At the start of the 2024-25 NHL season, some predicted that the Detroit Red Wings — with one of the proudest histories among the league’s 32 clubs — would make their triumphant return to the postseason field.
Although they remain mathematically in the race with less than two weeks to go, their chances are getting slimmer by the day.
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Friday night, they’ll host the Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+), with a chance to inch their way closer to the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers, who have been ping-ponging the final wild-card spot back and forth in recent days.
As the games get underway, the Red Wings’ 75 points are six behind both the Canadiens, and their 26 regulation wins are tied with Montreal.
Things only get harder for Dylan Larkin & Co. after the game against the Canes. Their remaining schedule features only games against teams currently in playoff position: the Florida Panthers twice, Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs. Perhaps the teams that have clinched a playoff berth will take a proverbial foot off the gas pedal, but this is not exactly an ideal closing schedule for a team on the outside looking in on the playoffs.
But if the Red Wings are going to make a run, a win on Friday will go a long way (at least emotionally) to rally support. Can they do it?
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 St. Louis BluesC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado AvalancheP1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota WildP2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Friday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Carolina Hurricanes at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.Chicago Blackhawks at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu/NHLN)Minnesota Wild at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday’s scoreboard
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Montreal Canadiens 4, Boston Bruins 1Ottawa Senators 2, Tampa Bay Lightning 1Colorado Avalanche 7, Columbus Blue Jackets 3St. Louis Blues 5, Pittsburgh Penguins 4 (OT)Dallas Stars 5, Nashville Predators 1Los Angeles Kings 4, Utah Hockey Club 2Calgary Flames 4, Anaheim Ducks 1Winnipeg Jets 4, Vegas Golden Knights 0Edmonton Oilers 3, San Jose Sharks 2
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Playoff Hockey Challenge
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Points: 96Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: A1Games left: 7Points pace: 105.0Next game: vs. CBJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: A2Games left: 7Points pace: 101.7Next game: @ BUF (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A3Games left: 7Points pace: 100.6Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: WC1Games left: 7Points pace: 94.0Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.6%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: WC2Games left: 7Points pace: 88.6Next game: vs. PHI (Saturday)Playoff chances: 61.1%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 83.1Next game: vs. CAR (Friday)Playoff chances: 2.4%Tragic number: 11
Points: 70Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 77.6Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 6
Points: 69Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Points pace: 74.4Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 1
Metro Division
Points: 105Regulation wins: 41Playoff position: M1Games left: 7Points pace: 114.8Next game: vs. CHI (Friday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 96Regulation wins: 41Playoff position: M2Games left: 8Points pace: 106.4Next game: @ DET (Friday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: M3Games left: 6Points pace: 93.9Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.7%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: N/AGames left: 7Points pace: 86.4Next game: @ NJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 24.1%Tragic number: 13
Points: 77Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 85.3Next game: @ TOR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 10.5%Tragic number: 13
Points: 74Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 82.0Next game: vs. MIN (Friday)Playoff chances: 2.7%Tragic number: 10
Points: 72Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Points pace: 77.7Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 4
Points: 71Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Points pace: 76.6Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 3
Central Division
Points: 108Regulation wins: 41Playoff position: C1Games left: 6Points pace: 116.5Next game: @ UTA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 104Regulation wins: 41Playoff position: C2Games left: 7Points pace: 113.7Next game: vs. PIT (Saturday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98Regulation wins: 39Playoff position: C3Games left: 5Points pace: 104.4Next game: @ STL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: WC1Games left: 5Points pace: 96.9Next game: vs. COL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 97.5%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: WC2Games left: 6Points pace: 96.0Next game: @ NYI (Friday)Playoff chances: 92.1%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Points pace: 86.3Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.1%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: 7Points pace: 56.9Next game: @ WSH (Friday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 98Regulation wins: 42Playoff position: P1Games left: 7Points pace: 107.2Next game: @ CGY (Saturday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: P3Games left: 7Points pace: 103.9Next game: vs. EDM (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: P2Games left: 7Points pace: 101.7Next game: @ LA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 7Points pace: 91.8Next game: vs. VGK (Saturday)Playoff chances: 9.7%Tragic number: 10
Points: 81Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 7Points pace: 88.6Next game: vs. ANA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.7%Tragic number: 7
Points: 74Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 7Points pace: 80.9Next game: @ ANA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 70Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Points pace: 75.5Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 50Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 7Points pace: 54.7Next game: vs. SEA (Saturday)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: 69Regulation wins: 23
Points: 70Regulation wins: 26
Points: 70Regulation wins: 26
Points: 71Regulation wins: 20
Points: 72Regulation wins: 20
Points: 74Regulation wins: 23
Points: 74Regulation wins: 25
Points: 75Regulation wins: 26
Points: 77Regulation wins: 24
Points: 79Regulation wins: 32
Points: 80Regulation wins: 26
Points: 81Regulation wins: 26
Points: 84Regulation wins: 27
