NHL playoff standings: Can the Isles sneak into the playoffs?

As play began on the day after the NHL trade deadline, the New York Islanders were four points behind the Ottawa Senators, who were in possession of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. There were also four teams between the Isles and Sens.

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Fast-forward to Wednesday, and the gap between the Islanders and another playoff berth is just one point. Can they pull this off?

The first team standing in their way is the Vancouver Canucks, who visit UBS Arena on Wednesday night (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+). The Canucks are fighting for their own playoff berth, trying to catch a resurgent St. Louis Blues team that has caught fire since the deadline. So this game will be no gimme for the hosts.

From then on, things get more difficult: The next five games are against playoff-bound teams — the Tampa Bay Lightning (twice!), Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild and Washington Capitals. They get a one-game respite against the Nashville Predators, then close out with Metro Division foes — the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, Capitals again and Columbus Blue Jackets — who will be in no mood to do the Isles any favors.

The road will be tough, but many have counted this team out before at their own peril. The Stathletes projections give the Isles a 24.3% chance of proving the doubters wrong again.

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

Wednesday’s games

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

Vancouver Canucks at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.New Jersey Devils at Chicago Blackhawks, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m. (TNT)Boston Bruins at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.

Tuesday’s scoreboard

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Buffalo Sabres 3, Ottawa Senators 2Toronto Maple Leafs 7, Philadelphia Flyers 2Tampa Bay Lightning 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 1Nashville Predators 3, Carolina Hurricanes 1St. Louis Blues 6, Montreal Canadiens 1Vegas Golden Knights 5, Minnesota Wild 1Winnipeg Jets 3, Washington Capitals 2 (OT)Colorado Avalanche 5, Detroit Red Wings 2Calgary Flames 4, Seattle Kraken 3 (OT)Los Angeles Kings 3, New York Rangers 1

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: 97.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: WC2Games left: 12Points pace: 87.9Next game: @ PHI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 38.6%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 72Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 83.2Next game: vs. OTT (Thursday)Playoff chances: 3.4%Tragic number: 20

Points: 69Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 78.6Next game: @ ANA (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 0.2%Tragic number: 15

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: 99.9%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: 81Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: M3Games left: 10Points pace: 92.3Next game: @ CHI (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 96.4%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 74Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 86.7Next game: vs. VAN (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 30.9%Tragic number: 24

Points: 74Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 84.3Next game: @ ANA (Friday)Playoff chances: 16.4%Tragic number: 20

Points: 73Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 85.5Next game: vs. VAN (Friday)Playoff chances: 16.2%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: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 94Regulation wins: 36Playoff position: C2Games left: 12Points pace: 110.1Next game: @ EDM (Wednesday)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: 91.4%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: WC2Games left: 9Points pace: 93.2Next game: @ NSH (Thursday)Playoff chances: 81.5%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 86.6Next game: @ TB (Thursday)Playoff chances: 4.1%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: 11Points pace: 58.9Next game: vs. NJ (Wednesday)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: 12Points pace: 101.9Next game: vs. DAL (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 99.0%Tragic number: N/A