NHL playoff standings: How high can the Predators climb?

Heading into the 2023-24 season, it was unclear what to make of the Nashville Predators. GM Barry Trotz had been busy within the offseason, and that included chopping ties with veteran facilities Matt Duchene and Ryan Johansen. Andrew Brunette took over as the brand new head coach.

The membership hovered within the mushy center for a lot of the season, then misplaced 9-2 to the Dallas Stars on Feb. 15. The workforce canceled a deliberate journey to see U2 on the Sphere in Las Vegas, and subsequently went on an 18-game level streak. That streak was snapped with a few lopsided defeats this previous Thursday (8-4 to the Arizona Coyotes) and Saturday (7-4 to the Colorado Avalanche), so their contest on Tuesday evening in opposition to the Boston Bruins (8 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+) is an opportunity to get again on the best facet of the ledger.

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However past the sport in opposition to the B’s, how excessive can this workforce climb within the standings?

If the Preds win out, they’re going to end with 106 factors. The Dallas Stars (at the moment at 103 factors) and Avalanche (100) is perhaps robust to catch, significantly since these golf equipment are on heaters of their very own as of late. However the Winnipeg Jets, with 96 factors to the Preds’ 90, are in little bit of a tailspin, going 4-5-1 of their previous 10.

After the Bruins sport, the Preds have seven video games remaining, six of that are in opposition to groups at the moment outdoors of playoff place. The opposite sport is in opposition to, you guessed it, Winnipeg. As for the Jets, their ultimate seven video games embrace clashes with the Stars, Avs and Vancouver Canucks.

So based mostly on schedules, it might seem the door is open for Nashville to overhaul Winnipeg. What do the projections say? Stathletes’ mannequin has the Jets ending with 103 factors to the Preds’ 100, and provides Winnipeg a 69.2% likelihood of taking the No. 3 seed in comparison with 26.7% for Nashville.

As we traverse the ultimate stretch of the common season, it is time to test in on all of the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place within the 2024 NHL draft lottery.

Notice: Playoff likelihood is through Stathletes.

Bounce forward:Present playoff matchupsTuesday’s scheduleMonday’s scoresExpanded standingsRace for No. 1 decide

Present playoff matchups

Jap Convention

A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC1 Tampa Bay LightningA2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple LeafsM1 New York Rangers vs. WC2 Washington CapitalsM2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers

Western Convention

C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Los Angeles KingsC2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Winnipeg JetsP1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville PredatorsP2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights

Tuesday’s video games

Notice: All instances ET. All video games not on TNT or NHL Community can be found through NHL Energy Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (native blackout restrictions apply).

Playoff Hockey Problem

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Washington Capitals at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.Pittsburgh Penguins at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.Chicago Blackhawks at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.Boston Bruins at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.Ottawa Senators at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m.Anaheim Geese at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.Vancouver Canucks at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.

Monday’s scoreboard

Toronto Maple Leafs 6, Florida Panthers 4Detroit Crimson Wings 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 2Pittsburgh Penguins 5, New York Rangers 2New York Islanders 4, Philadelphia Flyers 3 (OT)Columbus Blue Jackets 4, Colorado Avalanche 1St. Louis Blues 3, Edmonton Oilers 2 (OT)Winnipeg Jets 4, Los Angeles Kings 3Seattle Kraken 4, San Jose Sharks 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Factors: 101Regulation wins: 33Playoff place: A1Games left: 7Points tempo: 110Next sport: @ NSH (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 99Regulation wins: 38Playoff place: A2Games left: 7Points tempo: 108Next sport: @ MTL (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 95Regulation wins: 31Playoff place: A3Games left: 8Points tempo: 105Next sport: vs. TB (Wednesday)Playoff probabilities: 99.9percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 89Regulation wins: 33Playoff place: WC1Games left: 8Points tempo: 99Next sport: @ TOR (Wednesday)Playoff probabilities: 99.9percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 82Regulation wins: 26Playoff place: N/AGames left: 7Points tempo: 90Next sport: vs. NYR (Friday)Playoff probabilities: 28percentTragic quantity: 14

Factors: 75Regulation wins: 29Playoff place: N/AGames left: 7Points tempo: 82Next sport: vs. WSH (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0.3percentTragic quantity: 7

Factors: 70Regulation wins: 24Playoff place: N/AGames left: 9Points tempo: 79Next sport: @ MIN (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: ~0percentTragic quantity: 6

Factors: 68Regulation wins: 18Playoff place: N/AGames left: 9Points tempo: 76Next sport: vs. FLA (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: ~0percentTragic quantity: 4

Metropolitan Division

Factors: 104Regulation wins: 39Playoff place: M1Games left: 7Points tempo: 114Next sport: vs. NJ (Wednesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 101Regulation wins: 39Playoff place: M2Games left: 7Points tempo: 110Next sport: vs. BOS (Thursday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 83Regulation wins: 28Playoff place: M3Games left: 6Points tempo: 90Next sport: @ BUF (Friday)Playoff probabilities: 71.9percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 82Regulation wins: 28Playoff place: WC2Games left: 9Points tempo: 92Next sport: @ BUF (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 75.5percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 79Regulation wins: 23Playoff place: N/AGames left: 8Points tempo: 88Next sport: vs. CHI (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 15.6percentTragic quantity: 13

Factors: 77Regulation wins: 28Playoff place: N/AGames left: 8Points tempo: 85Next sport: @ NJ (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 1.8percentTragic quantity: 11

Factors: 76Regulation wins: 31Playoff place: N/AGames left: 8Points tempo: 84Next sport: vs. PIT (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 6.9percentTragic quantity: 10

Factors: 62Regulation wins: 19Playoff place: N/AGames left: 7Points tempo: 68Next sport: vs. NYI (Thursday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E

Central Division

Factors: 103Regulation wins: 36Playoff place: C1Games left: 7Points tempo: 113Next sport: vs. EDM (Wednesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 100Regulation wins: 39Playoff place: C2Games left: 7Points tempo: 109Next sport: @ MIN (Thursday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 96Regulation wins: 40Playoff place: C3Games left: 7Points tempo: 105Next sport: vs. CGY (Thursday)Playoff probabilities: 99.9percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 90Regulation wins: 35Playoff place: WC1Games left: 8Points tempo: 100Next sport: vs. BOS (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 99.6percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 84Regulation wins: 29Playoff place: N/AGames left: 7Points tempo: 92Next sport: @ NSH (Thursday)Playoff probabilities: 1.8percentTragic quantity: 11

Factors: 79Regulation wins: 28Playoff place: N/AGames left: 9Points tempo: 89Next sport: vs. OTT (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 1.4percentTragic quantity: 10

Factors: 67Regulation wins: 25Playoff place: N/AGames left: 8Points tempo: 74Next sport: vs. VAN (Wednesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E

Factors: 49Regulation wins: 16Playoff place: N/AGames left: 8Points tempo: 54Next sport: @ NYI (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E

Pacific Division

Factors: 100Regulation wins: 40Playoff place: P1Games left: 8Points tempo: 111Next sport: @ VGK (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 95Regulation wins: 35Playoff place: P2Games left: 9Points tempo: 107Next sport: @ DAL (Wednesday)Playoff probabilities: 99.9percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 90Regulation wins: 31Playoff place: P3Games left: 8Points tempo: 100Next sport: vs. VAN (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 99.2percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 87Regulation wins: 32Playoff place: WC2Games left: 8Points tempo: 96Next sport: vs. SEA (Wednesday)Playoff probabilities: 98.1percentTragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 75Regulation wins: 25Playoff place: N/AGames left: 8Points tempo: 83Next sport: @ LA (Wednesday)Playoff probabilities: ~0percentTragic quantity: 4

Factors: 73Regulation wins: 29Playoff place: N/AGames left: 9Points tempo: 82Next sport: vs. ANA (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: ~0percentTragic quantity: 4

Factors: 52Regulation wins: 18Playoff place: N/AGames left: 7Points tempo: 57Next sport: @ CGY (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E

Factors: 42Regulation wins: 13Playoff place: N/AGames left: 8Points tempo: 47Next sport: vs. LA (Thursday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E

p — clinched Presidents’ Trophyy — clinched divisionx — clinched playoff berthe — eradicated from playoff competition

Race for the No. 1 decide

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The NHL makes use of a draft lottery to find out the order of the primary spherical, so the workforce that finishes in final place is just not assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a workforce can transfer up a most of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so solely 11 groups are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 decide. Full particulars on the method will be discovered right here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer time is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston College.

Factors: 42Regulation wins: 13

Factors: 49Regulation wins: 16

Factors: 52Regulation wins: 18

Factors: 62Regulation wins: 19

Factors: 67Regulation wins: 25

Factors: 68Regulation wins: 18

Factors: 70Regulation wins: 24

Factors: 73Regulation wins: 29

Factors: 75Regulation wins: 25

Factors: 75Regulation wins: 29

Factors: 76Regulation wins: 31

Factors: 77Regulation wins: 28