NHL playoff watch: The first-round matchups yet to be set


As expected, Tuesday’s games resulted in many playoff seeds being clinched:

In fact, the entire East bracket is now locked in. So what remains to be determined out West? It’s just the shuffle between the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings for the Pacific Division’s No. 3 seed vs. the second West wild card. Whoever gets the No. 3 spot will take on the Edmonton Oilers in Round 1; whoever gets the wild card will square off against the Dallas Stars.

Both clubs are idle Wednesday night (with Vegas pulling one point ahead on Tuesday), and close things out Thursday — the Knights against the Anaheim Ducks and the Kings against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Wednesday’s schedule
Tuesday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
A2 Boston Bruins vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 New York Rangers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New York Islanders

Western Conference

C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Los Angeles Kings
C2 Winnipeg Jets vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights


Wednesday’s games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).

Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. (TNT)
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders, 7 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
Edmonton Oilers at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m.


Tuesday’s scoreboard

Ottawa Senators 3, Boston Bruins 1
Detroit Red Wings 5, Montreal Canadiens 4 (SO)
Washington Capitals 2, Philadelphia Flyers 1
Columbus Blue Jackets 6, Carolina Hurricanes 3
Florida Panthers 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 2
Winnipeg Jets 5, Seattle Kraken 3
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Vancouver Canucks 4, Calgary Flames 1


Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

fla

Points: 110
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

bos

Points: 109
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

tor

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 103
Next game: @ TB (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

tb

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 97
Next game: vs. TOR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

det

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

buf

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

ott

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

mtl

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E


Metropolitan Division

nyr

Points: 114
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

car

Points: 111
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

nyi

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 93
Next game: vs. PIT (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

wsh

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

pit

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 89
Next game: @ NYI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

phi

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

nj

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

cbj

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E


Central Division

dal

Points: 111
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 112
Next game: vs. STL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

wpg

Points: 108
Regulation wins: 45
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. VAN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

col

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 106
Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

nsh

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

stl

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

min

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 88
Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

ari

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 76
Next game: vs. EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

chi

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 52
Next game: @ LA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E


Pacific Division

van

Points: 109
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ WPG (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

edm

Points: 104
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ ARI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

vgk

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 99
Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

la

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 98
Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

cgy

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 80
Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

sea

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 80
Next game: @ MIN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

ana

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 58
Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

sj

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 48
Next game: @ CGY (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

p — clinched Presidents’ Trophy
y — clinched division
x — clinched playoff berth
e — eliminated from playoff contention


Race for the No. 1 pick

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 draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston University.

sj

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14

chi

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17

ana

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20

cbj

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 21

ari

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 27

mtl

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 20

ott

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25

sea

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27

cgy

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31

nj

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33

buf

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 33

phi

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30

min

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 32

pit

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 32

det

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 27

stl

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 31

* The Penguins’ first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.



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