NHL playoff standings: Ranking top Stanley Cup contenders

After the 14 games of Showdown Saturday, a slightly smaller batch of teams is back at it Sunday.

One of those seven matchups features two recent Stanley Cup winners — the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Vegas Golden Knights (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+) — so what better time to stack up the top Cup contenders?

Editor’s Picks

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Per Stathletes, the Golden Knights lead Western Conference teams at 12.4%. Close behind are the Colorado Avalanche (12.3%), who next play Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The Winnipeg Jets (5.8%, hosting the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday) and Edmonton Oilers (5.4%, off until Wednesday) round out the top quartet.

Despite “winning” the trade deadline by acquiring Mikko Rantanen, the Stars are seventh among West teams at 3.1%, trailing the Los Angeles Kings (3.9%) and St. Louis Blues (3.5%).

The Lightning are second among Eastern teams (12.6%), behind the Carolina Hurricanes (15.3%), who continue their Western road trip against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+). Next up among Eastern contenders are the Washington Capitals (9.5%), who square off against the Jets on Tuesday. The Toronto Maple Leafs (5.5%, believe it or not), and the Florida Panthers (5.0%) round out the top five.

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 matchupsClinching scenariosToday’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 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 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Clinching scenarios

The Winnipeg Jets will clinch a playoff berth if:

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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Philadelphia Flyers at Chicago Blackhawks, 3 p.m. (NHLN)Buffalo Sabres at Winnipeg Jets, 3 p.m.Pittsburgh Penguins at Florida Panthers, 6 p.m.Nashville Predators at St. Louis Blues, 6 p.m.Tampa Bay Lightning at Vegas Golden Knights, 8 p.m.Carolina Hurricanes at Anaheim Ducks, 8 p.m.Boston Bruins at Los Angeles Kings, 9 p.m.

Saturday’s scoreboard

New York Rangers 5, Vancouver Canucks 3Dallas Stars 3 Philadelphia Flyers 2 (OT)Minnesota Wild 4, Buffalo Sabres 1St. Louis Blues 4, Chicago Blackhawks 1Calgary Flames 4, New York Islanders 3 (OT)Los Angeles Kings 7, Carolina Hurricanes 2Washington Capitals 6, Florida Panthers 3Utah Hockey Club 6, Tampa Bay Lightning 4Colorado Avalanche 5, Montreal Canadiens 4 (SO)Ottawa Senators 3, New Jersey Devils 2Nashville Predators 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 2Vegas Golden Knights 6, Detroit Red Wings 3Edmonton Oilers 5, Seattle Kraken 4San Jose Sharks 3, Boston Bruins 1

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 87Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A1Games left: 12Points pace: 101.9Next game: vs. PIT (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: A2Games left: 12Points pace: 101.9Next game: vs. PHI (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 85Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: A3Games left: 13Points pace: 101.0Next game: @ VGK (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: WC1Games left: 13Points pace: 93.9Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 96.2%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: WC2Games left: 13Points pace: 89.1Next game: @ STL (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 45.7%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 70Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 83.2Next game: @ UTA (Monday)Playoff chances: 6%Tragic number: 22

Points: 69Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 79.7Next game: @ LA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 1.4%Tragic number: 17

Points: 60Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 72.4Next game: @ WPG (Sunday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 14

Metro Division

Points: 102Regulation wins: 40Playoff position: M1Games left: 12Points pace: 119.5Next game: @ WPG (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 88Regulation wins: 37Playoff position: M2Games left: 13Points pace: 104.6Next game: @ ANA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 80Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: M3Games left: 11Points pace: 92.4Next game: vs. VAN (Monday)Playoff chances: 95.8%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 74Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 85.5Next game: @ LA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 18.9%Tragic number: 22

Points: 73Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 86.8Next game: vs. CBJ (Monday)Playoff chances: 26%Tragic number: 25

Points: 71Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 84.4Next game: @ NYI (Monday)Playoff chances: 9.8%Tragic number: 23

Points: 68Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 78.5Next game: @ FLA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 16

Points: 65Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 75.1Next game: @ CHI (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 13

Central Division

Points: 100Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: C1Games left: 12Points pace: 117.1Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 92Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: C2Games left: 13Points pace: 109.3Next game: vs. MIN (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 89Regulation wins: 36Playoff position: C3Games left: 11Points pace: 102.8Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 85Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: WC1Games left: 12Points pace: 99.6Next game: @ DAL (Monday)Playoff chances: 93.5%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: WC2Games left: 11Points pace: 91.2Next game: vs. NSH (Sunday)Playoff chances: 56.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 87.9Next game: s. DET (Monday)Playoff chances: 12.2%Tragic number: 21

Points: 60Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 71.3Next game: @ STL (Sunday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 8

Points: 49Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 57.4Next game: vs. PHI (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Points: 90Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: P1Games left: 13Points pace: 107.0Next game: vs. TB (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: P2Games left: 12Points pace: 101.9Next game: vs. DAL (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 99.6%Tragic number: N/A