Uncommon is the night time within the NHL when each workforce in motion is in playoff place, or at the very least near it. Monday is such an evening — although it helps that there are solely two video games.
The early recreation pits the Pittsburgh Penguins (one level out of the second wild card) towards the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+). For the Penguins, it is a probability to assist crystallize their positioning within the chaotic race for the second wild card; for the Leafs, a win would bolster their grip on the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 slot.
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2 Associated
A extra tantalizing matchup looms within the late recreation because the Vegas Golden Knights go to the Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+). The hosts have surprisingly been at (or close to) the highest of the Pacific Division for a lot of the season, and that development holds as of Monday. Based mostly on the present standings, the Canucks will tackle the West’s first wild-card workforce. As of Monday, that’s the Nashville Predators, although the Knights are two factors again with two video games in hand.
This fourth matchup will present one other clue as to how a possible playoff collection may play out. The Knights have gained two of three towards the Canucks, together with a 6-3 Vegas victory final Tuesday.
So how probably is that this matchup in Spherical 1? The Canucks have a 63.2% probability to win the Pacific, in keeping with Stathletes. The Knights have a 22.9% probability of getting the West’s first wild card, a 28.9% probability on the second wild card, and a 47.1% probability of ending third within the Pacific. The Los Angeles Kings are one level and three regulation wins forward of Vegas in that place, although the Knights have a recreation in hand on them.
As we traverse the ultimate stretch of the common season, it is time to examine in on all of the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place within the 2024 NHL draft lottery.
Be aware: Playoff likelihood is through Stathletes.
Leap forward:Present playoff matchupsMonday’s scheduleSunday’s scoresExpanded standingsRace for No. 1 choose
Present playoff matchups
Japanese Convention
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC1 Tampa Bay LightningA2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple LeafsM1 New York Rangers vs. WC2 Detroit Crimson WingsM2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New York Islanders
Western Convention
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Vegas Golden KnightsC2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Winnipeg JetsP1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville PredatorsP2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Monday’s video games
Be aware: All occasions 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).
Pittsburgh Penguins at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.
Sunday’s scoreboard
Playoff Hockey Problem
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Detroit Crimson Wings 3, Buffalo Sabres 1Minnesota Wild 4, Chicago Blackhawks 0Carolina Hurricanes 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 0Ottawa Senators 3, Washington Capitals 2 (OT)Arizona Coyotes 5, San Jose Sharks 2Nashville Predators 3, New Jersey Devils 2 (SO)New York Rangers 5, Montreal Canadiens 2St. Louis Blues 6, Anaheim Geese 5 (SO)Dallas Stars 7, Colorado Avalanche 4
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Factors: 107Regulation wins: 35Playoff place: A1Games left: 4Points tempo: 113Next recreation: vs. CAR (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 102Regulation wins: 39Playoff place: A2Games left: 4Points tempo: 107Next recreation: vs. OTT (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 97Regulation wins: 32Playoff place: A3Games left: 6Points tempo: 105Next recreation: vs. PIT (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 93Regulation wins: 35Playoff place: WC1Games left: 5Points tempo: 99Next recreation: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 84Regulation wins: 27Playoff place: WC2Games left: 5Points tempo: 90Next recreation: vs. WSH (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 37.9percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 79Regulation wins: 31Playoff place: N/AGames left: 4Points tempo: 83Next recreation: @ DAL (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 2percentTragic quantity: 3
Factors: 72Regulation wins: 24Playoff place: N/AGames left: 5Points tempo: 77Next recreation: @ FLA (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 70Regulation wins: 19Playoff place: N/AGames left: 5Points tempo: 75Next recreation: vs. PHI (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Metropolitan Division
