Though six groups have clinched a playoff berth within the Jap Convention half of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs bracket, there’s a fierce battle being contested for these remaining two spots amongst 5 groups. Two of them play towards one another Thursday.
The Detroit Pink Wings go to the Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+), with each making an attempt to overhaul the Washington Capitals, who play the Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+).
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
Previous to Thursday’s video games, the Capitals maintain the second wild-card place, with 85 factors and 29 regulation wins by 78 video games; the Pink Wings (84 and 27 by 78 video games) and Penguins (84 and 31 by 78 video games) are proper on the Caps’ heels, and the Philadelphia Flyers (83 and 28 by 79 video games) are simply behind them (though their current 1-6-3 stretch has torpedoed their playoff possibilities, usually). The Flyers face the tall job of skating towards the juggernaut New York Rangers on Thursday evening (7 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+).
For the entire non-Detroit groups, one other avenue to the playoffs exists by means of the No. 3 seed within the Metro Division. The New York Islanders maintain that place, with 87 factors and 27 regulation wins by 78 video games forward of their sport towards the Montreal Canadiens (7:30 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+).
As has been the case seemingly each evening for the previous two weeks, anticipate some main motion within the chaotic Jap wild-card race tonight!
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.
Word: Playoff chances are high by way of Stathletes.
Soar forward:Present playoff matchupsClinching scenariosThursday’s scheduleWednesday’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 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Winnipeg JetsP1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville PredatorsP2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Clinching situations
1. The Los Angeles Kings will clinch a playoff berth with a win towards the Calgary Flames in any trend.
2. The Dallas Stars will clinch the Central Division title with a win over the Winnipeg Jets in any trend.
Thursday’s video games
Word: 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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Washington Capitals at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.New Jersey Devils at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.Ottawa Senators at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.Columbus Blue Jackets at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.Detroit Pink Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.Montreal Canadiens at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.San Jose Sharks at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.Calgary Flames at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday’s scoreboard
St. Louis Blues 5, Chicago Blackhawks 2Edmonton Oilers 5, Vegas Golden Knights 1Arizona Coyotes 4, Vancouver Canucks 3 (OT)
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Factors: 107Regulation wins: 35Playoff place: A1Games left: 3Points tempo: 111Next sport: @ PIT (Saturday)Playoff possibilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 104Regulation wins: 40Playoff place: A2Games left: 3Points tempo: 108Next sport: vs. CBJ (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 101Regulation wins: 33Playoff place: A3Games left: 4Points tempo: 106Next sport: vs. NJ (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 95Regulation wins: 36Playoff place: WC1Games left: 4Points tempo: 100Next sport: vs. OTT (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 84Regulation wins: 27Playoff place: N/AGames left: 4Points tempo: 88Next sport: @ PIT (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 33.2percentTragic quantity: 7
Factors: 79Regulation wins: 31Playoff place: N/AGames left: 3Points tempo: 82Next sport: vs. WSH (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 0percentTragic quantity: 1
Factors: 72Regulation wins: 24Playoff place: N/AGames left: 4Points tempo: 76Next sport: @ TB (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 72Regulation wins: 20Playoff place: N/AGames left: 4Points tempo: 76Next sport: @ NYI (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Metropolitan Division
Factors: 110Regulation wins: 42Playoff place: M1Games left: 3Points tempo: 114Next sport: vs. PHI (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 107Regulation wins: 42Playoff place: M2Games left: 3Points tempo: 111Next sport: @ STL (Friday)Playoff possibilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 87Regulation wins: 27Playoff place: M3Games left: 4Points tempo: 92Next sport: vs. MTL (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 83.5percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 85Regulation wins: 29Playoff place: WC2Games left: 4Points tempo: 89Next sport: @ BUF (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 44.4percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 84Regulation wins: 31Playoff place: N/AGames left: 4Points tempo: 88Next sport: vs. DET (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 34.5percentTragic quantity: 8
Factors: 83Regulation wins: 28Playoff place: N/AGames left: 3Points tempo: 86Next sport: @ NYR (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 4.4percentTragic quantity: 4
Factors: 79Regulation wins: 32Playoff place: N/AGames left: 3Points tempo: 82Next sport: @ TOR (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 0percentTragic quantity: 1
Factors: 64Regulation wins: 20Playoff place: N/AGames left: 3Points tempo: 66Next sport: @ FLA (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Central Division
Factors: 109Regulation wins: 39Playoff place: C1Games left: 3Points tempo: 113Next sport: vs. WPG (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 104Regulation wins: 41Playoff place: C2Games left: 3Points tempo: 108Next sport: vs. WPG (Saturday)Playoff possibilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 102Regulation wins: 42Playoff place: C3Games left: 4Points tempo: 107Next sport: @ DAL (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 95Regulation wins: 36Playoff place: WC1Games left: 3Points tempo: 99Next sport: @ CHI (Friday)Playoff possibilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 89Regulation wins: 30Playoff place: N/AGames left: 3Points tempo: 92Next sport: vs. CAR (Friday)Playoff possibilities: 0.5percentTragic quantity: 3
Factors: 83Regulation wins: 30Playoff place: N/AGames left: 4Points tempo: 87Next sport: @ VGK (Friday)Playoff possibilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 73Regulation wins: 27Playoff place: N/AGames left: 3Points tempo: 76Next sport: @ EDM (Friday)Playoff possibilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 51Regulation wins: 17Playoff place: N/AGames left: 4Points tempo: 54Next sport: vs. NSH (Friday)Playoff possibilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Pacific Division
Factors: 105Regulation wins: 42Playoff place: P1Games left: 3Points tempo: 109Next sport: @ EDM (Saturday)Playoff possibilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 101Regulation wins: 38Playoff place: P2Games left: 5Points tempo: 108Next sport: vs. ARI (Friday)Playoff possibilities: 100percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 93Regulation wins: 35Playoff place: P3Games left: 4Points tempo: 98Next sport: vs. CGY (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 99.9percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 92Regulation wins: 32Playoff place: WC2Games left: 4Points tempo: 97Next sport: vs. MIN (Friday)Playoff possibilities: 99.6percentTragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 79Regulation wins: 27Playoff place: N/AGames left: 5Points tempo: 84Next sport: vs. SJ (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 75Regulation wins: 29Playoff place: N/AGames left: 5Points tempo: 80Next sport: @ LA (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 57Regulation wins: 20Playoff place: N/AGames left: 3Points tempo: 59Next sport: vs. CGY (Friday)Playoff possibilities: 0percentTragic quantity: E
Factors: 45Regulation wins: 13Playoff place: N/AGames left: 4Points tempo: 47Next sport: @ SEA (Thursday)Playoff possibilities: 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 crew that finishes in final place is just not assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a crew 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 time is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston College.
Factors: 45Regulation wins: 13
Factors: 51Regulation wins: 17
Factors: 57Regulation wins: 20
Factors: 64Regulation wins: 20
Factors: 72Regulation wins: 20
Factors: 72Regulation wins: 24
Factors: 73Regulation wins: 27
Factors: 75Regulation wins: 29
Factors: 79Regulation wins: 27
Factors: 79Regulation wins: 31
Factors: 79Regulation wins: 32
Factors: 83Regulation wins: 28
Factors: 83Regulation wins: 30
Factors: 84Regulation wins: 27
Factors: 84Regulation wins: 31
Factors: 89Regulation wins: 30
* The Penguins’ first-round choose was traded to the Sharks as a part of the Erik Karlsson commerce. Nonetheless, it’s top-10 protected.