NHL playoff watch: Guide to a pivotal 11-game Saturday
Saturdays during the NHL regular season are typically a heavy day on the schedule, and this week is no exception.
While the playoff races (for both spots and positioning) play out, an 11-game slate is on hand. Here’s a guide to each game, including the stakes for both teams.
Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers
1 p.m., NHL Network
A push for the playoffs is a bit of a stretch when describing these two clubs. While technically not eliminated, both are more likely to win the draft lottery than make a miraculous run to the postseason. But draft position is important, too, and the loser of this game will have pushed its opponent down that inverse leaderboard.
New York Islanders at Tampa Bay Lightning
2 p.m., ESPN+
Both of these teams need this game. For the Islanders, it’s a chance to make moves on the final Eastern wild card. For the Lightning, an Atlantic Division title remains in reach.
St. Louis Blues at Colorado Avalanche
4:30 p.m., ESPN+
Two of the hottest teams in the league square off, as Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar get to wave hello to 4 Nations Face-Off teammate Jordan Binnington before attempting to put several pucks past him. The Avs are all but locked in to the No. 3 seed in the Central, while the Blues are ably fending off the masses behind them — and could overtake the Wild as the West’s first wild-card team if their winning ways continue.
New Jersey Devils at Minnesota Wild
6 p.m., ESPN+
Whereas the Avs and Blues are on heaters, the Devils and Wild are treading water, hoping they can maintain their postseason tickets. The Devils enter the day as the Metro’s No. 3 seed, nine points ahead of the Islanders. The Wild are two points ahead of the Blues as the first Western wild card, with the Canucks and Flames both within 10 points behind them.
Vegas Golden Knights at Nashville Predators
6:30 p.m., ESPN+
Jonathan Marchessault‘s old teammates are in town for this matchup, and the two clubs’ paths couldn’t be more divergent; the Golden Knights are charging toward another Pacific Division crown (and hoping to put more distance between themselves and the Kings) while the Predators are in the bottom three, though likely at No. 3 exactly given that they are 11 points ahead of the Blackhawks.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Ottawa Senators
7 p.m., ESPN+
If the Blue Jackets are going to solidify their playoff position, a “four-point game” like this one cannot be wasted — earning them those points in the standings and denying the points to the Sens. Columbus enters this game in the second wild-card spot, and eight points back of Ottawa for the first.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Los Angeles Kings
7 p.m., ESPN+
The West Coast swing continues for Toronto in what could be a Stanley Cup Final matchup if the Kings can manage to get past the Oilers in the first round (on their fourth try) and the Leafs can get to the Final for the first time since 1967. Toronto remains in a battle with the Panthers and Lightning for the Atlantic title, while L.A. begins the day seven points back of Vegas for first in the Pacific.
Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings
8 p.m., ABC/ESPN+
The playoffs look less and less likely by the day for these Original 6 teams — but the chances aren’t entirely gone. But one of them will need to move quickly; Detroit (3-7-0 in its last 10) and Boston (2-7-1) are losing any buffer to make a miraculous run into the postseason. Will this game be a pivot point?
Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers
10 p.m., ESPN+
This is the final Battle of Alberta matchup this regular season, after the teams split a pair of contests in the fall. Will they meet again in the playoffs? The Oilers are doing their part, sitting third in the Pacific. Calgary has work to do, as it is six points behind St. Louis and eight points behind Minnesota, who are each in wild-card position.
New York Rangers at San Jose Sharks
10:30 p.m., ESPN+
Actual roller coasters are jealous of the peaks and valleys that the 2024-25 Rangers have navigated. Nevertheless, the Rangers are right in the mix for the second wild-card spot in the East. To say that anything less than two points from this game would be devastating would be accurate. As for the Sharks, they hold a two-point edge at the bottom of the standings ahead of the Blackhawks.
Dallas Stars at Seattle Kraken
10:30 p.m., ESPN+
Can the Stars catch the Jets to be the top seed in the Central Division? They are six points back with 10 games remaining, so it’s not entirely unreasonable to think so — particularly with another matchup against Winnipeg on April 10. Obviously, a win is expected here over the Kraken, who are jockeying for draft lottery position with the Sabres, Flyers, Bruins and Penguins.
