Rare is the night in the NHL when every team in action is in playoff position, or at least close to it. Monday is such a night — though it helps that there are only two games.
The early game pits the Pittsburgh Penguins (one point out of the second wild card) against the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). For the Penguins, this is a chance to help crystallize their positioning in the chaotic race for the second wild card; for the Leafs, a win would bolster their grip on the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 slot.
A more tantalizing matchup looms in the late game as the Vegas Golden Knights visit the Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). The hosts have surprisingly been at (or near) the top of the Pacific Division for much of the season, and that trend holds as of Monday. Based on the current standings, the Canucks will take on the West’s first wild-card team. As of Monday, that is the Nashville Predators, though the Knights are two points back with two games in hand.
This fourth matchup will provide another clue as to how a potential playoff series might play out. The Knights have won two of three against the Canucks, including a 6-3 Vegas victory last Tuesday.
So how likely is this matchup in Round 1? The Canucks have a 63.2% chance to win the Pacific, according to Stathletes. The Knights have a 22.9% chance of getting the West’s first wild card, a 28.9% chance at the second wild card, and a 47.1% chance of finishing third in the Pacific. The Los Angeles Kings are one point and three regulation wins ahead of Vegas in that position, though the Knights have a game in hand on them.
As we traverse 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 2024 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Monday’s schedule
Sunday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 New York Rangers vs. WC2 Detroit Red Wings
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New York Islanders
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Monday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
Pittsburgh Penguins at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.
Sunday’s scoreboard
Detroit Red Wings 3, Buffalo Sabres 1
Minnesota Wild 4, Chicago Blackhawks 0
Carolina Hurricanes 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 0
Ottawa Senators 3, Washington Capitals 2 (OT)
Arizona Coyotes 5, San Jose Sharks 2
Nashville Predators 3, New Jersey Devils 2 (SO)
New York Rangers 5, Montreal Canadiens 2
St. Louis Blues 6, Anaheim Ducks 5 (SO)
Dallas Stars 7, Colorado Avalanche 4
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 107
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 107
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 97
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. PIT (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 99
Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 37.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 2%
Tragic number: 3
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 77
Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 75
Next game: vs. PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Metropolitan Division
Points: 110
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 116
Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 105
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 91
Next game: vs. NYR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 68%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ TOR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 37.3%
Tragic number: 9
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ DET (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 31.9%
Tragic number: 9
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 87
Next game: @ MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 22.2%
Tragic number: 7
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.7%
Tragic number: 3
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 67
Next game: @ TB (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 107
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 107
Next game: vs. MIN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 99
Next game: vs. WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. CHI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0.3%
Tragic number: 3
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ COL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 1
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 76
Next game: @ SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 54
Next game: @ STL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. VGK (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 107
Next game: vs. VGK (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 99
Next game: @ ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 99
Next game: @ VAN (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. ARI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 79
Next game: @ SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 55
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 58
Next game: vs. LA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 47
Next game: vs. CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
p — clinched Presidents’ Trophy
y — clinched division
x — clinched playoff berth
e — eliminated from playoff contention
Race for the No. 1 pick
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 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 Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston University.
Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 55
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 30
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 31
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
* The Penguins’ first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.
