Though it lacks the volume of teams in close proximity like the Eastern Conference wild-card race, the Western derby is no less wild. Sunday’s action will provide yet another clue as to who will earn the final spot in that half of the postseason bracket.
Heading into Sunday’s slate, the Minnesota Wild appear pretty well locked in to the the first wild-card spot, with 79 points and 29 regulation wins through 67 games. But who gets the second one?
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Right now it’s the Vancouver Canucks, with 73 points and 24 RW in 66 games. They’re taking on the Utah Hockey Club on Sunday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+). Once past that game, they’ll play eight games of their final 15 against playoff teams.
Next up are the Calgary Flames, with 71 points and 24 RW in 65 games. They are idle on Sunday and will play against teams currently in playoff position in nine of their final 17 contests.
The St. Louis Blues are also two behind the Canucks in points, with 23 RW through 67 games. Jordan Binnington & Co. host the Anaheim Ducks (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+), then play just four of their final 14 against teams in playoff spots.
Speaking of the UHC, following Sunday’s game against the Canucks, seven of the remaining 15 games are against current playoff-positioned clubs.
Stathletes gives the Canucks the best playoff chances of the group (31.1%), followed by the Blues (30.2%), Hockey Club (22.4%) and Flames (20.2%). The “prize” for the team that wins this race is likely a first-round matchup with the Winnipeg Jets, but upsets do happen!
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 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Toronto Maple LeafsM1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 New York RangersM2 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 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Sunday’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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Vegas Golden Knights at Detroit Red Wings, 1 p.m. (TNT)Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche, 3:30 p.m. (TNT)Anaheim Ducks at St. Louis Blues, 6 p.m.Edmonton Oilers at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.Florida Panthers at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.Utah Hockey Club at Vancouver Canucks, 8 p.m.Winnipeg Jets at Seattle Kraken, 9 p.m.
Saturday’s scoreboard
Buffalo Sabres 4, Vegas Golden Knights 3 (SO)Pittsburgh Penguins 7, New Jersey Devils 3Washington Capitals 5, San Jose Sharks 1Tampa Bay Lightning 6, Boston Bruins 2Ottawa Senators 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 2Montreal Canadiens 3, Florida Panthers 1Carolina Hurricanes 5, Philadelphia Flyers 0New York Rangers 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 0St. Louis Blues 5, Minnesota Wild 1Los Angeles Kings 1, Nashville Predators 0 (OT)Vancouver Canucks 6, Chicago Blackhawks 2
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 85Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A1Games left: 15Points pace: 104.0Next game: @ NYI (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: A2Games left: 16Points pace: 100.6Next game: vs. PHI (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: A3Games left: 16Points pace: 100.6Next game: vs. CGY (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC1Games left: 16Points pace: 95.7Next game: @ MTL (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 98.8%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 88.2Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 10.4%Tragic number: 32
Points: 68Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 84.5Next game: vs. VGK (Sunday)Playoff chances: 7.4%Tragic number: 29
Points: 68Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 82.0Next game: vs. BUF (Monday)Playoff chances: 8.8%Tragic number: 25
Points: 58Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 73.2Next game: @ BOS (Monday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 21
Metro Division
Points: 96Regulation wins: 37Playoff position: M1Games left: 15Points pace: 117.5Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday)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: 78Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: M3Games left: 14Points pace: 94.1Next game: @ CBJ (Monday)Playoff chances: 97.5%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 72Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: WC2Games left: 15Points pace: 88.1Next game: vs. EDM (Sunday)Playoff chances: 43.2%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 70Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 87.0Next game: vs. NJ (Monday)Playoff chances: 21.9%Tragic number: 31
Points: 66Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 83.3Next game: vs. FLA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 9.3%Tragic number: 29
Points: 66Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 78.4Next game: vs. NYI (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.8%Tragic number: 21
Points: 64Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 77.2Next game: @ TB (Monday)Playoff chances: 2.1%Tragic number: 21
Central Division
Points: 96Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: C1Games left: 15Points pace: 117.5Next game: @ SEA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: C2Games left: 17Points pace: 108.5Next game: @ COL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: C3Games left: 15Points pace: 101.6Next game: vs. DAL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: WC1Games left: 15Points pace: 96.7Next game: vs. LA (Monday)Playoff chances: 96.5%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 86.9Next game: vs. ANA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 30.2%Tragic number: 29
Points: 69Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 85.7Next game: @ VAN (Sunday)Playoff chances: 22.4%Tragic number: 29
Points: 58Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 72.1Next game: vs. STL (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 18
Points: 49Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 60.0Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 7
Pacific Division
Points: 86Regulation wins: 36Playoff position: P1Games left: 16Points pace: 106.9Next game: @ DET (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: P2Games left: 17Points pace: 102.2Next game: @ MIN (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.7%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: P3Games left: 16Points pace: 99.4Next game: @ NYR (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.8%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 73Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: WC2Games left: 16Points pace: 90.7Next game: vs. UTA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 31.1%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 89.6Next game: @ TOR (Monday)Playoff chances: 20.2%Tragic number: 33
Points: 65Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 80.8Next game: @ STL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 25
Points: 62Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 75.9Next game: vs. WPG (Sunday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 20
Points: 45Regulation wins: 13Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 54.3Next game: vs. CAR (Thursday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 1
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: 45Regulation wins: 13
Points: 49Regulation wins: 17
Points: 58Regulation wins: 21
Points: 58Regulation wins: 21
Points: 62Regulation wins: 23
Points: 64Regulation wins: 17
Points: 65Regulation wins: 21
Points: 66Regulation wins: 19
Points: 66Regulation wins: 23
Points: 68Regulation wins: 23
Points: 68Regulation wins: 23
Points: 69Regulation wins: 21
Points: 70Regulation wins: 23
Points: 71Regulation wins: 23
Points: 71Regulation wins: 23
Points: 71Regulation wins: 24
