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Tim Kavanaghespn.com
We are officially less than a month away from the end of the regular season. The Boston Bruins have clinched a playoff spot (and are on their way to the Presidents’ Trophy), while the San Jose Sharks are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention after Tuesday night’s games.
Some playoff spots are at stake.
The wild-card spots in the East are currently held by the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders, but a handful of teams remain secretaries. Two of those teams, the Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres, will clash tonight in DC FiveThirtyEight, giving the Sabers a 16% chance to make the playoffs, and the Caps an 11% chance.
This extremely A “losing town leaves match” – with over a dozen games left for each club – but a defeat would certainly throw another hurdle in the way of the post-season. The Sabers have won both games in the season series, 5–4 in OT on January 3 and 7–4 on February 26. Will it be the same result tonight?
As we enter the final stages of the regular season, it’s time to check in on all the playoff races — as well as the teams jockeying for position in the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery.
Note: Playoff odds are up to FiveThirtyEight.
jump ahead:
current playoff matchups
today’s games
last night’s score
extended standings
Race for the No. 1 pick
current playoff matchups
eastern conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs WC2 New York Islanders
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs WC1 Pittsburgh Penguins
M2 New Jersey Devils vs M3 New York Rangers
western conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs WC1 Seattle Kraken
C2 Minnesota Wild vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs WC2 Winnipeg Jets
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs P3 Edmonton Oilers
wednesday games
Note: All times Eastern. All games not on ESPN, TNT or NHL Network are available through NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
Colorado Avalanche at Toronto Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. (TNT)
Buffalo Sabers at Washington Capitals, 7 PM
Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues, 9:30 PM (TNT)
New York Islanders at Anaheim Ducks, 10 PM
Tuesday’s Scoreboard
Watch “In the Crise” for highlights from every game on ESPN+.
Carolina Hurricanes 5, Winnipeg Jets 3
New York Rangers 5, Washington Capitals 3
Tampa Bay Lightning 4, New Jersey Devils 1
Vegas Golden Knights 5, Philadelphia Flyers 3
Montreal Canadiens 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 4
Nashville Predators 2, Detroit Red Wings 1
Chicago Blackhawks 6, Boston Bruins 3
Edmonton Oilers 6, Ottawa Senators 3
Arizona Coyotes 4, Calgary Flames 3 (OT)
Vancouver Canucks 5, Dallas Stars 2
Los Angeles Kings 5, New York Islanders 2
Columbus Blue Jackets 6, San Jose Sharks 5 (OT)
extended standings
Atlantic Division
Number: 105
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff Position: A 1
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 131
next game: @wpg (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: 100%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 88
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff Position: A2
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 109
next game: vs Colonels (Wednesday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 86
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff Position: A3
Game left: 14
Digit Speed: 104
next game: @ NJ (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 73
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 89
next game: vs MTL (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: 46%
Sad Number: 27
Number: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 88
next game: @ wsh (Wednesday)
Playoff Chances: 16%
Sad Number: 27
Number: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 86
next game: vs Colonels (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: 4%
Sad Number: 24
Number: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 85
next game: vs Colonels (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: 2%
Sad Number: 23
Number: 60
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 14
Digit Speed: 72
next game: @FLA (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad Number: 12
Metropolitan Board
Number: 96
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff Position: m 1
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 119
next game: @tor (Friday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 94
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff Position: m 2
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 115
next game: Vs TB (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 86
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff Position: m 3
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 105
next game: vs PIT (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff Position: WC1
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 96
next game: @ NYR (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: 80%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 76
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff Position: WC2
Game left: 13
Digit Speed: 90
next game: @ ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff Chances: 43%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 14
Digit Speed: 86
next game: vs BUF (Wednesday)
Playoff Chances: 11%
Sad Number: 24
Number: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 72
next game: vs BUF (Friday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad Number: 13
Number: 49
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 61
next game: @la (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad Number: 5
Central Division
Number: 87
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff Position: c 1
Game left: 14
Digit Speed: 105
next game: @ EDM (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff Position: c2
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 103
next game: @ STL (Wednesday)
Playoff Chances: 97%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff Position: c 3
Game left: 17
Digit Speed: 101
next game: @tor (Wednesday)
Playoff Chances: 99%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 79
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff Position: WC2
Game left: 14
Digit Speed: 95
next game: vs BOS (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: 67%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 75
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 17
Digit Speed: 95
next game: vs. CHI (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: 40%
Sad Number: 30
Number: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 78
next game: Vs Min (Wednesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad Number: 16
Number: 61
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 14
Digit Speed: 74
next game: vs Van (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad Number: 10
Number: 52
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 64
next game: @ NSH (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad Number: 3
Pacific Division
Number: 90
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff Position: p 1
Game left: 14
Digit Speed: 109
next game: vs CGY (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff Position: P2
Game left: 14
Digit Speed: 105
next game: vs CBJ (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: 98%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 82
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff Position: p 3
Game left: 14
Digit Speed: 99
next game: vs DAL (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: 97%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 81
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff Position: WC1
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 99
next game: @SJ (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: 88%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 74
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 14
Digit Speed: 89
next game: @ VGK (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: 14%
Sad Number: 23
Number: 63
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 78
next game: @ ARI (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad Number: 16
Number: 54
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 66
next game: vs. NYI (Wednesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad Number: 5
Number: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 14
Digit Speed: 62
next game: vs SEA (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: 0%
Sad Number: I
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order at the top of the first round, so a 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 they win the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer is Connor Beddard, who has been lauded as a generational talent.
Number: 47
Regulation wins: 15
Number: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Number: 52
Regulation wins: 15
Number: 54
Regulation wins: 12
Number: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Number: 60
Regulation wins: 18
Number: 61
Regulation wins: 18
Number: 63
Regulation wins: 18
Number: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Number: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Number: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Number: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Number: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Number: 73
Regulation wins: 28
Number: 74
Regulation wins: 24
Number: 75
Regulation wins: 25
Notes on traded picks affecting the Top 16:
