With the NHL regular season nearing its end, the playoff races are heating up. After a busy Thursday and with another full schedule ahead on Saturday, Friday features a single game: Columbus at Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have struggled recently, going 5-4-1 in their last ten games. Playoff contention seems unlikely for them this season as they likely set their sights on next year.

For the Columbus Blue Jackets, this upcoming game against Pittsburgh represents a crucial opportunity to gain ground in the playoff chase. As recently as March 8th, they held a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Currently, the Blue Jackets are just three points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final wild-card position, with the New York Rangers and New York Islanders also in the mix. Their remaining schedule includes two games against the Islanders and three against the Ottawa Senators, who currently hold the first wild-card spot. Over half of their remaining eight games are against teams currently in playoff positions.

Statistical projections indicate that Columbus faces one of the tougher remaining schedules in the league. However, the Blue Jackets have consistently outperformed expectations this season, exceeding preseason projections. Therefore, they cannot be counted out of the playoff picture yet.

With several weeks remaining until the regular season concludes on April 17th, the playoff landscape is still dynamic. We will continue to track the playoff races and the competition for positioning in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

Current Playoff Matchups

Eastern Conference

  • A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
  • A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
  • 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 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Friday`s Game

Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. ET (NHLN)

Thursday`s Scoreboard

Colorado Avalanche 5, Ottawa Senators 1
Calgary Flames 5, New Jersey Devils 3
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, New York Rangers 3
Washington Capitals 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2
Florida Panthers 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0 (OT)
New York Islanders 4, Montreal Canadiens 3 (OT)
St. Louis Blues 4, Vancouver Canucks 3 (OT)
Anaheim Ducks 4, Nashville Predators 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Dallas Stars 2 (SO)
Los Angeles Kings 3, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Winnipeg Jets 4, Edmonton Oilers 3 (OT)
Utah Hockey Club 5, Buffalo Sabres 2
Vegas Golden Knights 5, Boston Bruins 1
Carolina Hurricanes 3, San Jose Sharks 1

Expanded Standings

Legend: x – clinched playoff berth, e – eliminated from playoff contention

Atlantic Division

Team Points Regulation Wins Playoff Position Games Left Points Pace Next Game Playoff Chances Tragic Number
Florida Panthers 87 35 A1 13 103.4 @ WSH (Saturday) 99.9% N/A
Toronto Maple Leafs 87 34 A2 13 103.4 @ NSH (Saturday) 99.9% N/A
Tampa Bay Lightning 85 34 A3 14 102.5 @ UTA (Saturday) 99.9% N/A
Ottawa Senators 77 27 WC1 14 92.9 @ NJ (Saturday) 97.3% N/A
Montreal Canadiens 74 24 WC2 14 89.2 vs. COL (Saturday) 36.3% N/A
Detroit Red Wings 70 24 N/A 14 84.4 @ VGK (Saturday) 5.3% 25
Boston Bruins 69 23 N/A 12 80.8 @ SJ (Saturday) 2.5% 20
Buffalo Sabres 60 21 N/A 15 73.4 @ MIN (Saturday) ~0% 17

Metro Division

Team Points Regulation Wins Playoff Position Games Left Points Pace Next Game Playoff Chances Tragic Number
x – Washington Capitals 100 39 M1 13 118.8 vs. FLA (Saturday) 99.9% N/A
Carolina Hurricanes 88 37 M2 14 106.1 @ LA (Saturday) 99.9% N/A
New Jersey Devils 80 33 M3 12 93.7 vs. OTT (Saturday) 96.8% N/A
New York Islanders 72 25 N/A 14 86.8 vs. CGY (Saturday) 22.8% 27
New York Rangers 72 30 N/A 12 84.3 vs. VAN (Saturday) 25.7% 23
Columbus Blue Jackets 71 23 N/A 14 85.6 @ PIT (Friday) 13.1% 26
Pittsburgh Penguins 66 19 N/A 12 77.3 vs. CBJ (Friday) 0.1% 17
Philadelphia Flyers 64 17 N/A 12 75.0 @ DAL (Saturday) 0.1% 15

Central Division

Team Points Regulation Wins Playoff Position Games Left Points Pace Next Game Playoff Chances Tragic Number
Winnipeg Jets 100 38 C1 12 117.1 vs. BUF (Sunday) 99.9% N/A
Dallas Stars 90 35 C2 14 108.5 vs. PHI (Saturday) 99.9% N/A
Colorado Avalanche 87 36 C3 12 101.9 @ MTL (Saturday) 99.9% N/A
Minnesota Wild 83 31 WC1 13 98.6 vs. BUF (Saturday) 95.7% N/A
St. Louis Blues 77 25 WC2 12 90.2 vs. CHI (Saturday) 56% N/A
Utah Hockey Club 73 23 N/A 13 86.8 vs. TB (Saturday) 7.7% 23
Nashville Predators 58 21 N/A 14 69.9 vs. TOR (Saturday) ~0% 10
e – Chicago Blackhawks 49 17 N/A 13 58.2 @ STL (Saturday) 0% E

Pacific Division

Team Points Regulation Wins Playoff Position Games Left Points Pace Next Game Playoff Chances Tragic Number
Vegas Golden Knights 88 37 P1 14 106.1 vs. DET (Saturday) 99.9% N/A
Edmonton Oilers 85 29 P2 13 101.0 vs. SEA (Saturday) 99.9% N/A
Los Angeles Kings 83 32 P3 15 101.6 vs. CAR (Saturday) 99.3% N/A
Vancouver Canucks 76 25 N/A 13 90.3 @ NYR (Saturday) 25.3% N/A
Calgary Flames 75 26 N/A 14 90.4 @ NYI (Saturday) 16.1% 27
Anaheim Ducks 68 22 N/A 13 80.8 vs. CAR (Sunday) 0.1% 18
Seattle Kraken 65 24 N/A 12 76.1 @ EDM (Saturday) ~0% 13
e – San Jose Sharks 45 13 N/A 13 53.5 vs. BOS (Saturday) 0% E

Race for the No. 1 Pick

The NHL Draft Lottery determines the first-round order. A team can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the lottery for the No. 1 pick. Matthew Schaefer is currently ranked as the No. 1 draft prospect.

Rank Team Points Regulation Wins
1. San Jose Sharks 45 13
2. Chicago Blackhawks 49 17
3. Nashville Predators 58 21
4. Buffalo Sabres 60 21
5. Philadelphia Flyers 64 17
6. Seattle Kraken 65 24
7. Pittsburgh Penguins 66 19
8. Anaheim Ducks 68 22
9. Boston Bruins 69 23
10. Detroit Red Wings 70 24
11. Columbus Blue Jackets 71 23
12. New York Rangers 72 30
13. New York Islanders 72 25
14. Utah Hockey Club 73 23
15. Calgary Flames 75 26
16. Vancouver Canucks 76 25