NHL playoff watch: The first-round matchups yet to be set

Published

2 years ago

April 17, 2024

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As expected, Tuesday’s games resulted in many playoff seeds being clinched:

In fact, the entire East bracket is now locked in. So what remains to be determined out West? It’s just the shuffle between the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings for the Pacific Division’s No. 3 seed vs. the second West wild card. Whoever gets the No. 3 spot will take on the Edmonton Oilers in Round 1; whoever gets the wild card will square off against the Dallas Stars.

Both clubs are idle tonight (with Vegas pulling one point ahead on Tuesday), and close things out Thursday — the Knights against the Anaheim Ducks and the Kings against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Wednesday’s schedule
Tuesday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
A2 Boston Bruins vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 New York Rangers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New York Islanders

Western Conference

C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Los Angeles Kings
C2 Winnipeg Jets vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights

Wednesday’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).

Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. (TNT)
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders, 7 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
Edmonton Oilers at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m.

Tuesday’s scoreboard

P.K. Subban to McAfee: Penguins should have kept Jake Guentzel

P.K. Subban voices to Pat McAfee his firm belief that the Penguins should not have traded Jake Guentzel.

Ottawa Senators 3, Boston Bruins 1
Detroit Red Wings 5, Montreal Canadiens 4 (SO)
Washington Capitals 2, Philadelphia Flyers 1
Columbus Blue Jackets 6, Carolina Hurricanes 3
Florida Panthers 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 2
Winnipeg Jets 5, Seattle Kraken 3
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Vancouver Canucks 4, Calgary Flames 1

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 110
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 0
Points pace: 110
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 109
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 0
Points pace: 109
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 103
Next game: @ TB (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 97
Next game: vs. TOR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Points pace: 91
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Points pace: 84
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Points pace: 78
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Points pace: 76
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Metropolitan Division

Points: 114
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 0
Points pace: 114
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 111
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 0
Points pace: 111
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 93
Next game: vs. PIT (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 0
Points pace: 91
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 89
Next game: @ NYI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Points pace: 87
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Points pace: 81
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Points pace: 66
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

Points: 111
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 112
Next game: vs. STL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 108
Regulation wins: 45
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. VAN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 106
Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 0
Points pace: 99
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 88
Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 76
Next game: vs. EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 52
Next game: @ LA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Points: 109
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ WPG (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 104
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ ARI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 99
Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 98
Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 80
Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 80
Next game: @ MIN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 58
Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 48
Next game: @ CGY (Thursday)
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: 47
Regulation wins: 14

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 21

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 27

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 33

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 32

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 32

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 27

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 31

* The Penguins’ first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.

Sports

USC QB pulls off fake punt wearing No. 80 jersey

Published

5 hours ago

November 8, 2025

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USC QB pulls off fake punt wearing No. 80 jersey

ESPN News Services

Nov 7, 2025, 10:47 PM ET

LOS ANGELES — No. 20 USC pulled off a remarkable fake punt against Northwestern in Friday night’s 38-17 win by sending out third-string quarterback Sam Huard in the same uniform number as the Trojans’ punter.

Wearing a No. 80 jersey, Huard came on the field with the punt team in the second quarter and completed a 10-yard pass to Tanook Hines. The first down extended the Trojans’ second drive, which ended with a TD run by Jayden Maiava.

This bit of trickery was quite legal, apparently: Huard wore No. 7 earlier this season for the Trojans, but he is listed as No. 80 on the USC roster for this week after Lincoln Riley’s team quietly made the change.

USC punter Sam Johnson also wears No. 80. College football teams frequently feature two players wearing the same number.

Huard, who is a couple of inches shorter than the 6-foot-3 Johnson, grinned widely as he high-fived teammates on the way off the field. He is a former five-star recruit who began his college career at Washington.

Bowling Green pulled off a similar stunt in last season’s 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.

Third-string Falcons quarterback Baron May switched his uniform number before the game from 8 to 18 — very similar to punter John Henderson‘s No. 19 jersey.

Late in the first quarter, May came on the field instead of Henderson and threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Malcolm Johnson Jr. — although Arkansas State overcame it for a 38-31 victory.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Sports

Missouri’s Norfleet (shoulder) ruled out vs. A&M

Published

7 hours ago

November 8, 2025

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Missouri's Norfleet (shoulder) ruled out vs. A&M

Eli LedermanNov 7, 2025, 04:50 PM ET
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No. 22 Missouri will be without star tight end Brett Norfleet (shoulder) when the Tigers host undefeated No. 3 Texas A&M on Saturday in Columbia.

Norfleet, a junior from O’Fallon, Missouri, has started in each of the Tigers’ eight games this fall and enters Week 11 leading all SEC tight ends with five touchdown receptions. His 26 catches on the season rank third-most among Missouri pass catchers, trailing only wide receivers Kevin Coleman Jr. and Marquis Johnson.

Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz told reporters that Norflett sustained a separated shoulder in Missouri’s 17-10 loss at Vanderbilt on Oct. 25. Drinkwitz later described Norfleet as “day-to-day” during the Tigers’ bye in Week 10, and the veteran tight end was listed as questionable in Missouri’s student-athlete availability report Thursday night.

Norfleet’s absence comes with Drinkwitz and the two-loss Tigers essentially facing a playoff elimination game against the Aggies on Saturday. Missouri will also be without starting quarterback Beau Pribula in Week 11 after the Penn State transfer dislocated his ankle at Vanderbilt. Freshman Matt Zollers, ESPN’s No. 6 pocket passer in the 2025 class, is set to make his first career start Saturday, facing Texas A&M coach Mike Elko and an Aggies defense that ranks 18th nationally in defensive pressures (137), per ESPN Research.

“For our team, it’s really about us focusing on helping Matt execute at the highest level possible,” Drinkwitz said this week. “We’re excited about Matt’s opportunity and what he’s earned. He has done a really good job in practice of leadership, stepping up, embracing the moment, embracing the opportunity.”

Missouri (6-2) kicks off against Texas A&M at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.