Sports

NHL playoff watch: The final push for the Panthers

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3 years ago

April 11, 2023

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7:00 AM ET

Tim KavanaghESPN.com
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Entering the final week of the regular season, three teams are vying for two wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference. Heading into Monday night’s 10-game slate, the Florida Panthers have the slightest of edges as the No. 1 wild card: 91 points and 36 regulation wins in 80 games, compared to the No. 2 wild card New York Islanders (91 and 35 in 80) and Pittsburgh Penguins (90 and 31 in 80).

The Panthers don’t need to win out, but every point onward is critical. Their journey continues Monday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu), a team that clinched a playoff berth back on March 28 and is locked into the No. 2 seed in the Atlantic Division.

The Leafs won the first matchup in overtime (5-4 on Jan. 17), then won the second game cleanly (6-2 on March 23) before the Panthers took the most recent game in OT (3-2 on March 29).

Following Monday’s game, the Panthers will close out the season Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes, who may have locked up the Metro Division title by then. FiveThirtyEight’s latest projections give the Panthers a 78% chance of making the playoffs, while the Isles are at 76% and the Penguins are at 45%.

Today’s clinching scenario: The Panthers can clinch a playoff berth with a win against the Maple Leafs in regulation or overtime and a regulation loss by the Islanders against the Capitals.

As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2023 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via FiveThirtyEight.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Last night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

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

Western Conference

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC1 Seattle Kraken
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Monday’s games

Note: All times Eastern. All games not on ESPN, TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).

Dallas Stars at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
Buffalo Sabres at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
Carolina Hurricanes at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
New York Islanders at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.
San Jose Sharks at Winnipeg Jets, 7 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks, 9 p.m. (ESPN)
Nashville Predators at Calgary Flames, 9:30 p.m.
Seattle Kraken at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m.
Vancouver Canucks at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.

Sunday’s scoreboard

Watch “In the Crease” on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.

Boston Bruins 5, Philadelphia Flyers 3
Colorado Avalanche 5, Anaheim Ducks 4 (OT)

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 131
Regulation wins: 52
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 134
Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 109
Next game: @ FLA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 98
Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 93
Next game: vs. TOR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 78%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 89
Next game: @ NYR (Monday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 2

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 85
Next game: vs. CAR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. DAL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 70
Next game: @ NYI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Metropolitan Division

Points: 109
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 113
Next game: @ OTT (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 108
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 111
Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 106
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. BUF (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 93
Next game: @ WSH (Monday)
Playoff chances: 76%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 45%
Tragic number: 3

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 80
Next game: vs. NYI (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 73
Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 58
Next game: @ PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

Points: 104
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 108
Next game: vs. EDM (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 106
Next game: @ DET (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 3
Points pace: 104
Next game: @ CHI (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 95
Next game: vs. SJ (Monday)
Playoff chances: 77%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 91
Next game: @ CGY (Monday)
Playoff chances: 5%
Tragic number: 3

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 71
Next game: vs. SEA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 58
Next game: vs. MIN (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Points: 107
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 110
Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 108
Next game: @ COL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 103
Next game: vs. VAN (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 102
Next game: @ ARI (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. NSH (Monday)
Playoff chances: 19%
Tragic number: 3

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ LA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 62
Next game: @ WPG (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 60
Next game: vs. VAN (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 Connor Bedard, who has been lauded as a generational talent.

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 15

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 17

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 13

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 16

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 21

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 28

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 27

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 30

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 29

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 29

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 30

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 31

Sports

Mariners shut down Jays’ bats to steal Game 1

Published

9 hours ago

October 13, 2025

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Mariners shut down Jays' bats to steal Game 1

Associated Press

Oct 12, 2025, 11:17 PM ET

TORONTO — Bryce Miller overcame a shaky first inning and gave the tired Seattle Mariners the start they needed in the AL Championship Series opener.

Miller pitched six sharp innings, Jorge Polanco hit a go-ahead single in the sixth and the Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 Sunday night as they returned to the ALCS for the first time in 24 years.

