With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, the fight for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference is intense, with five teams still in contention.
Two of these teams were in action on Thursday night. The Montreal Canadiens played against the Boston Bruins, and the Columbus Blue Jackets hosted the Colorado Avalanche.
As of Thursday, the Canadiens held the second wild card spot with 79 points and 25 regulation wins in 74 games. The New York Rangers are level on points but have played more games. The Blue Jackets are just two points behind, and the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders are also close behind.
Statistical models favor the Canadiens as the most likely to make the playoffs (42.1%), followed by the Blue Jackets (27.4%), Rangers (26.8%), Islanders (2.8%), and Red Wings (2.7%). The outcomes of Thursday`s games will be crucial in shaping the playoff picture.
As the regular season approaches its end on April 17, we`re closely monitoring the NHL playoff race, including the battle for draft lottery positions.
Note: Playoff probabilities are provided by Stathletes.
Current Playoff Matchups
Eastern Conference
- Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators
- Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers
- Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens
- Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
- Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues
- Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche
- Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild
- Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers
Clinching Scenarios
Tampa Bay Lightning will clinch a playoff berth if:
- They defeat the Ottawa Senators
- They lose in overtime/shootout to the Senators, AND either the Montreal Canadiens lose to the Boston Bruins OR the Columbus Blue Jackets lose to the Colorado Avalanche
- Both the Canadiens and Blue Jackets lose in regulation
The Avalanche will clinch a playoff berth if:
- They defeat the Blue Jackets
- They lose in overtime/shootout to the Blue Jackets, AND the Calgary Flames lose to the Anaheim Ducks
- The Flames lose to the Ducks in regulation
Thursday`s Games
Note: All times ET. Games may be available for streaming.
- 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.
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
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. 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. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL`s Erie Otters, is expected to be a top pick.
1. San Jose Sharks
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
2. Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
3. Nashville Predators
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
4. Boston Bruins
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
5. Seattle Kraken
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
6. Buffalo Sabres
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
7. Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
8. Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
9. Anaheim Ducks
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23
10. New York Islanders
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
11. Detroit Red Wings
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
12. Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
13. New York Rangers
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
14. Utah Hockey Club
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
15. Vancouver Canucks
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 26
16. Calgary Flames
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
Rupert Hartwell 
Benedict Kingsley