Are the Minnesota Wild’s Playoff Hopes in Danger?

After a strong start to the season where they topped the NHL standings at 18-4-4 as of December 6th, the Minnesota Wild now find themselves in a precarious wild-card position in the Western Conference as of Thursday.

The question is: are the Wild`s playoff aspirations truly at risk?

Currently, Minnesota holds 85 points with 32 regulation wins through 72 games. They are closely followed by the St. Louis Blues, who are on a hot streak with 83 points and 28 regulation wins in 73 games. The Vancouver Canucks (80 points, 26 regulation wins in 72 games) and Calgary Flames (79 points, 26 regulation wins in 70 games) are also in contention.

The Wild`s upcoming schedule includes a game against the Washington Capitals, the league leaders, on Thursday, followed by a home-and-home series with the New Jersey Devils. Their road trip continues with games against the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, and then they return home to face the Dallas Stars.

Crucially, their schedule features games against the Flames (April 11) and Canucks (April 12). These are significant “four-point games” where a regulation win carries extra weight in the standings. If the playoff race remains tight, these games will undoubtedly amplify the pressure in Minnesota.

Despite the challenges facing the Wild, Stathletes` projections still give them a strong 91.4% probability of making the playoffs.

With less than a month remaining until the regular season concludes on April 17th, the NHL playoff watch is intensifying. We`ll continue to provide updates on the playoff races and the teams vying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery as the season progresses.

Current Playoff Matchups

Eastern Conference

• A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
• A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
• M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
• M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

• C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues
• C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
• P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
• P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Thursday`s Games

Note: All times ET. Games may be streamed on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

• Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
• Ottawa Senators at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.
• Utah Hockey Club at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
• Montreal Canadiens at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
• Washington Capitals at Minnesota Wild, 7:30 p.m.
• St. Louis Blues at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
• Dallas Stars at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.
• Los Angeles Kings at Colorado Avalanche, 10 p.m.
• Edmonton Oilers at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.
• Toronto Maple Leafs at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday`s Scoreboard

• Vancouver Canucks 5, New York Islanders 2
• New Jersey Devils 5, Chicago Blackhawks 3
• Dallas Stars 4, Edmonton Oilers 3
• Anaheim Ducks 6, Boston Bruins 2

Expanded Standings

Atlantic Division

• Toronto Maple Leafs
  Points: 89, Regulation wins: 35, Playoff position: A1, Games left: 11, Points pace: 102.8, Next game: @ SJ (Thursday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A
• Florida Panthers
  Points: 89, Regulation wins: 35, Playoff position: A2, Games left: 11, Points pace: 102.8, Next game: vs. UTA (Friday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A
• Tampa Bay Lightning
  Points: 87, Regulation wins: 35, Playoff position: A3, Games left: 11, Points pace: 100.5, Next game: vs. UTA (Thursday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A
• Ottawa Senators
  Points: 79, Regulation wins: 28, Playoff position: WC1, Games left: 12, Points pace: 92.5, Next game: @ DET (Thursday), Playoff chances: 98.1%, Tragic number: N/A
• Montreal Canadiens
  Points: 75, Regulation wins: 24, Playoff position: WC2, Games left: 12, Points pace: 87.9, Next game: @ PHI (Thursday), Playoff chances: 47.7%, Tragic number: N/A
• Detroit Red Wings
  Points: 72, Regulation wins: 25, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 11, Points pace: 83.2, Next game: vs. OTT (Thursday), Playoff chances: 5.2%, Tragic number: 20
• Boston Bruins
  Points: 69, Regulation wins: 23, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 9, Points pace: 77.5, Next game: @ DET (Saturday), Playoff chances: 0.1%, Tragic number: 13
• Buffalo Sabres
  Points: 64, Regulation wins: 23, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 12, Points pace: 75.0, Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday), Playoff chances: ~0%, Tragic number: 14

Metro Division

• x – Washington Capitals
  Points: 103, Regulation wins: 40, Playoff position: M1, Games left: 11, Points pace: 119.0, Next game: @ MIN (Thursday), Playoff chances: 100%, Tragic number: N/A
• Carolina Hurricanes
  Points: 90, Regulation wins: 38, Playoff position: M2, Games left: 11, Points pace: 103.9, Next game: vs. MTL (Friday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A
• New Jersey Devils
  Points: 83, Regulation wins: 34, Playoff position: M3, Games left: 9, Points pace: 93.2, Next game: @ WPG (Friday), Playoff chances: 94.6%, Tragic number: N/A
• New York Islanders
  Points: 74, Regulation wins: 25, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 11, Points pace: 85.5, Next game: @ TB (Saturday), Playoff chances: 24.5%, Tragic number: 22
• New York Rangers
  Points: 74, Regulation wins: 31, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 10, Points pace: 84.3, Next game: @ ANA (Friday), Playoff chances: 16.5%, Tragic number: 20
• Columbus Blue Jackets
  Points: 73, Regulation wins: 23, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 12, Points pace: 85.5, Next game: vs. VAN (Friday), Playoff chances: 13.1%, Tragic number: 23
• Pittsburgh Penguins
  Points: 69, Regulation wins: 20, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 9, Points pace: 77.5, Next game: @ BUF (Thursday), Playoff chances: 0.1%, Tragic number: 13
• Philadelphia Flyers
  Points: 65, Regulation wins: 17, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 9, Points pace: 73.0, Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday), Playoff chances: ~0%, Tragic number: 9

