Dallas Stars Aim for Central Division Crown

The Dallas Stars have already secured a playoff spot, being the third team this season to do so. Current projections suggest they will likely be the second seed in the Central Division, setting up a first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche.

However, the Stars are still in contention for the Central Division title, which would give them a more favorable first-round matchup against a wild-card team.

As of Monday night, the Stars are trailing the Winnipeg Jets by six points with a slightly smaller gap in regulation wins (40-39). To realistically challenge Winnipeg for the division lead, a victory in Monday`s game against the Seattle Kraken is crucial. The Kraken were recently eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday night.

Looking at their upcoming schedule, the Stars will face playoff-bound teams only twice more this season, including a critical game against the Jets on April 10. In contrast, the Jets have five games remaining against current playoff teams.

While the odds might seem stacked against the Stars, with statistical models giving the Jets an 82.8% chance of winning the division compared to the Stars` 17.2%, there is still hope. If the Stars capitalize on games against non-playoff teams and get some favorable results from Winnipeg`s games, they could still clinch the Central Division title.

With less than three weeks remaining until April 17, the NHL playoff picture is becoming clearer. We will continue to monitor the playoff races and the competition for draft lottery positioning as the season concludes.

Current Playoff Matchups

Eastern Conference

• Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators
• Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers
• Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers
• Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

• Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues
• Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche
• Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild
• Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers

Monday`s Games

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

• Minnesota Wild at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
• Nashville Predators at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
• Calgary Flames at Colorado Avalanche, 8:30 p.m.
• Dallas Stars at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.

Sunday`s Scoreboard

• Montreal Canadiens 4, Florida Panthers 2
• Buffalo Sabres 8, Washington Capitals 5
• Winnipeg Jets 3, Vancouver Canucks 1
• Utah Hockey Club 5, Chicago Blackhawks 2
• Pittsburgh Penguins 1, Ottawa Senators 0 (OT)
• Carolina Hurricanes 6, New York Islanders 4
• Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Anaheim Ducks 2
• Los Angeles Kings 8, San Jose Sharks 1

Race for the No. 1 Pick

The NHL draft lottery determines the first-round order, meaning the last-place team isn`t guaranteed the top pick. A team can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the lottery. Matthew Schaefer is currently projected as the No. 1 draft prospect.