NHL playoff standings: Blues or Canucks for West wild card?

The race for the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot is by no means a two-team showdown — but the two teams tied in standings points for that position are squaring off on Thursday.

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The Vancouver Canucks — who currently hold the coveted playoff spot, with 75 points and 25 regulation wins in 68 games — will be visiting the St. Louis Blues (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+), who also have 75 points and 25 regulation wins but in 69 games.

So, with apologies to the Calgary Flames and Utah Hockey Club, Thursday night’s clash has become extra pivotal, after the clubs split the first two games of the season series and will not play again.

Looking beyond this game, the Blues play five of their remaining 12 games against current playoff teams; the Canucks have an extra game down the stretch, but they play seven of their final 13 against playoff teams, including five of their final six.

Stathletes likes the Blues’ postseason future a bit more, putting their playoff chances at 56.8%, with the Canucks at 26.3%.

There is a lot of runway left until April 17, the final day of the regular season, 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 matchupsToday’s scheduleYesterday’s scoresExpanded standingsRace for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Ottawa SenatorsA2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay LightningM1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal CanadiensM2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 Vancouver CanucksC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado AvalancheP1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota WildP2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Thursday’s games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

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Colorado Avalanche at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.Calgary Flames at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.Toronto Maple Leafs at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.Florida Panthers at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.Montreal Canadiens at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.Vancouver Canucks at St. Louis Blues, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+)Anaheim Ducks at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.Tampa Bay Lightning at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.Los Angeles Kings at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.Winnipeg Jets at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m.Buffalo Sabres at Utah Hockey Club, 9 p.m.Boston Bruins at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.Carolina Hurricanes at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday’s scoreboard

Toronto Maple Leafs 2, Colorado Avalanche 1Minnesota Wild 4, Seattle Kraken 0

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 85Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A1Games left: 14Points pace: 102.5Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 85Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: A2Games left: 14Points pace: 102.5Next game: @ NYR (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: A3Games left: 15Points pace: 101.6Next game: @ DAL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 77Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC1Games left: 15Points pace: 94.2Next game: vs. COL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 97.3%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 73Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: WC2Games left: 15Points pace: 89.3Next game: @ NYI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 36.5%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 70Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 84.4Next game: @ VGK (Saturday)Playoff chances: 5.1%Tragic number: 26

Points: 69Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 82.0Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)Playoff chances: 2.4%Tragic number: 23

Points: 60Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 74.6Next game: @ UTA (Thursday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 20

Metro Division

Points: 98Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: M1Games left: 14Points pace: 118.2Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 86Regulation wins: 36Playoff position: M2Games left: 15Points pace: 105.3Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 80Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: M3Games left: 13Points pace: 95.1Next game: vs. CGY (Thursday)Playoff chances: 96.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 72Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 85.6Next game: vs. TOR (Thursday)Playoff chances: 25.5%Tragic number: 26

Points: 70Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 85.7Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 23.8%Tragic number: 28

Points: 70Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 85.7Next game: vs. FLA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 12.4%Tragic number: 28

Points: 66Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 77.3Next game: vs. CBJ (Friday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 18

Points: 64Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 76.1Next game: @ WSH (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 18

Central Division

Points: 98Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: C1Games left: 13Points pace: 116.5Next game: @ EDM (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 89Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: C2Games left: 15Points pace: 108.9Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 85Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: C3Games left: 13Points pace: 101.0Next game: @ OTT (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: WC1Games left: 13Points pace: 98.6Next game: vs. BUF (Saturday)Playoff chances: 92.6%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 89.1Next game: vs. VAN (Thursday)Playoff chances: 56.8%Tragic number: 27

Points: 71Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 85.6Next game: vs. BUF (Thursday)Playoff chances: 8.6%Tragic number: 25

Points: 58Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 71.0Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 14

Points: 49Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 59.1Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 3

Pacific Division

Points: 86Regulation wins: 36Playoff position: P1Games left: 15Points pace: 105.3Next game: vs. BOS (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: P2Games left: 14Points pace: 101.3Next game: vs. WPG (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A