Central Division

• x – Winnipeg Jets
  Points: 102, Regulation wins: 38, Playoff position: C1, Games left: 10, Points pace: 116.2, Next game: vs. NJ (Friday), Playoff chances: 100%, Tragic number: N/A
• Dallas Stars
  Points: 96, Regulation wins: 37, Playoff position: C2, Games left: 11, Points pace: 110.9, Next game: @ CGY (Thursday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A
• Colorado Avalanche
  Points: 91, Regulation wins: 37, Playoff position: C3, Games left: 10, Points pace: 103.6, Next game: vs. LA (Thursday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A
• Minnesota Wild
  Points: 85, Regulation wins: 32, Playoff position: WC1, Games left: 10, Points pace: 96.8, Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday), Playoff chances: 96.8%, Tragic number: N/A
• St. Louis Blues
  Points: 83, Regulation wins: 28, Playoff position: WC2, Games left: 9, Points pace: 93.2, Next game: @ NSH (Thursday), Playoff chances: 77.6%, Tragic number: N/A
• Utah Hockey Club
  Points: 75, Regulation wins: 24, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 11, Points pace: 86.6, Next game: @ TB (Thursday), Playoff chances: 6.2%, Tragic number: 15
• Nashville Predators
  Points: 62, Regulation wins: 23, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 11, Points pace: 71.6, Next game: vs. STL (Thursday), Playoff chances: ~0%, Tragic number: 2
• e – Chicago Blackhawks
  Points: 51, Regulation wins: 18, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 10, Points pace: 58.1, Next game: , Playoff chances: 0%, Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

• Vegas Golden Knights
  Points: 94, Regulation wins: 40, Playoff position: P1, Games left: 11, Points pace: 108.6, Next game: @ CHI (Friday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A
• Los Angeles Kings
  Points: 89, Regulation wins: 35, Playoff position: P3, Games left: 12, Points pace: 104.3, Next game: @ COL (Thursday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A
• Edmonton Oilers
  Points: 87, Regulation wins: 30, Playoff position: P2, Games left: 11, Points pace: 100.5, Next game: @ SEA (Thursday), Playoff chances: 99.5%, Tragic number: N/A
• Vancouver Canucks
  Points: 80, Regulation wins: 26, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 10, Points pace: 91.1, Next game: @ CBJ (Friday), Playoff chances: 8.2%, Tragic number: 18
• Calgary Flames
  Points: 79, Regulation wins: 26, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 12, Points pace: 92.5, Next game: vs. DAL (Thursday), Playoff chances: 11.8%, Tragic number: 21
• Anaheim Ducks
  Points: 70, Regulation wins: 23, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 11, Points pace: 80.9, Next game: vs. NYR (Friday), Playoff chances: 0.1%, Tragic number: 10
• Seattle Kraken
  Points: 66, Regulation wins: 24, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 10, Points pace: 75.2, Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday), Playoff chances: ~0%, Tragic number: 4
• e – San Jose Sharks
  Points: 47, Regulation wins: 14, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 12, Points pace: 55.1, Next game: vs. TOR (Thursday), Playoff chances: 0%, Tragic number: E

Note: An `x` means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An `e` means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Race for the No. 1 Pick

The NHL utilizes a draft lottery to determine the first-round order, meaning the last-place team isn`t guaranteed the top pick. Since 2021, teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the lottery, limiting eligibility for the No. 1 pick to the bottom 11 teams. Matthew Schaefer from the OHL`s Erie Otters is currently projected as the No. 1 draft prospect.

• 1. San Jose Sharks
  Points: 47, Regulation wins: 14
• 2. Chicago Blackhawks
  Points: 51, Regulation wins: 18
• 3. Nashville Predators
  Points: 62, Regulation wins: 23
• 4. Buffalo Sabres
  Points: 64, Regulation wins: 23
• 5. Philadelphia Flyers
  Points: 65, Regulation wins: 17
• 6. Seattle Kraken
  Points: 66, Regulation wins: 24
• 7. Pittsburgh Penguins
  Points: 69, Regulation wins: 20
• 8. Boston Bruins
  Points: 69, Regulation wins: 23
• 9. Anaheim Ducks
  Points: 70, Regulation wins: 23
• 10. Detroit Red Wings
  Points: 72, Regulation wins: 25
• 11. Columbus Blue Jackets
  Points: 73, Regulation wins: 23
• 12. New York Rangers
  Points: 74, Regulation wins: 31
• 13. New York Islanders
  Points: 74, Regulation wins: 25
• 14. Utah Hockey Club
  Points: 75, Regulation wins: 24
• 15. Calgary Flames
  Points: 79, Regulation wins: 26
• 16. Vancouver Canucks
  Points: 80, Regulation wins: 26