookie Jacob Misiorowski would start a game or pitch multiple innings out of the bullpen.
“I don’t know,” Murphy stated. “I really don’t know. That hasn’t been concrete yet. There’s a possibility he’d start.”
Rosters don’t have to be turned in until Monday morning, but the Dodgers are considering carrying just two catchers as Will Smith‘s hand injury isn’t a big concern. He caught the entirety of Games 3 and 4 in the NLDS.
“I have a couple of conversations to have shortly,” Roberts said. “But yeah, that’s a good thought.”
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