NHL playoff watch: Not all first-round matchups set yet - ESPN
ESPN staffApr 17, 2024, 07:00 AM ET
As expected, Tuesday's games resulted in many playoff seeds being clinched:
The Washington Capitals nabbed the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot with their win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Thanks to their win, and the Boston Bruins' loss, the Florida Panthers are Atlantic Division champs, which sets up ideal first-round matchups (for fans of heated rivalries): Panthers-Lightning and Bruins-Maple Leafs.
The Vancouver Canucks locked up the No. 1 seed in the Pacific Division and are now confirmed to take on the Nashville Predators in Round 1.
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 matchupsEastern 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 gamesNote: 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 scoreboardOttawa 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 standingsAtlantic Divisiony - Florida PanthersPoints: 110 Regulation wins: 42 Playoff position: A1 Games left: 0 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Boston BruinsPoints: 109 Regulation wins: 36 Playoff position: A2 Games left: 0 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Toronto Maple LeafsPoints: 102 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: A3 Games left: 1 Points pace: 103 Next game: @ TB (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Tampa Bay LightningPoints: 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
e - Detroit Red WingsPoints: 91 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Buffalo SabresPoints: 84 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 78 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Montreal CanadiensPoints: 76 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Metropolitan Divisionp - New York RangersPoints: 114 Regulation wins: 43 Playoff position: M1 Games left: 0 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Carolina HurricanesPoints: 111 Regulation wins: 44 Playoff position: M2 Games left: 0 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - New York IslandersPoints: 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
x - Washington CapitalsPoints: 91 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 0 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
e - Pittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 88 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 89 Next game: @ NYI (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e -Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 30 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - New Jersey DevilsPoints: 81 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 66 Regulation wins: 21 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Central Division y - Dallas StarsPoints: 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
x - Winnipeg JetsPoints: 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
x - Colorado AvalanchePoints: 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
x - Nashville PredatorsPoints: 99 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 0 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
e - St. Louis BluesPoints: 91 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 92 Next game: @ DAL (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Minnesota WildPoints: 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
e - Arizona CoyotesPoints: 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
e - Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 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 Divisiony - Vancouver CanucksPoints: 109 Regulation wins: 44 Playoff position: P1 Games left: 1 Points pace: 110 Next game: @ WPG (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Edmonton OilersPoints: 104 Regulation wins: 39 Playoff position: P2 Games left: 2 Points pace: 107 Next game: @ ARI (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Vegas Golden KnightsPoints: 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
x - Los Angeles KingsPoints: 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
e - Calgary FlamesPoints: 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
e - Seattle KrakenPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 80 Next game: @ MIN (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Anaheim DucksPoints: 57 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 58 Next game: @ VGK (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - San Jose SharksPoints: 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 pickThe 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 SharksPoints: 47 Regulation wins: 14
2. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 51 Regulation wins: 17
3. Anaheim DucksPoints: 57 Regulation wins: 20
4. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 66 Regulation wins: 21
5. Arizona CoyotesPoints: 75 Regulation wins: 27
6. Montreal CanadiensPoints: 76 Regulation wins: 20
7. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 78 Regulation wins: 25
8. Seattle KrakenPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 27
9. Calgary FlamesPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 31
10. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 81 Regulation wins: 33
11. Buffalo SabresPoints: 84 Regulation wins: 33
12. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 30
13. Minnesota WildPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 32
14. Pittsburgh Penguins*Points: 88 Regulation wins: 32
15. Detroit Red WingsPoints: 91 Regulation wins: 27
16. St. Louis BluesPoints: 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.