Hockey enthusiasts are familiar with the Stanley Cup hangover, where a team underperforms following a championship victory. But what about a Presidents` Trophy hangover?
After topping the regular-season standings last year, the New York Rangers are facing an uphill battle to even qualify for the playoffs this season.
As of Monday`s games, the Rangers are six points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. With only six games remaining, they need a near-perfect record and favorable outcomes from Montreal`s games.
Monday`s game is at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning. While the Lightning have already secured a playoff spot, they are still competing for the top position in the Atlantic Division against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Following the Lightning game, the Rangers will host the Philadelphia Flyers, and then embark on a three-game road trip against the New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, and Florida Panthers. They will conclude the season with another game against the Lightning.
The Rangers need to string together a series of wins to improve their playoff chances. The Canadiens, meanwhile, have a somewhat easier schedule to close out the season: home against the Detroit Red Wings, at the Ottawa Senators and Maple Leafs, and then home games against the Chicago Blackhawks and the Hurricanes.
This is the challenge ahead for the Rangers. Can they overcome it?
With the regular season concluding on April 17, we are providing ongoing coverage of the NHL playoff race. We will keep you updated on all playoff scenarios and the teams vying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff probabilities are provided by Stathletes.
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
Clinching Scenarios
The Edmonton Oilers will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Anaheim Ducks in any manner, AND the Calgary Flames lose to the San Jose Sharks in regulation time.
The St. Louis Blues will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Winnipeg Jets in regulation time, AND the Flames lose to the Sharks in regulation time.
Monday`s Games
Note: All times are Eastern Time. Games not on TNT or NHL Network are available for streaming on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions may apply).
- Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
- St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets, 7:30 p.m. (NHLN)
- Edmonton Oilers at Anaheim Ducks, 10:30 p.m.
- Seattle Kraken at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.
- Calgary Flames at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.
Sunday`s Scoreboard
- New York Islanders 4, Washington Capitals 1
- Minnesota Wild 3, Dallas Stars 2 (OT)
- Ottawa Senators 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 0
- Detroit Red Wings 2, Florida Panthers 1
- Buffalo Sabres 6, Boston Bruins 3
- Chicago Blackhawks 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 1
- Montreal Canadiens 2, Nashville Predators 1
- Vegas Golden Knights 3, Vancouver Canucks 2
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 |
| x – Florida Panthers | 92 | 35 | A3 | 5 | 98.0 | vs. TOR (Tuesday) | 100% | N/A |
| Ottawa Senators | 90 | 33 | WC1 | 5 | 95.8 | @ CBJ (Tuesday) | 99.9% | N/A |
| Montreal Canadiens | 85 | 28 | WC2 | 5 | 90.5 | vs. DET (Tuesday) | 79.2% | N/A |
| Detroit Red Wings | 79 | 28 | N/A | 6 | 85.2 | @ MTL (Tuesday) | 5.4% | 6 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 74 | 27 | N/A | 6 | 79.8 | vs. CAR (Tuesday) | 0.1% | 1 |
| e – Boston Bruins | 71 | 24 | N/A | 4 | 74.6 | @ NJ (Tuesday) | 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 | 5 | 114.0 | vs. CAR (Thursday) | 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) | 99.9% | N/A |
| New York Rangers | 79 | 32 | N/A | 6 | 85.2 | vs. TB (Monday) | 8.5% | 6 |
| New York Islanders | 78 | 27 | N/A | 6 | 84.2 | @ NSH (Tuesday) | 2.5% | 5 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 77 | 24 | N/A | 6 | 83.1 | vs. OTT (Tuesday) | 4.5% | 4 |
| e – Pittsburgh Penguins | 74 | 21 | N/A | 4 | 77.8 | vs. CHI (Tuesday) | 0% | E |
| 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 | 105 | 41 | C2 | 5 | 111.8 | vs. VAN (Tuesday) | 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) | 99.5% | N/A |
| Minnesota Wild | 91 | 33 | WC2 | 4 | 95.7 | vs. SJ (Wednesday) | 86.4% | N/A |
| Utah Hockey Club | 82 | 27 | N/A | 5 | 87.3 | vs. SEA (Tuesday) | 0.2% | 1 |
| e – Nashville Predators | 62 | 23 | N/A | 5 | 66.0 | vs. NYI (Tuesday) | 0% | E |
| e – Chicago Blackhawks | 54 | 19 | N/A | 5 | 57.5 | @ PIT (Tuesday) | 0% | E |
Pacific Division
| Team | Points | Regulation Wins | Playoff Position | Games Left | Points Pace | Next Game | Playoff Chances | Tragic Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x – Vegas Golden Knights | 102 | 43 | P1 | 5 | 108.6 | @ COL (Tuesday) | 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) | 12.6% | 6 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 83 | 27 | N/A | 5 | 88.4 | @ DAL (Tuesday) | 1.4% | 2 |
| 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: An `x` indicates a clinched playoff berth, and `e` means elimination from playoff contention.
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. Since 2021, teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the lottery, limiting No. 1 pick eligibility to the bottom 11 teams. Full details on the process are available here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman from the OHL`s Erie Otters, is currently ranked No. 1 on the draft board.
| Rank | Team | Points | Regulation Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | San Jose Sharks | 50 | 14 |
| 2. | Chicago Blackhawks | 54 | 19 |
| 3. | Nashville Predators | 62 | 23 |
| 4. | Philadelphia Flyers | 71 | 20 |
| 5. | Boston Bruins | 71 | 24 |
| 6. | Seattle Kraken | 72 | 27 |
| 7. | Pittsburgh Penguins | 74 | 21 |
| 8. | Anaheim Ducks | 74 | 23 |
| 9. | Buffalo Sabres | 74 | 27 |
| 10. | Columbus Blue Jackets | 77 | 24 |
| 11. | New York Islanders | 78 | 27 |
| 12. | Detroit Red Wings | 79 | 28 |
| 13. | New York Rangers | 79 | 32 |
| 14. | Utah Hockey Club | 82 | 27 |
| 15. | Vancouver Canucks | 83 | 27 |
| 16. | Calgary Flames | 85 | 27 |
