A 13-game schedule on Saturday finished with some big results:
Editor’s Picks
2 Related
It’s a smaller batch of games on Sunday, but there are playoff implications in most.
The New York Islanders host the Washington Capitals (12:30 p.m. ET, TNT), and while attempting to hold Alex Ovechkin off the scoresheet, the Isles also are trying to claw their way back into the wild-card race. They begin play seven points back of the Montreal Canadiens for the final spot. The Canadiens visit the Nashville Predators (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
The final spot in the West currently is held by the Minnesota Wild, who welcome the Dallas Stars to the Twin Cities (3 p.m. ET, TNT). Minnesota is four points ahead of the idle Calgary Flames, and six points ahead of the Vancouver Canucks, who host the Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET, ESPN). Dallas begins play four points back of the Winnipeg Jets for the West’s top overall seed.
Perhaps the biggest game of the day features the Columbus Blue Jackets heading to Canada’s capital to take on the Ottawa Senators (5 p.m., ESPN+). The Blue Jackets are six points behind the Canadiens, while the Senators are starting to look ahead to the No. 3-seeded Florida Panthers; they begin the day four points back. Speaking of the Cats, they visit the Detroit Red Wings (5:30 p.m. ET, TNT), who are also six points behind the Canadiens for WC2.
For those concerned with draft lottery positioning, the Boston Bruins take on the Buffalo Sabres (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+) and the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Chicago Blackhawks (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
With the regular season ending April 17, 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 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida PanthersM1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal CanadiensM2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 Minnesota WildC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado AvalancheP1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 St. Louis BluesP2 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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Washington Capitals at New York Islanders, 12:30 p.m. (TNT)Dallas Stars at Minnesota Wild, 3 p.m. (TNT)Columbus Blue Jackets at Ottawa Senators, 5 p.m.Florida Panthers at Detroit Red Wings, 5:30 p.m. (TNT)Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres, 6 p.m.Pittsburgh Penguins at Chicago Blackhawks, 6 p.m.Montreal Canadiens at Nashville Predators, 7 p.m.Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.
Saturday’s scoreboard
New Jersey Devils 4, New York Rangers 0Ottawa Senators 3, Florida Panthers 0Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Dallas Stars 3Vancouver Canucks 6, Anaheim Ducks 2Los Angeles Kings 3, Edmonton Oilers 0Boston Bruins 5, Carolina Hurricanes 1Buffalo Sabres 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (SO)Toronto Maple Leafs 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 0Montreal Canadiens 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2St. Louis Blues 5, Colorado Avalanche 4Utah Hockey Club 4, Winnipeg Jets 1Vegas Golden Knights 3, Calgary Flames 2 (OT)Seattle Kraken 5, San Jose Sharks 1
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Playoff Hockey Challenge
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Points: 98Regulation wins: 39Playoff position: A1Games left: 6Points pace: 105.7Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: A2Games left: 6Points pace: 101.4Next game: @ NYR (Monday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A3Games left: 6Points pace: 99.3Next game: @ DET (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: WC1Games left: 6Points pace: 95.0Next game: vs. CBJ (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.5%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC2Games left: 6Points pace: 89.6Next game: @ NSH (Sunday)Playoff chances: 56.6%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 7Points pace: 84.2Next game: vs. FLA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 6.3%Tragic number: 9
Points: 72Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 7Points pace: 78.7Next game: vs. BOS (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 4
Points: 71Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 5Points pace: 75.6Next game: @ BUF (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Metro Division
Points: 107Regulation wins: 42Playoff position: M1Games left: 6Points pace: 115.5Next game: @ NYI (Sunday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 96Regulation wins: 41Playoff position: M2Games left: 6Points pace: 103.6Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89Regulation wins: 36Playoff position: M3Games left: 5Points pace: 94.8Next game: vs. BOS (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.7%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Points pace: 85.2Next game: vs. TB (Monday)Playoff chances: 24.4%Tragic number: 9
Points: 77Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 7Points pace: 84.2Next game: @ OTT (Sunday)Playoff chances: 10.2%Tragic number: 9
Points: 76Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 7Points pace: 83.1Next game: vs. WSH (Sunday)Playoff chances: 3.2%Tragic number: 8
Points: 74Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 5Points pace: 78.8Next game: @ CHI (Sunday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 2
Points: 71Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 5Points pace: 75.6Next game: @ NYR (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 108Regulation wins: 41Playoff position: C1Games left: 5Points pace: 115.0Next game: vs. STL (Monday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 104Regulation wins: 41Playoff position: C2Games left: 6Points pace: 112.2Next game: @ MIN (Sunday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98Regulation wins: 39Playoff position: C3Games left: 4Points pace: 103.0Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: WC1Games left: 4Points pace: 97.8Next game: @ ANA (Monday)Playoff chances: 97.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: WC2Games left: 5Points pace: 94.8Next game: vs. DAL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 86.1%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 82Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 5Points pace: 87.3Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.2%Tragic number: 4
Points: 62Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Points pace: 66.9Next game: vs. MTL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 52Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Points pace: 56.1Next game: vs. PIT (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 100Regulation wins: 42Playoff position: P1Games left: 6Points pace: 107.9Next game: @ VAN (Sunday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 97Regulation wins: 39Playoff position: P3Games left: 6Points pace: 104.7Next game: vs. SEA (Monday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: P2Games left: 6Points pace: 100.3Next game: @ ANA (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Points pace: 91.7Next game: @ SJ (Monday)Playoff chances: 14.7%Tragic number: 10
Points: 83Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Points pace: 89.6Next game: vs. VGK (Sunday)Playoff chances: 1.1%Tragic number: 7
Points: 74Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Points pace: 79.8Next game: vs. EDM (Monday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 72Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 5Points pace: 76.7Next game: @ LA (Monday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 50Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Points pace: 54.0Next game: vs. CGY (Monday)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: 50Regulation wins: 14
Points: 52Regulation wins: 18
Points: 62Regulation wins: 23
Points: 71Regulation wins: 20
Points: 71Regulation wins: 24
Points: 72Regulation wins: 27
Points: 72Regulation wins: 26
Points: 74Regulation wins: 21
Points: 74Regulation wins: 23
Points: 76Regulation wins: 26
Points: 77Regulation wins: 24
Points: 77Regulation wins: 27
Points: 79Regulation wins: 32
Points: 82Regulation wins: 27
Points: 83Regulation wins: 27
Points: 85Regulation wins: 27