Factors: 110Regulation wins: 42Playoff place: M1Games left: 4Points tempo: 116Next recreation: @ NYI (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 105Regulation wins: 41Playoff place: M2Games left: 4Points tempo: 110Next recreation: @ BOS (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 85Regulation wins: 26Playoff place: M3Games left: 5Points tempo: 91Next recreation: vs. NYR (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 68percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 83Regulation wins: 31Playoff place: N/AGames left: 5Points tempo: 88Next recreation: @ TOR (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 37.3percentTragic quantity: 9
Factors: 83Regulation wins: 28Playoff place: N/AGames left: 5Points tempo: 88Next recreation: @ DET (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 31.9percentTragic quantity: 9
Factors: 83Regulation wins: 28Playoff place: N/AGames left: 4Points tempo: 87Next recreation: @ MTL (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 22.2percentTragic quantity: 7
Factors: 79Regulation wins: 32Playoff place: N/AGames left: 4Points tempo: 83Next recreation: vs. TOR (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0.7percentTragic quantity: 3
Factors: 64Regulation wins: 20Playoff place: N/AGames left: 4Points tempo: 67Next recreation: @ TB (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Central Division
Factors: 107Regulation wins: 38Playoff place: C1Games left: 4Points tempo: 113Next recreation: vs. BUF (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 102Regulation wins: 40Playoff place: C2Games left: 4Points tempo: 107Next recreation: vs. MIN (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 100Regulation wins: 42Playoff place: C3Games left: 5Points tempo: 107Next recreation: @ NSH (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 94Regulation wins: 36Playoff place: WC1Games left: 4Points tempo: 99Next recreation: vs. WPG (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 99.8percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 87Regulation wins: 29Playoff place: N/AGames left: 4Points tempo: 92Next recreation: vs. CHI (Wednesday)Playoff probabilities: 0.3percentTragic quantity: 3
Factors: 83Regulation wins: 30Playoff place: N/AGames left: 5Points tempo: 88Next recreation: @ COL (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0.1percentTragic quantity: 1
Factors: 71Regulation wins: 27Playoff place: N/AGames left: 5Points tempo: 76Next recreation: @ SEA (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 51Regulation wins: 17Playoff place: N/AGames left: 5Points tempo: 54Next recreation: @ STL (Wednesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Pacific Division
Factors: 102Regulation wins: 41Playoff place: P1Games left: 5Points tempo: 109Next recreation: vs. VGK (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 99Regulation wins: 37Playoff place: P2Games left: 6Points tempo: 107Next recreation: vs. VGK (Wednesday)Playoff probabilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 93Regulation wins: 35Playoff place: P3Games left: 5Points tempo: 99Next recreation: @ ANA (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 99.9percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 92Regulation wins: 32Playoff place: WC2Games left: 6Points tempo: 99Next recreation: @ VAN (Monday)Playoff probabilities: 99.9percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 77Regulation wins: 26Playoff place: N/AGames left: 6Points tempo: 83Next recreation: vs. ARI (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 73Regulation wins: 29Playoff place: N/AGames left: 6Points tempo: 79Next recreation: @ SJ (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 55Regulation wins: 19Playoff place: N/AGames left: 4Points tempo: 58Next recreation: vs. LA (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 44Regulation wins: 13Playoff place: N/AGames left: 5Points tempo: 47Next recreation: vs. CGY (Tuesday)Playoff probabilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
p — clinched Presidents’ Trophyy — clinched divisionx — clinched playoff berthe — eradicated from playoff rivalry
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 shouldn’t be 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 will be discovered right here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer season is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston College.
Factors: 44Regulation wins: 13
Factors: 51Regulation wins: 17
Factors: 55Regulation wins: 19
Factors: 64Regulation wins: 20
Factors: 70Regulation wins: 19
Factors: 71Regulation wins: 27
Factors: 72Regulation wins: 24
Factors: 73Regulation wins: 29
Factors: 77Regulation wins: 26
Factors: 79Regulation wins: 31
Factors: 79Regulation wins: 32
Factors: 83Regulation wins: 28
Factors: 83Regulation wins: 28
Factors: 83Regulation wins: 30
Factors: 83Regulation wins: 31
Factors: 87Regulation wins: 29
* The Penguins’ first-round choose was traded to the Sharks as a part of the Erik Karlsson commerce. Nevertheless, it’s top-10 protected.