As of Dec. 6, the Minnesota Wild were 18-4-4 and atop the NHL standings. Fast-forward to Thursday, and they have a tenuous hold on a wild-card position in the Western Conference.
Is the Wild’s playoff future in peril?
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Minnesota has 85 points and 32 regulation wins through 72 games, just ahead of the red-hot St. Louis Blues (83 and 28 through 73 games), with the Vancouver Canucks (80 and 26 through 72 games) and Calgary Flames (79 and 26 through 70 games) still in the mix.
The Wild host the league-leading Washington Capitals on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+), followed by a home-and-home series against the New Jersey Devils. Their road trip continues against the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, before a home date against the Dallas Stars.
Perhaps most notable on the remaining schedule are games at the Flames (April11) and Canucks (April 12), both of which are dreaded “four-point games,” as a regulation win for one team will have an outsize impact. Stress levels in the State of Hockey will surely rise if the standings are close as that pair of games approaches.
Despite trouble lurking for the Wild, Stathletes still likes their chances, giving them a 91.4% chance to make the playoffs.
There is less than a month 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 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa SenatorsA2 Florida Panthers 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 St. Louis BluesC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado AvalancheP1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota WildP2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
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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Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.Ottawa Senators at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.Utah Hockey Club at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.Montreal Canadiens at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.Washington Capitals at Minnesota Wild, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+)St. Louis Blues at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.Dallas Stars at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.Los Angeles Kings at Colorado Avalanche, 10 p.m. (ESPN)Edmonton Oilers at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.Toronto Maple Leafs at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday’s scoreboard
Vancouver Canucks 5, New York Islanders 2New Jersey Devils 5, Chicago Blackhawks 3Dallas Stars 4, Edmonton Oilers 3Anaheim Ducks 6, Boston Bruins 2
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Playoff Hockey Challenge
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Points: 89Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A1Games left: 11Points pace: 102.8Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A2Games left: 11Points pace: 102.8Next game: vs. UTA (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A3Games left: 11Points pace: 100.5Next game: vs. UTA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: WC1Games left: 12Points pace: 92.5Next game: @ DET (Thursday)Playoff chances: 98.1%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: WC2Games left: 12Points pace: 87.9Next game: @ PHI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 47.7%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 72Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 83.2Next game: vs. OTT (Thursday)Playoff chances: 5.2%Tragic number: 20
Points: 69Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 77.5Next game: @ DET (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 13
Points: 64Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 75.0Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 14
Metro Division
Points: 103Regulation wins: 40Playoff position: M1Games left: 11Points pace: 119.0Next game: @ MIN (Thursday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 90Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: M2Games left: 11Points pace: 103.9Next game: vs. MTL (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: M3Games left: 9Points pace: 93.2Next game: @ WPG (Friday)Playoff chances: 94.6%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 74Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 85.5Next game: @ TB (Saturday)Playoff chances: 24.5%Tragic number: 22
Points: 74Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 84.3Next game: @ ANA (Friday)Playoff chances: 16.5%Tragic number: 20
Points: 73Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 85.5Next game: vs. VAN (Friday)Playoff chances: 13.1%Tragic number: 23
Points: 69Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 77.5Next game: @ BUF (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 13
Points: 65Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 73.0Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 9
Central Division
Points: 102Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: C1Games left: 10Points pace: 116.2Next game: vs. NJ (Friday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 96Regulation wins: 37Playoff position: C2Games left: 11Points pace: 110.9Next game: @ CGY (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91Regulation wins: 37Playoff position: C3Games left: 10Points pace: 103.6Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: WC1Games left: 10Points pace: 96.8Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)Playoff chances: 96.8%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: WC2Games left: 9Points pace: 93.2Next game: @ NSH (Thursday)Playoff chances: 77.6%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 86.6Next game: @ TB (Thursday)Playoff chances: 6.2%Tragic number: 15
Points: 62Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 71.6Next game: vs. STL (Thursday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 2
Points: 51Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 58.1Next game:Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 94Regulation wins: 40Playoff position: P1Games left: 11Points pace: 108.6Next game: @ CHI (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: P3Games left: 12Points pace: 104.3Next game: @ COL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: P2Games left: 11Points pace: 100.5Next game: @ SEA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.5%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 91.1Next game: @ CBJ (Friday)Playoff chances: 8.2%Tragic number: 18
Points: 79Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 92.5Next game: vs. DAL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 11.8%Tragic number: 21
Points: 70Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 80.9Next game: vs. NYR (Friday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 10
Points: 66Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 75.2Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 4
Points: 47Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 55.1Next game: vs. TOR (Thursday)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
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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: 47Regulation wins: 14
Points: 51Regulation wins: 18
Points: 62Regulation wins: 23
Points: 64Regulation wins: 23
Points: 65Regulation wins: 17
Points: 66Regulation wins: 24
Points: 69Regulation wins: 20
Points: 69Regulation wins: 23
Points: 70Regulation wins: 23
Points: 72Regulation wins: 25
Points: 73Regulation wins: 23
Points: 74Regulation wins: 31
Points: 74Regulation wins: 25
Points: 75Regulation wins: 24
Points: 79Regulation wins: 26
Points: 80Regulation wins: 26
