After a weekend of NHL games, a clearer picture of Stanley Cup contenders is emerging. Let`s examine the top teams vying for the championship.

Sunday`s schedule featured a matchup between two recent Stanley Cup champions: Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights. This is a perfect moment to assess the strongest contenders for the Cup.

According to Stathletes, the Vegas Golden Knights are leading Western Conference teams with a 12.4% chance of winning the Stanley Cup. Close behind are the Colorado Avalanche (12.3%). The Winnipeg Jets (5.8%) and Edmonton Oilers (5.4%) complete the top four in the West.

Despite acquiring Mikko Rantanen, the Dallas Stars are ranked seventh among Western teams (3.1%). They trail the Los Angeles Kings (3.9%) and St. Louis Blues (3.5%).

In the Eastern Conference, the Carolina Hurricanes lead with a 15.3% chance, followed by the Tampa Bay Lightning (12.6%). The Washington Capitals (9.5%), Toronto Maple Leafs (5.5%), and Florida Panthers (5.0%) round out the top five contenders in the East.

With the regular season concluding on April 17th, the playoff race is heating up. We will continue to provide updates on playoff scenarios and the teams competing for positions in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are provided by Stathletes.

Contents
  1. Current Playoff Matchups
  2. Clinching Scenarios
  3. Sunday`s Games
  4. Saturday`s Scoreboard
  5. Expanded Standings
  6. Atlantic Division
  7. Metro Division
  8. Central Division
  9. Pacific Division
  10. Race for the No. 1 Pick

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

Clinching Scenarios

The Winnipeg Jets will secure a playoff spot if:

  • They win or lose in overtime/shootout against the Buffalo Sabres.
  • Or if the St. Louis Blues lose to the Nashville Predators in any game.

Sunday`s Games

Note: All times are Eastern Time.

  • Philadelphia Flyers at Chicago Blackhawks, 3 PM
  • Buffalo Sabres at Winnipeg Jets, 3 PM
  • Pittsburgh Penguins at Florida Panthers, 6 PM
  • Nashville Predators at St. Louis Blues, 6 PM
  • Tampa Bay Lightning at Vegas Golden Knights, 8 PM
  • Carolina Hurricanes at Anaheim Ducks, 8 PM
  • Boston Bruins at Los Angeles Kings, 9 PM

Saturday`s Scoreboard

  • New York Rangers 5, Vancouver Canucks 3
  • Dallas Stars 3 Philadelphia Flyers 2 (OT)
  • Minnesota Wild 4, Buffalo Sabres 1
  • St. Louis Blues 4, Chicago Blackhawks 1
  • Calgary Flames 4, New York Islanders 3 (OT)
  • Los Angeles Kings 7, Carolina Hurricanes 2
  • Washington Capitals 6, Florida Panthers 3
  • Utah Hockey Club 6, Tampa Bay Lightning 4
  • Colorado Avalanche 5, Montreal Canadiens 4 (SO)
  • Ottawa Senators 3, New Jersey Devils 2
  • Nashville Predators 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 2
  • Vegas Golden Knights 6, Detroit Red Wings 3
  • Edmonton Oilers 5, Seattle Kraken 4
  • San Jose Sharks 3, Boston Bruins 1

Expanded Standings

Atlantic Division

Team Points Regulation Wins Playoff Position Games Left Points Pace Next Game Playoff Chances Tragic Number
Florida Panthers 87 35 A1 12 101.9 vs. PIT (Sunday) 99.9% N/A
Toronto Maple Leafs 87 34 A2 12 101.9 vs. PHI (Tuesday) 99.9% N/A
Tampa Bay Lightning 85 34 A3 13 101.0 @ VGK (Sunday) 99.9% N/A
Ottawa Senators 79 28 WC1 13 93.9 @ BUF (Tuesday) 96.2% N/A
Montreal Canadiens 75 24 WC2 13 89.1 @ STL (Tuesday) 45.7% N/A
Detroit Red Wings 70 24 N/A 13 83.2 @ UTA (Monday) 6% 22
Boston Bruins 69 23 N/A 11 79.7 @ LA (Sunday) 1.4% 17
Buffalo Sabres 60 21 N/A 14 72.4 @ WPG (Sunday) ~0% 14

Metro Division

Team Points Regulation Wins Playoff Position Games Left Points Pace Next Game Playoff Chances Tragic Number
x – Washington Capitals 102 40 M1 12 119.5 @ WPG (Tuesday) 99.9% N/A
Carolina Hurricanes 88 37 M2 13 104.6 @ ANA (Sunday) 99.9% N/A
New Jersey Devils 80 33 M3 11 92.4 vs. VAN (Monday) 95.8% N/A
New York Rangers 74 31 N/A 11 85.5 @ LA (Tuesday) 18.9% 22
New York Islanders 73 25 N/A 13 86.8 vs. CBJ (Monday) 26% 25
Columbus Blue Jackets 71 23 N/A 13 84.4 @ NYI (Monday) 9.8% 23
Pittsburgh Penguins 68 20 N/A 11 78.5 @ FLA (Sunday) 0.1% 16
Philadelphia Flyers 65 17 N/A 11 75.1 @ CHI (Sunday) 0.1% 13

Central Division

Team Points Regulation Wins Playoff Position Games Left Points Pace Next Game Playoff Chances Tragic Number
Winnipeg Jets 100 38 C1 12 117.1 vs. BUF (Sunday) 99.9% N/A
Dallas Stars 92 35 C2 13 109.3 vs. MIN (Monday) 99.9% N/A
Colorado Avalanche 89 36 C3 11 102.8 vs. DET (Tuesday) 99.9% N/A
Minnesota Wild 85 32 WC1 12 99.6 @ DAL (Monday) 93.5% N/A
St. Louis Blues 79 26 WC2 11 91.2 vs. NSH (Sunday) 56.9% N/A
Utah Hockey Club 75 24 N/A 12 87.9 s. DET (Monday) 12.2% 21
Nashville Predators 60 22 N/A 13 71.3 @ STL (Sunday) ~0% 8
e – Chicago Blackhawks 49 17 N/A 12 57.4 vs. PHI (Sunday) 0% E

Pacific Division

Team Points Regulation Wins Playoff Position Games Left Points Pace Next Game Playoff Chances Tragic Number
Vegas Golden Knights 90 38 P1 13 107.0 vs. TB (Sunday) 99.9% N/A
Edmonton Oilers 87 30 P2 12 101.9 vs. DAL (Wednesday) 99.6% N/A
Los Angeles Kings 85 33 P3 14 102.5 vs. BOS (Sunday) 99.6% N/A
Calgary Flames 77 26 N/A 13 91.5 vs. SEA (Tuesday) 16.8% 25
Vancouver Canucks 76 25 N/A 12 89.0 @ NJ (Monday) 21.4% 22
Anaheim Ducks 68 22 N/A 13 80.8 vs. CAR (Sunday) 0.1% 16
Seattle Kraken 65 24 N/A 11 75.1 @ CGY (Tuesday) ~0% 9
e – San Jose Sharks 47 14 N/A 12 55.1 vs. TOR (Thursday) 0% E

Note: An `x` indicates a clinched playoff berth. An `e` indicates playoff elimination.

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 ranked No. 1 on the draft board.

Rank Team Points Regulation Wins
1. San Jose Sharks 47 14
2. Chicago Blackhawks 49 17
3. Buffalo Sabres 60 21
4. Nashville Predators 60 22
5. Philadelphia Flyers 65 17
6. Seattle Kraken 65 24
7. Pittsburgh Penguins 68 20
8. Anaheim Ducks 68 22
9. Boston Bruins 69 23
10. Detroit Red Wings 70 24
11. Columbus Blue Jackets 71 23