NHL playoff watch: Knights-Oilers is Wednesday's key game - ESPN

The Wednesday night schedule in the NHL is significantly lighter than Tuesday's, with just three games compared to 13. But, there is one doozy on the docket.

The Vegas Golden Knights visit the Edmonton Oilers (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT) in a game that will have implications on the Pacific Division and the entire Western Conference playoff bracket.

For the Oilers, there is a path to winning the division. Entering Wednesday, Edmonton trails the Vancouver Canucks by five points and five regulation wins, though it has two games in hand. The Canucks are in action Wednesday night as well, against the Arizona Coyotes (10:30 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). The Oilers don't necessarily have to win out to take the division title, but there's not a ton of wiggle room. Of note, they will host the Canucks on Saturday.

The Golden Knights are nearly a lock for a playoff spot, but their first-round matchup remains in flux. Heading into Wednesday, they are in the second wild-card spot, and would face the Western Division champ with the most points (currently the Dallas Stars). However, they are one point and three regulation wins behind the Los Angeles Kings for the No. 3 seed in the Pacific, while they are three points and four regulation wins behind the Nashville Predators for the first wild-card spot.

Put another way: While there is little doubt which eight Western teams are making the playoffs, there are a great many permutations regarding the first-round matchups -- and this game Wednesday will have a notable impact on determining which of those is most likely.

As we traverse the final stretch of the regular season, it's time to check in on all the playoff races -- along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2024 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

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

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning A2 Florida Panthers 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 Vegas Golden Knights C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Clinching scenarios

1. The Vegas Golden Knights will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Edmonton Oilers in regulation AND the St. Louis Blues lose to the Chicago Blackhawks in any fashion. They can also clinch a berth if they defeat the Oilers in overtime or a shootout AND the Blues lose to the Blackhawks in regulation.

2. The idle Los Angeles Kings will clinch a playoff berth if the Blues lose to the Blackhawks in regulation.

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).

Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m. Vegas Golden Knights at Edmonton Oilers, 8:30 p.m (TNT) Arizona Coyotes at Vancouver Canucks, 10:30 p.m.

Tuesday's scoreboard

Carolina Hurricanes 4, Boston Bruins 1 Montreal Canadiens 9, Philadelphia Flyers 3 Washington Capitals 2, Detroit Red Wings 1 Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 2 Florida Panthers 2, Ottawa Senators 0 Toronto Maple Leafs 5, New Jersey Devils 2 New York Islanders 4, New York Rangers 2 Winnipeg Jets 4, Nashville Predators 3 (OT) Dallas Stars 3, Buffalo Sabres 2 Colorado Avalanche 5, Minnesota Wild 2 Anaheim Ducks 3, Los Angeles Kings 1 Seattle Kraken 5, Arizona Coyotes 0 Calgary Flames 3, San Jose Sharks 2 (OT)

Expanded standingsAtlantic Division

x - Boston Bruins

Points: 107 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: A1 Games left: 3 Points pace: 111 Next game: @ PIT (Saturday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A

x - Florida Panthers

Points: 104 Regulation wins: 40 Playoff position: A2 Games left: 3 Points pace: 108 Next game: vs. CBJ (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A

x - Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 101 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: A3 Games left: 4 Points pace: 106 Next game: vs. NJ (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A

x - Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 95 Regulation wins: 36 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 4 Points pace: 100 Next game: vs. OTT (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 84 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 4 Points pace: 88 Next game: @ PIT (Thursday) Playoff chances: 33.2% Tragic number: 7

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 79 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 3 Points pace: 82 Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 1

e - Ottawa Senators

Points: 72 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 4 Points pace: 76 Next game: @ TB (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E

e - Montreal Canadiens

Points: 72 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 4 Points pace: 76 Next game: @ NYI (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E

Metropolitan Division

x - New York Rangers

Points: 110 Regulation wins: 42 Playoff position: M1 Games left: 3 Points pace: 114 Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 107 Regulation wins: 42 Playoff position: M2 Games left: 3 Points pace: 111 Next game: @ STL (Friday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 87 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: M3 Games left: 4 Points pace: 92 Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday) Playoff chances: 83.5% Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 85 Regulation wins: 29 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 4 Points pace: 89 Next game: @ BUF (Thursday) Playoff chances: 44.4% Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 84 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 4 Points pace: 88 Next game: vs. DET (Thursday) Playoff chances: 34.5% Tragic number: 8

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 83 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 3 Points pace: 86 Next game: @ NYR (Thursday) Playoff chances: 4.4% Tragic number: 4

New Jersey Devils

Points: 79 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 3 Points pace: 82 Next game: @ TOR (Thursday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 1

e - Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 64 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 3 Points pace: 66 Next game: @ FLA (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E

Central Division

x - Dallas Stars

Points: 109 Regulation wins: 39 Playoff position: C1 Games left: 3 Points pace: 113 Next game: vs. WPG (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A

x - Colorado Avalanche

Points: 104 Regulation wins: 41 Playoff position: C2 Games left: 3 Points pace: 108 Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A

x - Winnipeg Jets

Points: 102 Regulation wins: 42 Playoff position: C3 Games left: 4 Points pace: 107 Next game: @ DAL (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A

x - Nashville Predators

Points: 95 Regulation wins: 36 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 3 Points pace: 99 Next game: @ CHI (Friday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 87 Regulation wins: 29 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 4 Points pace: 92 Next game: vs. CHI (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0.5% Tragic number: 3

e - Minnesota Wild

Points: 83 Regulation wins: 30 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 4 Points pace: 87 Next game: @ VGK (Friday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E

e - Arizona Coyotes

Points: 71 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 4 Points pace: 75 Next game: @ VAN (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51 Regulation wins: 17 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 5 Points pace: 54 Next game: @ STL (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

x - Vancouver Canucks

Points: 104 Regulation wins: 42 Playoff position: P1 Games left: 4 Points pace: 109 Next game: vs. ARI (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A

x - Edmonton Oilers

Points: 99 Regulation wins: 37 Playoff position: P2 Games left: 6 Points pace: 107 Next game: vs. VGK (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 93 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: P3 Games left: 4 Points pace: 98 Next game: vs. CGY (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 92 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 5 Points pace: 98 Next game: @ EDM (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 99.6% Tragic number: N/A

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 79 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 5 Points pace: 84 Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E

e - Calgary Flames

Points: 75 Regulation wins: 29 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 5 Points pace: 80 Next game: @ LA (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 57 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 3 Points pace: 59 Next game: vs. CGY (Friday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 45 Regulation wins: 13 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 4 Points pace: 47 Next game: @ SEA (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.

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 45 Regulation wins: 13

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51 Regulation wins: 17

3. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 57 Regulation wins: 20

4. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 64 Regulation wins: 20

5. Arizona Coyotes

Points: 71 Regulation wins: 27

6. Montreal Canadiens

Points: 72 Regulation wins: 20

7. Ottawa Senators

Points: 72 Regulation wins: 24

8. Calgary Flames

Points: 75 Regulation wins: 29

9. Seattle Kraken

Points: 79 Regulation wins: 27

10. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 79 Regulation wins: 31

11. New Jersey Devils

Points: 79 Regulation wins: 32

12. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 83 Regulation wins: 28

13. Minnesota Wild

Points: 83 Regulation wins: 30

14. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 84 Regulation wins: 27

15. Pittsburgh Penguins*

Points: 84 Regulation wins: 31

16. St. Louis Blues

Points: 87 Regulation wins: 29

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