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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 will be the East’s No. 1 seed, barring a tremendous collapse in the closing weeks.
The 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 one game in hand, the Dallas Stars have 85 points and 30 regulation wins. Taking a peek at the two clubs’ schedules, the Knights have eight games against teams currently in playoff position (out of 15 total), including a matchup against the Stars on April 8 on ABC/ESPN+. Of the Stars’ 16 remaining games, only six are against teams in a playoff spot.
Of course, other teams could 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 far from over.
As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check in on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2023 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via FiveThirtyEight.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s games
Last night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for 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 via 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 Sabres at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m.
Dallas Stars at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.
Sunday’s scoreboard
Watch “In the Crease” on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.
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)
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 105
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 17
Points pace: 133
Next game: @ CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 17
Points pace: 111
Next game: vs. BUF (Monday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 15
Points pace: 103
Next game: @ NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 39%
Tragic number: 27
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 87
Next game: @ EDM (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 5%
Tragic number: 26
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 87
Next game: @ TOR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 7%
Tragic number: 27
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 86
Next game: @ NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 2%
Tragic number: 25
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 72
Next game: vs. COL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 14
Metropolitan Division
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 17
Points pace: 119
Next game: vs. WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 16
Points pace: 117
Next game: vs. TB (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 16
Points pace: 104
Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 16
Points pace: 97
Next game: vs. MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 86%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ LA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 48%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 87
Next game: @ NYR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 13%
Tragic number: 25
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 73
Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 15
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 59
Next game: @ SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 5
Central Division
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 16
Points pace: 106
Next game: @ SEA (Monday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 15
Points pace: 103
Next game: @ STL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 97%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 15
Points pace: 97
Next game: @ CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 73%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 18
Points pace: 100
Next game: @ MTL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 97%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18
Points pace: 94
Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 31%
Tragic number: 31
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 78
Next game: vs. MIN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 17
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 72
Next game: vs. CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 11
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 62
Next game: vs. BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 4
Pacific Division
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 15
Points pace: 108
Next game: @ PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 15
Points pace: 104
Next game: vs. NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 98%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 16
Points pace: 101
Next game: vs. DAL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 92%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 15
Points pace: 98
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 94%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 89
Next game: @ ARI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 16%
Tragic number: 25
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 77
Next game: vs. DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 17
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 66
Next game: vs. NYI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 6
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 61
Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic 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 the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team might move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins 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 Bedard, who has been lauded as a generational talent.
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 12
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 28
Notes on traded picks impacting the top 16: