Saturday`s NHL schedule featured 13 games with significant outcomes for the playoff picture:
- The Tampa Bay Lightning and Los Angeles Kings secured their playoff spots.
- The Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers were officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Sunday presents a smaller slate of games, yet most carry playoff implications.
- The New York Islanders are set to host the Washington Capitals (12:30 p.m. ET, TNT). The Islanders are aiming to narrow a seven-point gap behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final wild-card spot while trying to contain Alex Ovechkin. The Canadiens will be visiting the Nashville Predators (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
- In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Wild currently hold the last playoff spot and will face the Dallas Stars at home (3 p.m. ET, TNT). Minnesota is ahead of the Calgary Flames by four points and the Vancouver Canucks by six points, with the Canucks hosting the Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Dallas Stars are currently four points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the top seed in the West.
- Perhaps the most critical game of the day is between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Ottawa Senators in Ottawa (5 p.m., ESPN+). The Blue Jackets are six points behind Montreal, while the Senators are eyeing the Florida Panthers for the third seed, starting the day four points behind. The Panthers will play against the Detroit Red Wings (5:30 p.m. ET, TNT), who are also six points behind the Canadiens for the second wild-card position.
For teams focused on the draft lottery, the Boston Bruins will play the Buffalo Sabres (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+), and the Pittsburgh Penguins will visit the Chicago Blackhawks (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+).
With the regular season concluding on April 17, we are providing ongoing NHL playoff watch coverage. We will continue to update the playoff races and the teams competing for favorable positions in the 2025 NHL draft lottery as we approach the final stretch.
Current Playoff Matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 Minnesota Wild
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 St. Louis Blues
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Sunday`s Games
Note: All times ET. Games not on TNT or NHL Network are available on ESPN+ (blackout restrictions apply).
Washington Capitals at New York Islanders, 12:30 p.m. (TNT)
Dallas Stars at Minnesota Wild, 3 p.m. (TNT)
Columbus Blue Jackets at Ottawa Senators, 5 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Detroit Red Wings, 5:30 p.m. (TNT)
Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres, 6 p.m.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Chicago Blackhawks, 6 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at Nashville Predators, 7 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.
Saturday`s Scoreboard
New Jersey Devils 4, New York Rangers 0
Ottawa Senators 3, Florida Panthers 0
Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Dallas Stars 3
Vancouver Canucks 6, Anaheim Ducks 2
Los Angeles Kings 3, Edmonton Oilers 0
Boston Bruins 5, Carolina Hurricanes 1
Buffalo Sabres 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (SO)
Toronto Maple Leafs 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 0
Montreal Canadiens 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2
St. Louis Blues 5, Colorado Avalanche 4
Utah Hockey Club 4, Winnipeg Jets 1
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Calgary Flames 2 (OT)
Seattle Kraken 5, San Jose Sharks 1
Expanded Standings
Atlantic Division
| Team | Points | Regulation Wins | Playoff Position | Games Left | Points Pace | Next Game | Playoff Chances | Tragic Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x – Toronto Maple Leafs | 98 | 39 | A1 | 6 | 105.7 | @ FLA (Tuesday) | 100% | N/A |
| x – Tampa Bay Lightning | 94 | 38 | A2 | 6 | 101.4 | @ NYR (Monday) | 100% | N/A |
| Florida Panthers | 92 | 35 | A3 | 6 | 99.3 | @ DET (Sunday) | 99.9% | N/A |
| Ottawa Senators | 88 | 32 | WC1 | 6 | 95.0 | vs. CBJ (Sunday) | 99.5% | N/A |
| Montreal Canadiens | 83 | 27 | WC2 | 6 | 89.6 | @ NSH (Sunday) | 56.6% | N/A |
| Detroit Red Wings | 77 | 27 | N/A | 7 | 84.2 | vs. FLA (Sunday) | 6.3% | 9 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 72 | 26 | N/A | 7 | 78.7 | vs. BOS (Sunday) | 0.1% | 4 |
| e – Boston Bruins | 71 | 24 | N/A | 5 | 75.6 | @ BUF (Sunday) | 0% | E |
Metro Division
| Team | Points | Regulation Wins | Playoff Position | Games Left | Points Pace | Next Game | Playoff Chances | Tragic Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x – Washington Capitals | 107 | 42 | M1 | 6 | 115.5 | @ NYI (Sunday) | 100% | N/A |
| x – Carolina Hurricanes | 96 | 41 | M2 | 6 | 103.6 | @ BUF (Tuesday) | 100% | N/A |
| New Jersey Devils | 89 | 36 | M3 | 5 | 94.8 | vs. BOS (Tuesday) | 99.7% | N/A |
| New York Rangers | 79 | 32 | N/A | 6 | 85.2 | vs. TB (Monday) | 24.4% | 9 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 77 | 24 | N/A | 7 | 84.2 | @ OTT (Sunday) | 10.2% | 9 |
| New York Islanders | 76 | 26 | N/A | 7 | 83.1 | vs. WSH (Sunday) | 3.2% | 8 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 74 | 21 | N/A | 5 | 78.8 | @ CHI (Sunday) | ~0% | 2 |
| e – Philadelphia Flyers | 71 | 20 | N/A | 5 | 75.6 | @ NYR (Wednesday) | 0% | E |
Central Division
| Team | Points | Regulation Wins | Playoff Position | Games Left | Points Pace | Next Game | Playoff Chances | Tragic Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x – Winnipeg Jets | 108 | 41 | C1 | 5 | 115.0 | vs. STL (Monday) | 100% | N/A |
| x – Dallas Stars | 104 | 41 | C2 | 6 | 112.2 | @ MIN (Sunday) | 100% | N/A |
| x – Colorado Avalanche | 98 | 39 | C3 | 4 | 103.0 | vs. VGK (Tuesday) | 100% | N/A |
| St. Louis Blues | 93 | 31 | WC1 | 4 | 97.8 | @ ANA (Monday) | 97.9% | N/A |
| Minnesota Wild | 89 | 33 | WC2 | 5 | 94.8 | vs. DAL (Sunday) | 86.1% | N/A |
| Utah Hockey Club | 82 | 27 | N/A | 5 | 87.3 | vs. SEA (Tuesday) | 0.2% | 4 |
| e – Nashville Predators | 62 | 23 | N/A | 6 | 66.9 | vs. MTL (Sunday) | 0% | E |
| e – Chicago Blackhawks | 52 | 18 | N/A | 6 | 56.1 | vs. PIT (Sunday) | 0% | E |
Pacific Division
| Team | Points | Regulation Wins | Playoff Position | Games Left | Points Pace | Next Game | Playoff Chances | Tragic Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x – Vegas Golden Knights | 100 | 42 | P1 | 6 | 107.9 | @ VAN (Sunday) | 100% | N/A |
| x – Los Angeles Kings | 97 | 39 | P3 | 6 | 104.7 | vs. SEA (Monday) | 100% | N/A |
| Edmonton Oilers | 93 | 32 | P2 | 6 | 100.3 | @ ANA (Monday) | 99.9% | N/A |
| Calgary Flames | 85 | 27 | N/A | 6 | 91.7 | @ SJ (Monday) | 14.7% | 10 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 83 | 27 | N/A | 6 | 89.6 | vs. VGK (Sunday) | 1.1% | 7 |
| e – Anaheim Ducks | 74 | 23 | N/A | 6 | 79.8 | vs. EDM (Monday) | 0% | E |
| e – Seattle Kraken | 72 | 27 | N/A | 5 | 76.7 | @ LA (Monday) | 0% | E |
| e – San Jose Sharks | 50 | 14 | N/A | 6 | 54.0 | vs. CGY (Monday) | 0% | E |
Note: `x` – clinched playoff berth, `e` – eliminated from contention.
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. Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters is currently ranked No. 1.
Top Teams in Draft Lottery
- San Jose Sharks (50 points, 14 regulation wins)
- Chicago Blackhawks (52 points, 18 regulation wins)
- Nashville Predators (62 points, 23 regulation wins)
- Philadelphia Flyers (71 points, 20 regulation wins)
- Boston Bruins (71 points, 24 regulation wins)
- Seattle Kraken (72 points, 27 regulation wins)
- Buffalo Sabres (72 points, 26 regulation wins)
- Pittsburgh Penguins (74 points, 21 regulation wins)
- Anaheim Ducks (74 points, 23 regulation wins)
- New York Islanders (76 points, 26 regulation wins)
- Columbus Blue Jackets (77 points, 24 regulation wins)