There are less than three weeks left until April 17 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 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Columbus Blue Jackets
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
Saturday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers, 1 p.m. (NHLN)
New York Islanders at Tampa Bay Lightning, 2 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Colorado Avalanche, 4:30 p.m.
New Jersey Devils at Minnesota Wild, 6 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Nashville Predators, 6:30 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Los Angeles Kings, 7 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings, 8 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)
Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m.
New York Rangers at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.
Dallas Stars at Seattle Kraken, 10:30 p.m.
Friday’s scoreboard
Florida Panthers 2, Utah Hockey Club 1 (OT)
Carolina Hurricanes 4, Montreal Canadiens 1
Columbus Blue Jackets 7, Vancouver Canucks 6 (SO)
Winnipeg Jets 4, New Jersey Devils 0
Vegas Golden Knights 5, Chicago Blackhawks 3
Anaheim Ducks 5, New York Rangers 4 (OT)
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 103.638888888889
Next game: vs. MTL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 102.5
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 10
Points pace: 101.361111111111
Next game: vs. NYI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 93.5492957746479
Next game: vs. CBJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 98.1%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 85.4166666666667
Next game: @ FLA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 43.7%
Tragic number: 21
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. BOS (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 4.5%
Tragic number: 18
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 77.5068493150685
Next game: @ DET (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 13
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 76.225352112676
Next game: @ PHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 14
Metro Division
Points: 103
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 117.305555555556
Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 104.777777777778
Next game: vs. NYI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 8
Points pace: 91.972972972973
Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 98.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 86.6197183098592
Next game: OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 18.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 84.2465753424658
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 18.1%
Tragic number: 19
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 85.4647887323944
Next game: @ TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 18.4%
Tragic number: 22
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 76.4594594594595
Next game: vs. OTT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 11
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 74.2432432432432
Next game: vs. BUF (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 9
Central Division
Points: 104
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 116.821917808219
Next game: vs. VAN (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 111.611111111111
Next game: @ SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 9
Points pace: 104.465753424658
Next game: vs. STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 97.7260273972603
Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 90.2%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 94.1891891891892
Next game: @ COL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 80.3%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 85.3698630136986
Next game: @ CHI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 4%
Tragic number: 10
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 70.6111111111111
Next game: vs. VGK (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 57.2876712328767
Next game: vs. UTA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 109.333333333333
Next game: @ NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 11
Points pace: 102.788732394366
Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 99.0833333333333
Next game: vs. CGY (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 98.2%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 90.986301369863
Next game: @ WPG (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 10.4%
Tragic number: 16
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 91.2394366197183
Next game: @ EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 16.9%
Tragic number: 17
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. TOR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 8
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 76.3835616438356
Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 2
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 56.5915492957746
Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)
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: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 31
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 26
It’s 2025 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby day in Atlanta!
Some of the most dynamic home run hitters in baseball will be taking aim at the Truist Park stands on Monday (8 p.m. ET on ESPN) in one of the most anticipated events of the summer.
While the prospect of a back-to-back champion is out of the picture — 2024 winner Teoscar Hernandez is not a part of this year’s field — a number of exciting stars will be taking the field, including Atlanta’s own Matt Olson, who replaced Ronald Acuna Jr. just three days before the event. Will Olson make a run in front of his home crowd? Will Cal Raleigh show off the power that led to 38 home runs in the first half? Or will one of the younger participants take the title?
We have your one-stop shop for everything Derby related, from predictions to live updates once we get underway to analysis and takeaways at the night’s end.
MLB Home Run Derby field
Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners (38 home runs in 2025)
James Wood, Washington Nationals (24)
Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays (23)
Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins (21)
Brent Rooker, Athletics (20)
Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves (17)
Jazz Chisholm Jr., New York Yankees (17)
Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates (16)
Live updates
Who is going to win the Derby and who will be the runner-up?
Jeff Passan: Raleigh. His swing is perfect for the Derby: He leads MLB this season in both pull percentage and fly ball percentage, so it’s not as if he needs to recalibrate it to succeed. He has also become a prolific hitter from the right side this season — 16 home runs in 102 at-bats — and his ability to switch between right- and left-handed pitching offers a potential advantage. No switch-hitter (or catcher for that matter) has won a Home Run Derby. The Big Dumper is primed to be the first, beating Buxton in the finals.