“The year, personally, didn’t go how I had planned and how I had hoped for but we’re in the ALCS and I got to go out there and set the tone,” Miller said. “I felt great.”

Seattle slugger Cal Raleigh added a tying solo home run, his second homer of the postseason after leading the major leagues with 60 in the regular season.

“That was a big lift,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said of Raleigh’s drive in a two-run sixth.

George Springer homered on the first pitch from Miller, who then escaped a two-on jam in a 27-pitch first inning.

Anthony Santander singled in the second for Toronto’s only other hit, and Seattle pitchers retired 23 of the Blue Jays’ final 24 batters. Miller, Gabe Speier, Matt Brash and Andres Munoz combined to throw just 100 pitches less than 48 hours after the Mariners needed 209 pitches to outlast Detroit over 15 innings.

“The job Bryce Miller did tonight was phenomenal,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “After that first inning, he went into a different gear. You saw him getting ahead, using all his stuff.”

Miller, the winner, struck out three and walked three in six innings, throwing 76 pitches. The three relievers each had eight-pitch, 1-2-3 innings, with Muñoz getting the save.

Raleigh tied the score in the sixth with his ninth homer in 14 games at Rogers Centre. Kevin Gausman had held batters to 0 for 16 on splitters in the postseason before Raleigh’s homer.

“I was trying to get bat on ball, really just trying to put something in play,” Raleigh said, wearing a T-shirt with the words: “JOB’S NOT FINISHED.” “I didn’t want to punch out again.”

Polanco hit a go-ahead single later in the inning and added an RBI single in the eighth.

“He’s been huge from both sides of the plate,” Raleigh said .

AL West champion Seattle traveled to AL East winner Toronto on Saturday after a 3-2 home victory over the Tigers on Friday to win the Division Series, the longest winner-take-all game in Major League Baseball history.

Seattle, the only MLB team to never host a World Series game, held Toronto to two hits after the Blue Jays had 50 hits and 34 runs in their four-game Division Series against the New York Yankees.

“We’re a really good offense,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “Today it just didn’t work out.”

Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 9 for 17 with three homers and nine RBIs against the Yankees but finished 0 for 4 Sunday with three groundouts.

“This is going to be a hard-fought series, man,” Schneider said. “These guys will be ready for it.”

Springer’s 21st postseason home run broke a tie with the Yankees’ Derek Jeter, moving him into sole possession of fifth place on the career list.

Raleigh’s homer was his fourth in 15 at-bats against Gausman, who took the loss.

“Up to that point, I’d been throwing the ball really well and had the game right there,” Gausman said. “This one’s on me.”

Gausman allowed two runs and three hits in 5⅔ innings.

“Great hitters capitalize on mistakes,” Schneider said. “That split from Kev just kind of leaked back over the middle a little bit.”

Raleigh hit a one-out single off Gausman in the first and advanced to third on Julio Rodríguez’s base hit but was thrown out at the plate by third baseman Addison Barger on Polanco’s grounder.

Polanco, who had the game-ending single Friday, singled against Brendon Little to drive in Rodríguez, who had chased Gausman with a two-out walk.

Polanco added another RBI single against Seranthony Dominguez.

Eugenio Suarez doubled off the top of the right-field wall against Louis Varland in the seventh. The 395-foot drive would have been a homer in 15 of 30 big league ballparks, including Seattle.

Toronto outfielder Nathan Lukes left in the fourth inning. Lukes bruised his right knee when he fouled a pitch off it in the first inning. Schneider said X-rays were negative and said Lukes might return Monday.

Sports

Jays’ Springer leads off with 21st postseason HR

Published

10 hours ago

October 13, 2025

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Jays' Springer leads off with 21st postseason HR

ESPN News Services

Oct 12, 2025, 09:52 PM ET

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.

Sports

L.A. to start Snell in Game 1, Ohtani later in NLCS

Published

10 hours ago

October 13, 2025

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L.A. to start Snell in Game 1, Ohtani later in NLCS

Jesse RogersOct 12, 2025, 08:36 PM ET
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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.”