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SPORTS

NHL playoff standings: Latest on the Eastern wild-card chaos

ByESPN Staff ESPN logo

Thursday, April 3, 2025

The final day of the regular season is exactly two weeks away, but the race for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot remains open for five contenders.

Two of those teams are in action Thursday night. The Montreal Canadiens host the Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+), and the Columbus Blue Jackets welcome the Colorado Avalanche (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+).

As play begins Thursday, the Canadiens hold the second wild card with 79 points and 25 regulation wins through 74 games; the New York Rangers are tied in standings points (and ahead in RW, with 32), but have played more games. The Blue Jackets are two behind in points, and one behind in regulation wins. The idle Detroit Red Wings (75 points, 26 RW) and New York Islanders (74 points, 25 RW) round out the quintet.

The Stathletes projection model likes the Canadiens' chances to make the playoffs the most, at 42.1%, followed by the Blue Jackets (27.4%), Rangers (26.8%), Islanders (2.8%) and Red Wings (2.7%). How will this all shake out? Thursday's pair of games featuring these teams will provide our next set of clues.

With the regular season ending April 17, 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 matchups

Clinching scenarios

Today's schedule

Yesterday's scores

Expanded standings

Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators

A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers

M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens

M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues

C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche

P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild

P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Clinching scenarios

The Tampa Bay Lightning will clinch a playoff berth if:

They defeat the Ottawa Senators in any fashion

They lose in overtime/shootout to the Senators, AND either the Montreal Canadiens lose to the Boston Bruins in any fashion OR the Columbus Blue Jackets lose to the Colorado Avalanche in any fashion

Both the Canadiens and Blue Jackets lose in regulation

The Avalanche will clinch a playoff berth if:

They defeat the Blue Jackets in any fashion

They lose in overtime/shootout to the Blue Jackets, AND the Calgary Flames lose to the Anaheim Ducks in any fashion

The Flames lose to the Ducks in regulation

Thursday's games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.

Colorado Avalanche at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7:30 p.m.

Pittsburgh Penguins at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.

Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.

Los Angeles Kings at Utah Hockey Club, 9 p.m.

Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames, 9:30 p.m.

Winnipeg Jets at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.

Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+)

Wednesday's scoreboard

New York Rangers 5, Minnesota Wild 4 (OT)

Carolina Hurricanes 5, Washington Capitals 1

Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Florida Panthers 2

Colorado Avalanche 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2 (SO)

Seattle Kraken 5, Vancouver Canucks 0

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

x - Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 96

Regulation wins: 38

Playoff position: A1

Games left: 7

Points pace: 105.0

Next game: vs. CBJ (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 93

Regulation wins: 38

Playoff position: A2

Games left: 8

Points pace: 103.1

Next game: @ OTT (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 92

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: A3

Games left: 7

Points pace: 100.6

Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Ottawa Senators

Points: 84

Regulation wins: 30

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 8

Points pace: 93.1

Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 98.5%

Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 79

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 8

Points pace: 87.5

Next game: vs. BOS (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 42.1%

Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 75

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 83.1

Next game: vs. CAR (Friday)

Playoff chances: 2.7%

Tragic number: 13

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 70

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 77.6

Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 0.1%

Tragic number: 8

Boston Bruins

Points: 69

Regulation wins: 23

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 75.4

Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 5

Metro Division

x - Washington Capitals

Points: 105

Regulation wins: 41

Playoff position: M1

Games left: 7

Points pace: 114.8

Next game: vs. CHI (Friday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 96

Regulation wins: 41

Playoff position: M2

Games left: 8

Points pace: 106.4

Next game: @ DET (Friday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 87

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: M3

Games left: 6

Points pace: 93.9

Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.7%

Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 79

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 86.4

Next game: @ NJ (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 26.8%

Tragic number: 15

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 77

Regulation wins: 24

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 86.5

Next game: vs. COL (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 27.4%

Tragic number: 17

New York Islanders

Points: 74

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 82.0

Next game: vs. MIN (Friday)

Playoff chances: 2.8%

Tragic number: 12

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 71

Regulation wins: 20

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 77.6

Next game: @ STL (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0.1%

Tragic number: 7

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 71

Regulation wins: 20

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 6

Points pace: 76.6

Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 5

Central Division

x - Winnipeg Jets

Points: 106

Regulation wins: 40

Playoff position: C1

Games left: 7

Points pace: 115.9

Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Dallas Stars

Points: 102

Regulation wins: 40

Playoff position: C2

Games left: 8

Points pace: 113.0

Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 96

Regulation wins: 38

Playoff position: C3

Games left: 6

Points pace: 103.6

Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 89

Regulation wins: 33

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 6

Points pace: 96.0

Next game: @ NYI (Friday)

Playoff chances: 94.8%

Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 89

Regulation wins: 30

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 6

Points pace: 96.0

Next game: vs. PIT (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 97.8%

Tragic number: N/A

Utah Hockey Club

Points: 80

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 87.5

Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0.7%

Tragic number: 6

e - Nashville Predators

Points: 62

Regulation wins: 23

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 67.8

Next game: @ DAL (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 52

Regulation wins: 18

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 56.9

Next game: @ WSH (Friday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

x - Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 98

Regulation wins: 42

Playoff position: P1

Games left: 8

Points pace: 108.6

Next game: vs. WPG (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 93

Regulation wins: 37

Playoff position: P3

Games left: 8

Points pace: 103.1

Next game: @ UTA (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 91

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: P2

Games left: 8

Points pace: 100.8

Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 82

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 90.9

Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 5.9%

Tragic number: 10

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 81

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 88.6

Next game: vs. ANA (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 0.8%

Tragic number: 7

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 74

Regulation wins: 23

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 82.0

Next game: @ CGY (Thursday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 2

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 70

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 6

Points pace: 75.5

Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 50

Regulation wins: 14

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 55.4

Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday)

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.

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 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.