Stanley Cup playoff watch: What’s at stake in Sunday’s games
The 11 NHL games on Saturday helped solidify the playoff picture, as three teams (the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and New York Islanders) have been officially eliminated from the race. Now it’s just the Columbus Blue Jackets chasing the Montreal Canadiens.
Out West, the St. Louis Blues kept hope alive for the Calgary Flames, losing in the shootout to the Seattle Kraken. But, with their victories, the Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights clinched division titles.
With the end of the regular season approaching on Thursday, here’s what at stake in the nine games taking place on Sunday:
Philadelphia Flyers at Ottawa Senators
1 p.m. (ESPN+)
The Senators are locked in to the first wild-card position in the East (and a matchup against the top team in the Atlantic). The Flyers are currently fifth in the draft lottery order, two behind the Boston Bruins and one ahead of the Kraken.
New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils
1 p.m. (TNT)
The Isles’ playoff hopes were extinguished with their shootout loss on Saturday, and they are in the No. 10 spot in the draft lottery order, two behind the Ducks and Penguins, and one ahead of the Rangers and Red Wings. On the other side, the Devils are locked in to the No. 3 seed in the Metro, and will open the playoffs on the road against the Hurricanes.
Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins
3:30 p.m. (TNT)
One day, these proud franchises will be battling it out again for postseason positioning, but that day is not today. For this iteration of the matchup, Boston enters as the No. 4 seed in the draft lottery order, two ahead of Philly and three ahead of Seattle (the Bruins cannot catch the Predators for the No. 3 spot). The Pens are eighth, one behind the Sabres, tied with the Ducks, and two ahead of the Islanders.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Carolina Hurricanes
5 p.m. (ESPN+)
If things break correctly in the coming weeks, we could see these two teams collide again in the Eastern Conference finals. Toronto holds a four-point lead over the Lightning and Panthers atop the Atlantic Division, and clinches the division today if they win and the Lightning lose in any fashion. The Canes will go no higher or lower than second in the Metro, and they’ll face off with the Devils to begin their postseason play.
Buffalo Sabres at Tampa Bay Lightning
6 p.m. (ESPN+)
As noted above, the Lightning remain in the chase for the Atlantic crown and will just about need every W left on the schedule to do it. On the other side, the Sabres are high up in the draft lottery order (they begin Sunday No. 7), but that hasn’t stopped them from playing some great hockey as of late, going 7-2-1 in their last 10 games.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals
6 p.m. (ESPN+)
A rematch from Saturday’s matinee in Columbus, which the Blue Jackets won 7-0. Columbus is five points and two regulation wins back of Montreal for the final wild-card spot with a game in hand. The Capitals are locked in to the top seed in the Eastern Conference, but their Presidents’ Trophy dreams are on thin ice; they are five points back of the Jets with three games left.
Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
The Oilers recently clinched their spot in the postseason, and a first-round matchup against the very familiar Los Angeles Kings (having faced them in three straight postseasons). What’s left to determine is home-ice advantage, although the Kings are four points ahead with three games left for both clubs. As for the Jets, they are locked in as the No. 1 seed in the West, and just wait to see if they’ll be playing the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues or Calgary Flames in Round 1.
San Jose Sharks at Calgary Flames
8 p.m. (ESPN+)
Speaking of the Flames, they begin Sunday four games back of the Blues and five games back of the Wild, with two games in hand on both clubs. The chances are slim, but the door remains open for a final-week surge into the postseason. By way of potential tiebreakers, the Sharks have clinched the No. 1 spot in the draft lottery order.
Colorado Avalanche at Anaheim Ducks
10 p.m. (ESPN)
Sunday’s nightcap pits the Avalanche — who are locked in to the No. 3 spot in the Central, and a first-round matchup against the Dallas Stars — against the Ducks, who appear to be about one year away from mounting a real run at the playoffs. Anaheim begins Sunday ninth in the draft lottery order, tied in points with Pittsburgh, one behind Buffalo and two ahead of the Islanders.
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 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
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).
Philadelphia Flyers at Ottawa Senators, 1 p.m.
New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils, 1 p.m. (TNT)
Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins, 3:30 p.m. (TNT)
Toronto Maple Leafs at Carolina Hurricanes, 5 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres at Tampa Bay Lightning, 6 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals, 6 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets, 7 p.m.
San Jose Sharks at Calgary Flames, 8 p.m.
Colorado Avalanche at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday’s scoreboard
Philadelphia Flyers 4, New York Islanders 3 (SO)
Columbus Blue Jackets 7, Washington Capitals 0
Carolina Hurricanes 7, New York Rangers 3
Los Angeles Kings 5, Colorado Avalanche 4
Florida Panthers 3, Buffalo Sabres 2 (SO)
Toronto Maple Leafs 1, Montreal Canadiens 0 (OT)
Winnipeg Jets 5, Chicago Blackhawks 4 (SO)
Utah Hockey Club 5, Dallas Stars 3
Minnesota Wild 3, Vancouver Canucks 2 (OT)
Vegas Golden Knights 5, Nashville Predators 3
Seattle Kraken 4, St. Louis Blues 3 (SO)
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 105.873417721519
Next game: @ CAR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 101.721518987342
Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 100.45
Next game: vs. NYR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 95.4936708860759
Next game: vs. PHI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 90.2
Next game: vs. CHI (Monday)
Playoff chances: 98.3%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 84.0759493670886
Next game: vs. DAL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 79.9240506329114
Next game: @ TB (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 74.825
Next game: @ PIT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Metro Division
Points: 109
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 113.139240506329
Next game: vs. CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 102.759493670886
Next game: vs. TOR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 3
Points pace: 92.379746835443
Next game: vs. NYI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 86.1518987341772
Next game: @ WSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 1.7%
Tragic number: 3
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 83.025
Next game: @ FLA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 83.0379746835443
Next game: @ NJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 79.95
Next game: vs. BOS (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 77.8481012658228
Next game: @ OTT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 114
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 116.85
Next game: vs. EDM (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 106
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 108.65
Next game: @ DET (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 101.234567901235
Next game: @ ANA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 96.1728395061728
Next game: vs. ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 94.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 95.1604938271605
Next game: vs. UTA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 89%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 89.175
Next game: @ NSH (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 67.65
Next game: vs. UTA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 58.425
Next game: @ MTL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 107
Regulation wins: 45
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 109.675
Next game: @ CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 101
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 3
Points pace: 104.835443037975
Next game: @ EDM (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 97
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 100.683544303797
Next game: @ WPG (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 93.4177215189873
Next game: vs. SJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 16.5%
Tragic number: 3
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 90.2
Next game: vs. SJ (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 80.9620253164557
Next game: vs. COL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 76.9382716049383
Next game: vs. LA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 52.9367088607595
Next game: @ CGY (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Note: 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: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 29
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.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike