NHL playoff watch: What’s at stake for Devils, Islanders in Sunday showdown
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Tim Kavanagh, ESPN.com
After an 11-game Saturday, the NHL schedule makers have gifted us with a 10-game Sunday as the end of the 2023-24 regular season on April 18 closes in.
Perhaps the most impactful game on the playoff races will take place at UBS Arena, as the New York Islanders host the New Jersey Devils (5 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+).
While it’s not quite a “loser leaves town” match, both teams need as many points as they can get as their playoff hopes appear to be dwindling.
The Devils had a fantastic 2022-23 season that included a first-round-series victory over the rival New York Rangers. Unfortunately, they’ve taken a couple steps back this season — which included injuries to star players, lackluster goaltending, and firing head coach Lindy Ruff — and as play begins on Sunday, they have a 19.3% chance of making the postseason, per Stathletes. Currently, they are six points back of the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild card (though they do have a four-game edge in regulation wins). After today’s matchup with the Isles, they play six of their final 10 games against teams currently in playoff position, and close out their season against the Isles.
New York was also a playoff team last season, losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games. Heading into this matchup, the Isles are three points and three regulation wins in back of the Wings, and their chances of making the playoffs sit at 12.1%. The Isles will play six of their final 11 games against teams currently in playoff spots, but they do have a game apiece left against three draft lottery darlings: the Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens.
For either team to qualify, the Red Wings (who currently occupy the wild-card spot in question) and the Washington Capitals, who are hosting the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday (12:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network), will have to lose some games.
As we traverse the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check in on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2024 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Sunday’s schedule
Saturday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Detroit Red Wings
A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 New York Rangers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers
Western Conference
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Sunday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
Winnipeg Jets at Washington Capitals, 12:30 p.m. (NHLN)
Pittsburgh Penguins at Colorado Avalanche, 2 p.m. (TNT)
New Jersey Devils at New York Islanders, 5 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at Ottawa Senators, 6 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Philadelphia Flyers, 6 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Carolina Hurricanes, 6 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
Dallas Stars at Arizona Coyotes, 8 p.m.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Anaheim Ducks, 8:30 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at Seattle Kraken, 9 p.m.
Saturday’s scoreboard
New York Islanders 6, Winnipeg Jets 3
Philadelphia Flyers 3, Boston Bruins 2
St. Louis Blues 5, Minnesota Wild 4 (OT)
Nashville Predators 1, Detroit Red Wings 0
Toronto Maple Leafs 6, Edmonton Oilers 3
Ottawa Senators 5, New Jersey Devils 2
New York Rangers 4, Florida Panthers 3 (SO)
Vancouver Canucks 4, Calgary Flames 2
Vegas Golden Knights 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 2
Los Angeles Kings 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 3 (OT)
Chicago Blackhawks 5, San Jose Sharks 4 (OT)
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 97
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 111
Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 1111
Next game: @ PHI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 13
Points pace: 106
Next game: @ CAR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 97
Next game: @ ANA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 98.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 90
Next game: @ WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 24.1%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ CGY (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.8%
Tragic number: 15
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 74
Next game: vs. EDM (Sunday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 10
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 74
Next game: @ SEA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 10
Metropolitan Division
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 110
Next game: vs. TOR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 11
Points pace: 94
Next game: vs. FLA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 88.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. WPG (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 57.0%
Tragic number: 25
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 88
Next game: vs. NJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 24.2%
Tragic number: 21
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ NYI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 6.0%
Tragic number: 16
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ COL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.8%
Tragic number: 17
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 67
Next game: @ ARI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 2
Central Division
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 111
Next game: vs. PIT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ ARI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 109
Next game: @ WSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 102
Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 91
Next game: vs. VGK (Monday)
Playoff chances: 6.0%
Tragic number: 18
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 2.6%
Tragic number: 16
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 74
Next game: vs. DAL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 4
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 52
Next game: vs. CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. LA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 106
Next game: @ OTT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 100
Next game: @ VAN (Monday)
Playoff chances: 98.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 97
Next game: @ STL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 92.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 84
Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.7%
Tragic number: 14
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. MTL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 12
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 60
Next game: vs. TB (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 40
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 47
Next game: vs. DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
p — clinched Presidents’ Trophy
y — clinched division
x — clinched playoff berth
e — 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 draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston University.
