NHL playoff standings: Canucks or Flames for last wild card?

The Vancouver Canucks were the regular-season champions of the Pacific Division in 2023-24, and won their first-round playoff matchup against the Nashville Predators. The Calgary Flames finished 17 points out of a wild-card spot last season, and during last season and the offseason, traded away Jacob Markstrom, Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev.

One might say that expectations were different for the two clubs before the season, which is backed up by the preseason point total over/unders from ESPN BET: the Canucks were listed at 99.5, with the Flames at 81.5

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Nevertheless, the two Western Canadian teams are battling for the final Western Conference wild-card spot with a little over a month left in the season. On Wednesday night, the they’ll face off in Calgary (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+). Heading into the game, Calgary has 70 points and 24 regulation wins in 63 games, and Vancouver has 69 and 23 through 63. This will be the final head-to-match matchup between the clubs.

Of the Flames’ remaining games beyond Wednesday, 10 out of 18 are against teams in a playoff position. For the Canucks, it’s nine out of the final 17.

Stathletes projects the Flames to finish in that coveted wild-card position, with 89.6 points. Vancouver is projected at 88.1 points, behind Calgary and also the St. Louis Blues and Utah Hockey Club.

Given the tight margins, every game counts, particularly one against a fellow wild-card bubble team.

There is a lot of runway left until the final day of the season April 17, and we’ll help you keep track of it all on 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 Columbus Blue JacketsM2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 Calgary FlamesC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado AvalancheP1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota WildP2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

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).

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Buffalo Sabres at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.Anaheim Ducks at Utah Hockey Club, 10 p.m. (TNT)Montreal Canadiens at Seattle Kraken, 10:30 p.m.

Tuesday’s scoreboard

Boston Bruins 3, Florida Panthers 2New Jersey Devils 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 3Ottawa Senators 5, Philadelphia Flyers 2Pittsburgh Penguins 3, Vegas Golden Knights 2 (OT)Carolina Hurricanes 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 1Minnesota Wild 2, Colorado Avalanche 1 (SO)Winnipeg Jets 2, New York Rangers 1Montreal Canadiens 4, Vancouver Canucks 2Washington Capitals 7, Anaheim Ducks 4Los Angeles Kings 4, New York Islanders 1Nashville Predators 3, San Jose Sharks 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 83Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: A1Games left: 17Points pace: 104.7Next game: @ TOR (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 81Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: A2Games left: 18Points pace: 103.8Next game: vs. FLA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: A3Games left: 18Points pace: 99.9Next game: @ PHI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 73Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: WC1Games left: 18Points pace: 93.5Next game: vs. BOS (Thursday)Playoff chances: 95.2%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 68Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 87.1Next game: @ SEA (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 9.9%Tragic number: 35

Points: 68Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 84.5Next game: @ OTT (Thursday)Playoff chances: 5.7%Tragic number: 31

Points: 66Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 84.6Next game: vs. BUF (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 6.7%Tragic number: 33

Points: 56Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 19Points pace: 72.9Next game: @ DET (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 25

Metro Division

Points: 94Regulation wins: 36Playoff position: M1Games left: 17Points pace: 118.6Next game: @ LA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: M2Games left: 17Points pace: 103.5Next game: vs. DET (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: M3Games left: 16Points pace: 94.4Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday)Playoff chances: 94%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 70Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: WC2Games left: 18Points pace: 89.7Next game: vs. VGK (Thursday)Playoff chances: 41.6%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 68Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 85.8Next game: @ MIN (Thursday)Playoff chances: 29.9%Tragic number: 33

Points: 65Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 83.3Next game: vs. EDM (Friday)Playoff chances: 14.5%Tragic number: 32

Points: 62Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 77.0Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)Playoff chances: 2.3%Tragic number: 25

Points: 62Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 75.9Next game: vs. STL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.3%Tragic number: 23

Central Division

Points: 94Regulation wins: 37Playoff position: C1Games left: 16Points pace: 116.8Next game: vs. DAL (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 86Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: C2Games left: 18Points pace: 110.2Next game: @ WPG (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 81Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: C3Games left: 16Points pace: 100.6Next game: @ CGY (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: WC1Games left: 17Points pace: 98.4Next game: vs. NYR (Thursday)Playoff chances: 91%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 69Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 87.1Next game: @ PIT (Thursday)Playoff chances: 29.8%Tragic number: 34

Points: 67Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 85.8Next game: vs. ANA (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 25.9%Tragic number: 34

Points: 57Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 73.0Next game: @ ANA (Friday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 24

Points: 49Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 61.8Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 14

Pacific Division

Points: 83Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: P1Games left: 18Points pace: 106.3Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: P2Games left: 18Points pace: 99.9Next game: @ NJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.6%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 77Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: P3Games left: 19Points pace: 100.2Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)Playoff chances: 97.2%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 70Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: WC2Games left: 19Points pace: 91.1Next game: vs. VAN (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 35.9%Tragic number: N/A