Blue Jackets’ Playoff Push: A Closer Look at Their Chances

Following a busy Thursday with 14 games and anticipating another 14 on Saturday, Friday’s NHL schedule features a single matchup: Columbus at Pittsburgh (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

The Pittsburgh Penguins have a mixed record of 5-4-1 in their last ten outings. Making the playoffs appears to be a long shot for them, and they are likely focusing on regrouping for the next season.

Current Playoff Matchups

Eastern Conference

• A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
• A2 Toronto Maple Leafs 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 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

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Friday’s Game

Note: All times are Eastern Time.

Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. (NHLN)

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Thursday’s Scoreboard

Colorado Avalanche 5, Ottawa Senators 1
Calgary Flames 5, New Jersey Devils 3
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, New York Rangers 3
Washington Capitals 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2
Florida Panthers 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0 (OT)
New York Islanders 4, Montreal Canadiens 3 (OT)
St. Louis Blues 4, Vancouver Canucks 3 (OT)
Anaheim Ducks 4, Nashville Predators 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Dallas Stars 2 (SO)
Los Angeles Kings 3, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Winnipeg Jets 4, Edmonton Oilers 3 (OT)
Utah Hockey Club 5, Buffalo Sabres 2
Vegas Golden Knights 5, Boston Bruins 1
Carolina Hurricanes 3, San Jose Sharks 1

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Expanded Standings

Atlantic Division

Florida Panthers

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 103.4
Next game: @ WSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 103.4
Next game: @ NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 14
Points pace: 102.5
Next game: @ UTA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Ottawa Senators

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 92.9
Next game: @ NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 97.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 89.2
Next game: vs. COL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 36.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 84.4
Next game: @ VGK (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 5.3%
Tragic number: 25

Boston Bruins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 80.8
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 2.5%
Tragic number: 20

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 73.4
Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 17

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Metro Division

x – Washington Capitals

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 118.8
Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 106.1
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 93.7
Next game: vs. OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 96.8%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 86.8
Next game: vs. CGY (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 22.8%
Tragic number: 27

New York Rangers

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 84.3
Next game: vs. VAN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 25.7%
Tragic number: 23

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 85.6
Next game: @ PIT (Friday)
Playoff chances: 13.1%
Tragic number: 26

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 77.3
Next game: vs. CBJ (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 17

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 75.0
Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 15

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Central Division

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 117.1
Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 108.5
Next game: vs. PHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 101.9
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 98.6
Next game: vs. BUF (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 95.7%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 90.2
Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 56%
Tragic number: N/A

Utah Hockey Club

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 86.8
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 7.7%
Tragic number: 23

Nashville Predators

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 69.9
Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 10

e – Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 58.2
Next game: @ STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

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Pacific Division

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 106.1
Next game: vs. DET (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 101.0
Next game: vs. SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 15
Points pace: 101.6
Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 90.3
Next game: @ NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 25.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 90.4
Next game: @ NYI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 16.1%
Tragic number: 27

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 80.8
Next game: vs. CAR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 18

Seattle Kraken

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 76.1
Next game: @ EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 13

e – San Jose Sharks

Points: 45
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 53.5
Next game: vs. BOS (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Note: ‘x’ – clinched playoff berth, ‘e’ – eliminated from playoff contention.

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Race for the No. 1 Pick

The NHL Draft Lottery determines the first-round order. A team can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the lottery. Matthew Schaefer is currently projected as the No. 1 draft prospect.

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 45
Regulation wins: 13

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17

3. Nashville Predators

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 21

4. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 21

5. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 17

6. Seattle Kraken

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 24

7. Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 19

8. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22

9. Boston Bruins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23

10. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24

11. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23