Points: 40
Regulation wins: 12
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
* The Penguins’ first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.
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Greg Wyshynski
ELMONT, N.Y. — The Colorado Avalanche entered Thursday night’s game at the New York Islanders as a juggernaut, having lost just once in regulation in 26 games. Islanders coach Patrick Roy’s message to his team before that game: “If there’s a team that could surprise them, it’s us and the way we’ve been playing.”
St. Patrick was prophetic: Roy’s team defeated the mighty Avalanche 6-3 to snap Colorado’s 17-game point streak in a statement win for the Islanders (15-10-3).
The Islanders built a 4-0 lead against Colorado and responded every time the Avalanche crept back into the game. That included a late third-period penalty kill, as the Avalanche pulled goalie Mackenzie Blackwood for a 6-on-4 advantage. Forward Casey Cizikas iced the win with an empty-netter.
“That’s a really good hockey team over there,” Cizikas said. “They’ve proved it all season. They’re never out of a game, so you’ve got to complete it.”
Even after the loss, Colorado remained the NHL’s top team in points percentage (.815), goal differential (plus-47), offense (4.04 goals per game) and defense (2.19 goals against per game). The Avalanche have the NHL’s leading scorer in center Nathan MacKinnon (46 points) and the leading scorer among defenseman in Cale Makar (33 points).
But Islanders forward Mathew Barzal said New York’s 4-1 loss in Denver on Nov. 16 gave his teammates confidence they could hang with the NHL’s best.
“We feel like when we played them in Colorado, we probably should have won,” said Barzal, who had a goal and two assists in the win. “As a group, too, we know who we’re playing and that always makes a difference. Against Colorado, if we don’t show up, it could be ugly.”
The Islanders showed up on the scoresheet at 5:56 in the first period, on a controversial goal by forward Kyle MacLean. His shot sailed into the top corner of the net with Blackwood (36 saves) flat on the ice. Replays showed that after a scramble in the crease, the stick of Islanders center Marc Gatcomb had become wedged in Blackwood’s pads as Blackwood attempted to defend the net.
Colorado coach Jared Bednar challenged the goal. The NHL Situation Room cited Rule 69.7 in upholding the goal, which states that “in a rebound situation, or where a goalkeeper and attacking player(s) are simultaneously attempting to play a loose puck, whether inside or outside the crease, incidental contact with the goalkeeper will be permitted, and any goal that is scored as a result thereof will be allowed.”
Bednar disagreed with that assessment.
“Listen, I think goalie interference is a joke. If that’s not goalie interference, I don’t know what is. You can’t just shove the goalie’s pads out of the way to create a loose puck,” said Bednar. “I’m not going to challenge unless it’s obvious. And I thought that was obvious.”
On the other end of the ice, Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin was great when he needed to be in making 35 saves against the high-octane Avalanche. Roy cited one save in the second period where Sorokin stopped Artturi Lehkonen on a 2-on-1 before Barzal increased their lead to 5-2 with a power-play goal.
“I think that gave us the confidence. Ilya made the key save at the right time,” said the coach.
The Islanders’ win over the Avalanche came on a poignant night at UBS Arena for the players. Their fathers and mentors were in attendance, ahead of their road trip to Florida. The game also marked the return of former Islanders star Brock Nelson, who was sent to Colorado at last season’s trade deadline. He received a standing ovation from Islanders fans after a video tribute.
It was just the second loss for the Avalanche (19-2-6) in the past 14 games.
“It’s closer than you think, but it still wasn’t good enough,” Bednar said. “We’ll refocus on the things that we need to do to make us successful.”
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