The ultimate day of the 2023-24 NHL common season is Thursday, however the Jap Convention groups will shut issues out by Wednesday. And it might take that lengthy earlier than we all know the identification of all eight playoff groups in that convention.
Monday is a giant night time within the race for the second wild card, with the Washington Capitals (the workforce at present in that spot), Detroit Crimson Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins all enjoying sport No. 81 on their schedule. The New York Islanders — No. 3 within the Metro Division — are additionally enjoying their penultimate sport.
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Because it stands, the Isles have 90 factors and 27 regulation wins, three factors away from the sphere, however behind the Caps, Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers in regulation wins (the primary tiebreaker); the Flyers can’t catch New York, however the different two golf equipment can. Including to the chaos, all 4 video games involving these groups are slated for 7 p.m. ET puck drop:
A win for the Isles towards the New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+) ends any menace. That is the best path to the playoffs for New York, establishing a first-round matchup with the Metro’s No. 2 seed (both the New York Rangers or Carolina Hurricanes).
The Capitals (87 factors, 30 RW) are internet hosting the Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET, NHL Community). A win of any variety places them at 89 factors, making the margin of error fairly skinny for the opposite groups.
Detroit (87 factors, 27 RW) is squaring off towards the Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+). Given the scarcity of regulation wins, they want each W they will get.
A loss to those self same Bruins on Saturday put a dent within the Penguins’ probabilities (86 factors, 31 RW), they usually’ll look to rebound towards the Nashville Predators (7 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+).
An extremely essential sport sits on the Tuesday schedule, with the Capitals visiting the Flyers; that very same night, the Crimson Wings go to Montreal for the second half of a back-to-back, home-and-away set. And on Wednesday, the Penguins and Islanders play sport No. 82 — towards each other!
This race has been one of many closest in current reminiscence, and it seems it is going proper all the way down to the wire.
Observe: Playoff chances are high by way of Stathletes.
Bounce forward:Present playoff matchupsClinching scenariosMonday’s scheduleSunday’s scoresExpanded standingsRace for No. 1 choose
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 New York Islanders
Western Convention
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Vegas Golden KnightsC2 Winnipeg Jets vs. C3 Colorado AvalancheP1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville PredatorsP2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Clinching situations
1. The New York Islanders will clinch a playoff berth in the event that they win towards the New Jersey Devils in any vogue.
They can even clinch in the event that they lose in additional time or shootout to the Devils AND one or each of the next happen:
They can even clinch if ANY of those three outcomes transpire:
The Crimson Wings lose to the Canadiens in regulation AND the Caps lose to the Bruins in regulation
The Crimson Wings lose to the Canadiens in regulation AND the Pittsburgh Penguins lose to the Nashville Predators in any vogue
The Caps lose to the Bruins in regulation AND the Penguins lose to the Preds in any vogue
2. The New York Rangers will clinch the Metro Division, Jap Convention and Presidents’ Trophy in the event that they defeat the Ottawa Senators in any methodology.
3. The Bruins will clinch the Atlantic Division in the event that they win towards the Caps in any vogue.
4. The idle Vancouver Canucks will clinch the Pacific Division if the Edmonton Oilers lose to the San Jose Sharks in any vogue.
5. The Predators will clinch Western wild card No. 1 in the event that they win or lose in OT/shootout to the Penguins.
Monday’s video games
Observe: All occasions ET. All video games not on TNT or NHL Community can be found by way of NHL Energy Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (native blackout restrictions apply).
Playoff Hockey Problem
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Montreal Canadiens at Detroit Crimson Wings, 7 p.m.Buffalo Sabres at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.Nashville Predators at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. (NHLN)Ottawa Senators at New York Rangers, 7:30 p.m.San Jose Sharks at Edmonton Oilers, 9:30 p.m.Minnesota Wild at Los Angeles Kings, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Sunday’s scoreboard
St. Louis Blues 4, Seattle Kraken 1Vegas Golden Knights 4, Colorado Avalanche 3 (OT)Carolina Hurricanes 4, Chicago Blackhawks 2Calgary Flames 6, Arizona Coyotes 5
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Factors: 109Regulation wins: 36Playoff place: A1Games left: 2Points tempo: 112Next sport: @ WSH (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 108Regulation wins: 41Playoff place: A2Games left: 1Points tempo: 109Next sport: vs. TOR (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 102Regulation wins: 33Playoff place: A3Games left: 2Points tempo: 105Next sport: @ FLA (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 96Regulation wins: 36Playoff place: WC1Games left: 2Points tempo: 98Next sport: vs. BUF (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 87Regulation wins: 27Playoff place: N/AGames left: 2Points tempo: 89Next sport: vs. MTL (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 65.7percentTragic quantity: 4
Factors: 82Regulation wins: 32Playoff place: N/AGames left: 1Points tempo: 83Next sport: @ TB (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 76Regulation wins: 24Playoff place: N/AGames left: 2Points tempo: 78Next sport: @ NYR (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 74Regulation wins: 20Playoff place: N/AGames left: 2Points tempo: 76Next sport: @ DET (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Metropolitan Division
Factors: 112Regulation wins: 42Playoff place: M1Games left: 1Points tempo: 113Next sport: vs. OTT (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 111Regulation wins: 44Playoff place: M2Games left: 1Points tempo: 112Next sport: @ CBJ (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 90Regulation wins: 27Playoff place: M3Games left: 2Points tempo: 92Next sport: @ NJ (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 94.5percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 87Regulation wins: 30Playoff place: WC2Games left: 2Points tempo: 89Next sport: vs. BOS (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 21.6percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 87Regulation wins: 30Playoff place: N/AGames left: 1Points tempo: 88Next sport: vs. WSH (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 6.4percentTragic quantity: 3
Factors: 86Regulation wins: 31Playoff place: N/AGames left: 2Points tempo: 88Next sport: vs. NSH (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 11.7percentTragic quantity: 3
Factors: 81Regulation wins: 33Playoff place: N/AGames left: 1Points tempo: 82Next sport: vs. NYI (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 64Regulation wins: 20Playoff place: N/AGames left: 1Points tempo: 65Next sport: vs. CAR (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Central Division
Factors: 111Regulation wins: 40Playoff place: C1Games left: 1Points tempo: 112Next sport: vs. STL (Wednesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 106Regulation wins: 44Playoff place: C2Games left: 2Points tempo: 109Next sport: vs. SEA (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 105Regulation wins: 41Playoff place: C3Games left: 1Points tempo: 106Next sport: vs. EDM (Thursday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 99Regulation wins: 38Playoff place: WC1Games left: 1Points tempo: 100Next sport: @ PIT (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 91Regulation wins: 31Playoff place: N/AGames left: 1Points tempo: 92Next sport: @ DAL (Wednesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 85Regulation wins: 31Playoff place: N/AGames left: 2Points tempo: 87Next sport: @ LA (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 75Regulation wins: 27Playoff place: N/AGames left: 1Points tempo: 76Next sport: vs. EDM (Wednesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 51Regulation wins: 17Playoff place: N/AGames left: 2Points tempo: 52Next sport: @ VGK (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Pacific Division
Factors: 107Regulation wins: 43Playoff place: P1Games left: 2Points tempo: 110Next sport: vs. CGY (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 102Regulation wins: 38Playoff place: P2Games left: 3Points tempo: 106Next sport: vs. SJ (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 97Regulation wins: 37Playoff place: P3Games left: 2Points tempo: 99Next sport: vs. MIN (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 96Regulation wins: 33Playoff place: WC2Games left: 2Points tempo: 98Next sport: vs. CHI (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 79Regulation wins: 31Playoff place: N/AGames left: 2Points tempo: 81Next sport: @ VAN (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 79Regulation wins: 27Playoff place: N/AGames left: 2Points tempo: 81Next sport: @ WPG (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 57Regulation wins: 20Playoff place: N/AGames left: 1Points tempo: 58Next sport: @ VGK (Thursday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 47Regulation wins: 14Playoff place: N/AGames left: 2Points tempo: 48Next sport: @ EDM (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
p — clinched Presidents’ Trophyy — clinched divisionx — clinched playoff berthe — eradicated from playoff competition
Race for the No. 1 choose
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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 choose. Full particulars on the method might be discovered right here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer season is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston College.
Factors: 47Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 51Regulation wins: 17
Factors: 57Regulation wins: 20
Factors: 64Regulation wins: 20
Factors: 74Regulation wins: 20
Factors: 75Regulation wins: 27
Factors: 76Regulation wins: 24
Factors: 79Regulation wins: 27
Factors: 79Regulation wins: 31
Factors: 81Regulation wins: 33
Factors: 82Regulation wins: 32
Factors: 85Regulation wins: 31
Factors: 86Regulation wins: 31
Factors: 87Regulation wins: 27
Factors: 87Regulation wins: 30
Factors: 91Regulation wins: 31
* The Penguins’ first-round choose was traded to the Sharks as a part of the Erik Karlsson commerce. Nevertheless, it’s top-10 protected.