Heading into Friday's slate of six games, there are four teams within two points battling for the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
Three of those teams are in action Friday:
The Montreal Canadiens, who hold the playoff spot at the moment, visit the Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
Simultaneously, the Columbus Blue Jackets will host the Vancouver Canucks (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
In the evening's nightcap, the New York Rangers will head to Orange County to take on the Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
The New York Islanders are idle, with their next game on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning
Obviously, every point matters when it comes to these teams. But two specific games down the stretch will have an outsized impact: Islanders-Rangers on April 10, and Islanders-Blue Jackets on April 17 (the final day of the regular season).
Stathletes gives the Canadiens an edge right now (43.7% chance to make the playoffs), followed by the Blue Jackets (18.5%), Islanders (18.4%) and Rangers (18.1%); Montreal also has the best chance among the four to reach the second round (11.2%). Stay tuned.
There are less than three weeks left until April 17 and we'll help you track it all with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we'll provide details on all the playoff races, along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:Current playoff matchupsToday's scheduleYesterday's scoresExpanded standingsRace for No. 1 pick
Eastern Conference
A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa SenatorsA2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Tampa Bay LightningM1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal CanadiensM2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis BluesC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado AvalancheP1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota WildP2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Utah Hockey Club at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m. (NHLN)Montreal Canadiens at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.Vancouver Canucks at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.New Jersey Devils at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m.Vegas Golden Knights at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.New York Rangers at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres 7, Pittsburgh Penguins 3Ottawa Senators 4, Detroit Red Wings 3Tampa Bay Lightning 8, Utah Hockey Club 0Philadelphia Flyers 6, Montreal Canadiens 4Minnesota Wild 4, Washington Capitals 2St. Louis Blues 3, Nashville Predators 2Dallas Stars 5, Calgary Flames 2Colorado Avalanche 4, Los Angeles Kings 0Seattle Kraken 6, Edmonton Oilers 1San Jose Sharks 6, Toronto Maple Leafs 5 (SO)
Points: 90Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A1Games left: 10Points pace: 102.5Next game: @ LA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A2Games left: 11Points pace: 102.8Next game: vs. UTA (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89Regulation wins: 36Playoff position: A3Games left: 10Points pace: 101.4Next game: vs. NYI (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: WC1Games left: 11Points pace: 93.6Next game: vs. CBJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 98.1%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: WC2Games left: 11Points pace: 86.6Next game: @ CAR (Friday)Playoff chances: 43.7%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 72Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 82.0Next game: vs. BOS (Saturday)Playoff chances: 4.5%Tragic number: 18
Points: 69Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 77.5Next game: @ DET (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 13
Points: 66Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 76.2Next game: @ PHI (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 14
Points: 103Regulation wins: 40Playoff position: M1Games left: 10Points pace: 117.3Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 90Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: M2Games left: 11Points pace: 103.9Next game: vs. MTL (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: M3Games left: 9Points pace: 93.2Next game: @ WPG (Friday)Playoff chances: 98.5%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 74Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 85.5Next game: @ TB (Saturday)Playoff chances: 18.4%Tragic number: 22
Points: 74Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 84.3Next game: @ ANA (Friday)Playoff chances: 18.1%Tragic number: 20
Points: 73Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 85.5Next game: vs. VAN (Friday)Playoff chances: 18.5%Tragic number: 23
Points: 69Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 76.5Next game: vs. OTT (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 11
Points: 67Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 74.2Next game: vs. BUF (Saturday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 9
Points: 102Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: C1Games left: 10Points pace: 116.2Next game: vs. NJ (Friday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: C2Games left: 10Points pace: 111.6Next game: @ SEA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: C3Games left: 9Points pace: 104.5Next game: vs. STL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: WC1Games left: 9Points pace: 97.7Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 90.2%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: WC2Games left: 8Points pace: 94.2Next game: @ COL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 80.3%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 85.4Next game: @ FLA (Friday)Playoff chances: 4%Tragic number: 11
Points: 62Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 70.6Next game: vs. VGK (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 51Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 58.1Next game: vs. VGK (Friday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 94Regulation wins: 40Playoff position: P1Games left: 11Points pace: 108.6Next game: @ CHI (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: P3Games left: 11Points pace: 102.8Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: P2Games left: 10Points pace: 99.1Next game: vs. CGY (Saturday)Playoff chances: 98.2%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 91.1Next game: @ CBJ (Friday)Playoff chances: 10.4%Tragic number: 16
Points: 79Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 91.2Next game: @ EDM (Saturday)Playoff chances: 16.9%Tragic number: 17
Points: 70Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 80.9Next game: vs. NYR (Friday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 8
Points: 68Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 76.4Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 2
Points: 49Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 56.6Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Note: An "x" means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An "e" means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL's Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.
Points: 49Regulation wins: 14
Points: 51Regulation wins: 18
Points: 62Regulation wins: 23
Points: 66Regulation wins: 24
Points: 67Regulation wins: 18
Points: 68Regulation wins: 25
Points: 69Regulation wins: 20
Points: 69Regulation wins: 23
Points: 70Regulation wins: 23
Points: 72Regulation wins: 25
Points: 73Regulation wins: 23
Points: 74Regulation wins: 31
Points: 74Regulation wins: 25
Points: 75Regulation wins: 24
Points: 79Regulation wins: 26
Points: 80Regulation wins: 26
