NHL playoff standings: Jets-Hurricanes a Cup Final preview?

There are some who saw what the Carolina Hurricanes did at the trade deadline — or perhaps failed to do after they traded Mikko Rantanen — and believe they’re cooked when it comes to the Stanley Cup playoffs. However, based on the projections from Stathletes, the Canes remain the team with the highest chances of winning the Cup, at 16.7%.

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Standing before them on Sunday are the Winnipeg Jets (5 p.m. ET, ESPN+). The Jets had a relatively quiet deadline, adding Luke Schenn and Brandon Tanev, though sometimes these additions are the types of small tweaks that can push a contender over the edge. As it stands, the Jets enter their showdown against the Canes with the sixth-highest Cup chances, at 8.7%.

Carolina has made two trips to the Cup Final: a loss to the Detroit Red Wings in 2002 and a win over the Edmonton Oilers in 2006. The Canes have reached the conference finals three times since (2009, 2019, 2023). Winnipeg has yet to make the Cup Final, and was defeated 4-1 in the 2018 Western Conference finals by the Vegas Golden Knights in the club’s lone trip to the penultimate stage.

Both clubs are due. Will this be their year?

There is a lot of runway left until the final day of the season on April 17, and we’ll help you keep track of it all here on the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide detail 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 matchupsSaturday’s scheduleFriday’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

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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New Jersey Devils at Philadelphia Flyers, 1 p.m. (TNT)Seattle Kraken at Washington Capitals, 3:30 p.m.Pittsburgh Penguins at Minnesota Wild, 3:30 p.m. (TNT)Winnipeg Jets at Carolina Hurricanes, 5 p.m.Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers, 6 p.m.Los Angeles Kings at Vegas Golden Knights, 8 p.m.Dallas Stars at Vancouver Canucks, 9 p.m.New York Islanders at Anaheim Ducks, 9 p.m.

Saturday’s scoreboard

Ottawa Senators 4, New York Rangers 3 (OT)Seattle Kraken 4, Philadelphia Flyers 1Boston Bruins 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 0Florida Panthers 4, Buffalo Sabres 0Colorado Avalanche 7, Toronto Maple Leafs 4Calgary Flames 1, Montreal Canadiens 0Nashville Predators 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2 (OT)Los Angeles Kings 2, St. Louis Blues 1 (OT)Edmonton Oilers 5, Dallas Stars 4New York Islanders 4, San Jose Sharks 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 83Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: A1Games left: 18Points pace: 106.3Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: A2Games left: 19Points pace: 102.8Next game: @ UTA (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: A3Games left: 19Points pace: 101.5Next game: @ CAR (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 69Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: WC1Games left: 20Points pace: 91.3Next game: vs. DET (Monday)Playoff chances: 85.4%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 66Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 19Points pace: 85.9Next game: @ OTT (Monday)Playoff chances: 8.3%Tragic number: 37

Points: 66Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 19Points pace: 85.9Next game: @ VAN (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 19.8%Tragic number: 37

Points: 66Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 83.3Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 2.5%Tragic number: 33

Points: 54Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 71.4Next game: vs. EDM (Monday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 27

Metro Division

Points: 90Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: M1Games left: 19Points pace: 117.1Next game: vs. SEA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: M2Games left: 19Points pace: 101.5Next game: vs. WPG (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 72Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: M3Games left: 18Points pace: 92.3Next game: @ PHI (Sunday)Playoff chances: 86.5%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 68Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: WC2Games left: 20Points pace: 89.9Next game: @ NYR (Sunday)Playoff chances: 27.1%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 68Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: N/AGames left: 19Points pace: 88.5Next game: vs. CBJ (Sunday)Playoff chances: 31.1%Tragic number: 39

Points: 65Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 86.0Next game: @ LA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 29.7%Tragic number: 38

Points: 62Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 79.4Next game: vs. NJ (Sunday)Playoff chances: 9.5%Tragic number: 31

Points: 58Regulation wins: 16Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 73.1Next game: @ MIN (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 25

Central Division

Points: 92Regulation wins: 36Playoff position: C1Games left: 18Points pace: 117.9Next game: @ CAR (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: C2Games left: 19Points pace: 109.3Next game: @ VAN (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: C3Games left: 18Points pace: 99.9Next game: vs. CHI (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.6%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: WC1Games left: 19Points pace: 98.9Next game: vs. PIT (Sunday)Playoff chances: 94.4%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 69Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 87.1Next game: @ PIT (Thursday)Playoff chances: 37.2%Tragic number: 34

Points: 66Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 19Points pace: 85.9Next game: vs. TOR (Monday)Playoff chances: 26.4%Tragic number: 35

Points: 55Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 19Points pace: 71.6Next game: @ SJ (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 24

Points: 49Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 62.8Next game: @ COL (Monday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 16

Pacific Division

Points: 82Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: P1Games left: 20Points pace: 108.5Next game: vs. LA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: P2Games left: 19Points pace: 101.5Next game: @ BUF (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.7%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 73Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: P3Games left: 21Points pace: 98.1Next game: @ VGK (Sunday)Playoff chances: 84.1%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 70Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: WC2Games left: 19Points pace: 91.1Next game: vs. VAN (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 27.5%Tragic number: N/A