Alden Gonzalez: Cruz. He might be wildly inconsistent at this point in his career, but he is perfect for the Derby — young enough to possess the stamina required for a taxing event that could become exhausting in the Atlanta heat; left-handed, in a ballpark where the ball carries out better to right field; and, most importantly, capable of hitting balls at incomprehensible velocities. Raleigh will put on a good show from both sides of the plate but will come in second.
Buster Olney: Olson. He is effectively pinch-hitting for Acuna, and because he received word in the past 72 hours of his participation, he hasn’t had the practice rounds that the other competitors have been going through. But he’s the only person in this group who has done the Derby before, which means he has experienced the accelerated pace, adrenaline and push of the crowd.
His pitcher, Eddie Perez, knows something about performing in a full stadium in Atlanta. And, as Olson acknowledged in a conversation Sunday, the park generally favors left-handed hitters because of the larger distances that right-handed hitters must cover in left field.
Jesse Rogers: Olson. Home-field advantage will mean something this year as hitting in 90-plus degree heat and humidity will be an extra challenge in Atlanta. Olson understands that and can pace himself accordingly. Plus, he was a late addition. He has got nothing to lose. He’ll outlast the young bucks in the field. And I’m not putting Raleigh any lower than second — his first half screams that he’ll be in the finals against Olson.
Jorge Castillo: Wood. His mammoth power isn’t disputed — he can jack baseballs to all fields. But the slight defect in his power package is that he doesn’t hit the ball in the air nearly as often as a typical slugger. Wood ranks 126th out of 155 qualified hitters across the majors in fly ball percentage. And he still has swatted 24 home runs this season. So, in an event where he’s going to do everything he can to lift baseballs, hitting fly balls won’t be an issue, and Wood is going to show off that gigantic power en route to a victory over Cruz in the finals.
Who will hit the longest home run of the night — and how far?
Passan: Cruz hits the ball harder than anyone in baseball history. He’s the choice here, at 493 feet.
Gonzalez: If you exclude the Coors Field version, there have been just six Statcast-era Derby home runs that have traveled 497-plus feet. They were compiled by two men: Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. James Wood — all 6-foot-7, 234 pounds of him — will become the third.
Olney: James Wood has the easy Stanton- and Judge-type power, and he will clear the Chophouse with the longest homer. Let’s say 497 feet.
Rogers: Hopefully he doesn’t injure himself doing it, but Buxton will break out his massive strength and crush a ball at least 505 feet. I don’t see him advancing far in the event, but for one swing, he’ll own the night.
Castillo: Cruz hits baseballs hard and far. He’ll crush a few bombs, and one will reach an even 500 feet.
Who is the one slugger fans will know much better after the Derby?
Passan: Buxton capped his first half with a cycle on Saturday, and he’ll carry that into the Derby, where he will remind the world why he was baseball’s No. 1 prospect in 2015. Buxton’s talent has never been in question, just his health. And with his body feeling right, he has the opportunity to put on a show fans won’t soon forget.
Olney: Caminero isn’t a big name and wasn’t a high-end prospect like Wood was earlier in his career. Just 3½ years ago, Caminero was dealt to the Rays by the Cleveland Guardians in a relatively minor November trade for pitcher Tobias Myers. But since then, he has refined his ability to cover inside pitches and is blossoming this year into a player with ridiculous power. He won’t win the Derby, but he’ll open some eyes.
What’s the one moment we’ll all be talking about long after this Derby ends?
Gonzalez: The incredible distances and velocities that will be reached, particularly by Wood, Cruz, Caminero, Raleigh and Buxton. The hot, humid weather at Truist Park will only aid the mind-blowing power that will be on display Monday night.
Rogers: The exhaustion on the hitter’s faces, swinging for home run after home run in the heat and humidity of Hot-lanta!
Castillo: Cruz’s 500-foot blast and a bunch of other lasers he hits in the first two rounds before running out of gas in the finals.
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