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Tim Kavanaghespn.com
Over the weekend, the Boston Bruins became the first team to clinch a playoff berth, and any reasonable observer would conclude that they would be the East’s No. 1 seed, barring a tremendous collapse in the closing weeks.
West’s race for No. 1 is another story.
Through 67 games, the Vegas Golden Knights lead the charge with 88 points and 30 regulation wins. With a game in hand, the Dallas Stars have 85 points and 30 regulation wins. Taking a look at the two clubs’ schedules, the Knights currently have eight games against teams in playoff positions (out of 15 total), including a matchup against the Stars on April 8 on ABC/ESPN+. Only six of the Stars’ remaining 16 games are against teams in a playoff spot.
Of course, other teams can enter the mix as well. The Minnesota Wild are at 84 points and 27 regulation wins through 67 games, while the Los Angeles Kings are at 85 and 28 through 67. This race is not over yet.
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 Edmonton Oilers
C2 Minnesota Wild vs C3 Winnipeg Jets
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs WC2 Colorado Avalanche
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs P3 Seattle Kraken
monday’s 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 Montreal Canadiens, 7:30 p.m. (NHLN)
Buffalo Sabers at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 PM
Dallas Stars at Seattle Kraken, 10 PM
sunday scoreboard
Watch “In the Crise” for highlights from every game on ESPN+.
Detroit Red Wings 5, Boston Bruins 3
Pittsburgh Penguins 3, New York Rangers 2 (OT)
New Jersey Devils 3, Carolina Hurricanes 0
Vegas Golden Knights 5, St. Louis Blues 3
Winnipeg Jets 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2
Calgary Flames 5, Ottawa Senators 1
Nashville Predators 5, Anaheim Ducks 4 (OT)
Arizona Coyotes 5, Minnesota Wild 4 (OT)
extended standings
Atlantic Division
Number: 105
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff Position: A 1
Game left: 17
Digit Speed: 133
next game: @ CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 100%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 88
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff Position: A2
Game left: 17
Digit Speed: 111
next game: vs BUF (Monday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 84
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff Position: A3
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 103
next game: @ NJ (Tuesday)
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: 39%
Sad Number: 27
Number: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 87
next game: @ EDM (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 5%
Sad Number: 26
Number: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 17
Digit Speed: 87
next game: @tor (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 7%
Sad Number: 27
Number: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 86
next game: @ nsh (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 2%
Sad Number: 25
Number: 58
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 72
next game: vs Col (Monday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad Number: 14
Metropolitan Board
Number: 94
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff Position: m 1
Game left: 17
Digit Speed: 119
next game: vs. WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 94
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff Position: m 2
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 117
next game: Vs TB (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff Position: m 3
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 104
next game: vs WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff Position: WC1
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 97
next game: vs MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 86%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 76
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff Position: WC2
Game left: 14
Digit Speed: 92
next game: @ LA (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 48%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 87
next game: @NYR (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 13%
Sad Number: 25
Number: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 73
next game: vs VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad Number: 15
Number: 47
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 17
Digit Speed: 59
next game: @sj (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad Number: 5
Central Division
Number: 85
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff Position: c 1
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 106
next game: @ sea (Monday)
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: 79
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff Position: c 3
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 97
next game: @ CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 73%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff Position: WC2
Game left: 18
Digit Speed: 100
next game: @ MTL (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 97%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 73
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 18
Digit Speed: 94
next game: vs DET (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 31%
Sad Number: 31
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: 17
Number: 59
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 72
next game: vs CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad Number: 11
Number: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 62
next game: vs BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad Number: 4
Pacific Division
Number: 88
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff Position: p 1
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 108
next game: @ PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 85
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff Position: P2
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 104
next game: vs. NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 98%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 81
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff Position: p 3
Game left: 16
Digit Speed: 101
next game: vs DAL (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 92%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 80
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff Position: WC1
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 98
next game: Vs OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 94%
Sad Number: Not Applicable
Number: 73
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 89
next game: @ ARI (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 16%
Sad Number: 25
Number: 61
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 17
Digit Speed: 77
next game: vs DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad Number: 17
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: 6
Number: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff Position: Not Applicable
Game left: 15
Digit Speed: 61
next game: vs CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad Number: 2
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: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Number: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Number: 54
Regulation wins: 12
Number: 58
Regulation wins: 17
Number: 59
Regulation wins: 18
Number: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Number: 61
Regulation wins: 17
Number: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Number: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Number: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Number: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Number: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Number: 73
Regulation wins: 24
Number: 73
Regulation wins: 24
Number: 73
Regulation wins: 28
Notes on traded picks affecting the Top 16:
