With a combination of results on Tuesday, the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues clinched the two wild-card spots in the Western Conference, eliminating the Calgary Flames from postseason contention.
On the other side of the continent, the Columbus Blue Jackets won in regulation against the Philadelphia Flyers, keeping their slim chances intact. Will Wednesday see the clinching of team No. 16 in the playoff field, or will Thursday's games be the determinant?
Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens7 p.m. (ESPN+)
This is the most important game of the night by a considerable margin. With a win of any variety, or a loss in overtime/shootout, the Canadiens clinch the second Eastern wild-card spot. The only thing that keeps the Blue Jackets' hopes intact is a regulation loss for Montreal. It's unclear what type of roster the Habs will face from the Canes, as the latter have been locked into the No. 2 in the Metro for a while now.
Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets7 p.m. (ESPN+)
The Ducks will finish no lower than ninth in the draft lottery order -- they enter this game with 79 points, and the teams lower than them have 82 or more. But a loss here followed by wins Thursday by the Penguins and Sabres could get them as high as seventh. The Jets recently locked up the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top regular-season team (and No. 1 seed for as long as they last in the playoffs).
Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils7:30 p.m. (TNT)
The Wings are currently 12th in the draft lottery order, with 83 points and 29 regulation wins, and can move up as high as 10th (if the Islanders win Thursday, and they lose their next two games). Like the Hurricanes, the Devils have been locked in to their playoff position for a while now, and it is Carolina against whom they match up in Round 1.
Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators8 p.m. (ESPN+)
Two teams at opposite ends of the Central Division, and neither can make a move based on the results of this game; the Stars will open the playoffs in the No. 2 spot in the Central against the No. 3-seeded Colorado Avalanche, while the Predators are locked in to the No. 3 position in the draft lottery order.
Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks10 p.m. (TNT)
And here are a pair of Pacific Division teams whose results tonight will not change the standings. The Golden Knights clinched the No. 1 seed in the Pacific Division recently, and the Canucks are locked in as the No. 15 team in the draft lottery order.
Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks10:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
... and here's another pair of Pacific teams that are already locked in as well. San Jose has been in the No. 1 spot in the draft lottery order for quite some time, a position they clinched recently. Meanwhile, the Oilers will be the No. 3 seed in the Pacific Division bracket, taking on the No. 2-seeded Los Angeles Kings in Round 1.
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 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida PanthersM1 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).
Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets, 7 p.m.Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m. (TNT)Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.
New Jersey Devils 5, Boston Bruins 4 (OT)Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Buffalo Sabres 0Chicago Blackhawks 4, Ottawa Senators 3 (OT)Columbus Blue Jackets 3, Philadelphia Flyers 0Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Florida Panthers 1Washington Capitals 3, New York Islanders 1St. Louis Blues 6, Utah Hockey Club 1Minnesota Wild 3, Anaheim Ducks 2 (OT)Calgary Flames 5, Vegas Golden Knights 4 (SO)Los Angeles Kings 6, Seattle Kraken 5
Points: 106Regulation wins: 41Playoff position: A1Games left: 1Points pace: 107.3Next game: vs. DET (Thursday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102Regulation wins: 41Playoff position: A2Games left: 1Points pace: 103.3Next game: @ NYR (Thursday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98Regulation wins: 37Playoff position: A3Games left: 0Points pace: 98Next game: N/APlayoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: WC1Games left: 1Points pace: 96.2Next game: vs. CAR (Thursday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: WC2Games left: 1Points pace: 90.1Next game: vs. CAR (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 89.6%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: N/AGames left: 2Points pace: 85.1Next game: @ NJ (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 77Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 1Points pace: 78.0Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 76Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 0Points pace: 76Next game: N/APlayoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 111Regulation wins: 43Playoff position: M1Games left: 1Points pace: 112.4Next game: @ PIT (Thursday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99Regulation wins: 42Playoff position: M2Games left: 2Points pace: 101.5Next game: @ MTL (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91Regulation wins: 36Playoff position: M3Games left: 1Points pace: 92.1Next game: vs. DET (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: N/AGames left: 1Points pace: 88.1Next game: vs. NYI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 10.4%Tragic number: 1
Points: 83Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: N/AGames left: 1Points pace: 84.0Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 82Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 1Points pace: 83.0Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 78Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 1Points pace: 79.0Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 76Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 1Points pace: 77.0Next game: @ BUF (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 114Regulation wins: 43Playoff position: C1Games left: 1Points pace: 115.4Next game: vs. ANA (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 106Regulation wins: 41Playoff position: C2Games left: 1Points pace: 107.3Next game: @ NSH (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102Regulation wins: 40Playoff position: C3Games left: 0Points pace: 102Next game: N/APlayoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 97Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: WC1Games left: 0Points pace: 97Next game: N/APlayoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 96Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: WC2Games left: 0Points pace: 96Next game: N/APlayoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: N/AGames left: 0Points pace: 89Next game: N/APlayoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 66Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 1Points pace: 66.8Next game: vs. DAL (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 61Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 0Points pace: 61Next game: N/APlayoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 108Regulation wins: 45Playoff position: P1Games left: 1Points pace: 109.3Next game: @ VAN (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 105Regulation wins: 43Playoff position: P3Games left: 1Points pace: 106.3Next game: vs. CGY (Thursday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: P2Games left: 1Points pace: 100.2Next game: @ SJ (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: N/AGames left: 1Points pace: 95.2Next game: LA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 90Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 1Points pace: 91.1Next game: vs. VGK (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 79Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 1Points pace: 80.0Next game: @ WPG (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 76Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 0Points pace: 76Next game: N/APlayoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 52Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 1Points pace: 52.6Next game: vs. EDM (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Note: A "p" means that the team has clinched the Presidents' Trophy as the top team in the regular season. A "z" means that the team has clinched the top record in the conference. A "y" means that the team has clinched the division title. 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. More details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL's Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.
Points: 52Regulation wins: 14
Points: 61Regulation wins: 20
Points: 66Regulation wins: 23
Points: 76Regulation wins: 26
Points: 76Regulation wins: 28
Points: 76Regulation wins: 21
Points: 77Regulation wins: 28
Points: 78Regulation wins: 23
Points: 79Regulation wins: 24
Points: 82Regulation wins: 28
Points: 83Regulation wins: 34
Points: 83Regulation wins: 29
Points: 87Regulation wins: 29
Points: 89Regulation wins: 30
Points: 90Regulation wins: 28
Points: 94Regulation wins: 30
