NHL playoff watch: Oilers-Avs a conference final preview?
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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
With four days left of the 2022-23 NHL regular season, we know the identity of 13 out of 16 playoff teams. But quite a bit of specific seeding remains to be determined.
That process continues tonight via a 10-game schedule, highlighted by a doubleheader on ESPN.
In the first game, the past becomes the present to preview the future, as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning reprise their first-round clash from the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs (7 p.m. ET, ESPN), a week before they’ll run it back in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In the late game, the Edmonton Oilers visit the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) in a preview of a possible Western Conference finals showdown.
How likely is that pairing? As of now, the Oilers will host the Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific Division 2 vs. 3 matchup, before taking on the winner of the Vegas Golden Knights‘ series against the second Western wild card (currently the Winnipeg Jets). The Avs are leading the Central, and would take on the first wild card Seattle Kraken before moving on to challenge the winner of the Dallas Stars–Minnesota Wild series.
As mentioned, much of this could change before the tournament begins on Monday, but Money Puck gives these two teams the highest chances of any Western clubs of making the conference finals: 40.5% for the Oilers and 39.1% for the Avs.
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
Tuesday’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).
Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.
Detroit Red Wings at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Chicago Blackhawks at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7:30 p.m.
Winnipeg Jets at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at Colorado Avalanche, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Vancouver Canucks at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
Seattle Kraken at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.
Monday’s scoreboard
Watch “In the Crease” on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.
Dallas Stars 6, Detroit Red Wings 1
Toronto Maple Leafs 2, Florida Panthers 1 (OT)
Buffalo Sabres 3, New York Rangers 2 (SO)
Ottawa Senators 3, Carolina Hurricanes 2
Washington Capitals 5, New York Islanders 2
Winnipeg Jets 6, San Jose Sharks 2
Minnesota Wild 4, Chicago Blackhawks 2
Nashville Predators 3, Calgary Flames 2 (SO)
Seattle Kraken 4, Arizona Coyotes 1
Los Angeles Kings 3, Vancouver Canucks 0
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: 107
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ TB (Tuesday)
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: 92
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 93
Next game: vs. CAR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 82%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 90
Next game: @ NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 4%
Tragic number: 2
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 86
Next game: @ BUF (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ CAR (Tuesday)
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: 2
Points pace: 112
Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday)
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: 107
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 108
Next game: vs. TOR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. MTL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 57%
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: 57%
Tragic number: 3
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 81
Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)
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: 104
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ STL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 95
Next game: @ MIN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 94%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. MIN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 6%
Tragic number: 1
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: 1
Points pace: 70
Next game: vs. VAN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 57
Next game: @ PIT (Tuesday)
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: 102
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 103
Next game: @ ANA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 103
Next game: @ VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. SJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 81
Next game: @ ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 62
Next game: @ CGY (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 60
Next game: vs. LA (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 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: 79
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 31
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 31
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 30
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Jorge Castillo
NEW YORK — The Yankees–Red Sox rivalry, a historic feud running on fumes in recent years, received a light jolt from a rookie this weekend — and Aaron Judge took notice.
Boston right-hander Hunter Dobbins, a lifelong Red Sox fan from Texas and the team’s starting pitcher Sunday, told the Boston Herald on Saturday that he’d rather retire if the Yankees were the last team to give him a contract.
Judge said he was unaware of the comment until ESPN’s Eduardo Pérez relayed it to him before Sunday’s series finale.
“I’ve only heard Ken Griffey say that, so I was a little surprised,” Judge said.
A few hours later, the Yankees captain smashed the first pitch he saw from Dobbins — a 98 mph fastball up and over the plate — for a mammoth two-run homer. The ball traveled 436 feet at 108.6 mph to right-center field. It was the second-longest opposite-field home run of Judge’s career, 2 feet short of the longest, according to MLB researcher Sarah Langs.
After the game, an 11-7 loss for the Yankees, Judge admitted stepping into the batter’s box with Dobbins’ comment in mind.
“Well, once somebody tells you, yeah,” Judge said.
Griffey, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, insisted he would never have played for the Yankees during his career because of the way he and his father were treated by the organization during Ken Griffey Sr.’s time with the Yankees. Ken Griffey Sr. spent four-plus seasons in the Bronx in the 1980s.
During an in-game interview on ESPN, Jazz Chisholm Jr., who before the game vouched for more trash-talking in baseball on social media, said he appreciated Dobbins’ competitiveness but thought the comment was outlandish.
“I love competitiveness,” he said. “But to say that, being a rookie, is kind of crazy to me, to say that you’re going to rule out one out of 30 teams to be a professional athlete.”
Dobbins rebounded from Judge’s blast to hold the Yankees to three runs on four hits through five innings despite not recording a strikeout as Boston took two of three games in the rivals’ first series of the season.
An eighth-round pick in 2021, Dobbins has a 4.20 ERA in 10 appearances (eight starts) with the Red Sox.
Judge added another two-run homer in the ninth inning Sunday against right-hander Robert Stock for the final runs of the game.
It was the reigning American League MVP’s 43rd career multihomer game, tying Lou Gehrig for third in franchise history. Babe Ruth (68) and Mickey Mantle (46) top the list.
“Any time you get mentioned with those legends, it’s quite an honor,” said Judge, who is batting .396 with a 1.264 OPS and now has 23 home runs this season. “But it would’ve been sweeter to talk about it after a win.”
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