Despite preseason expectations and strong starts, the playoff outlook for the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild is now uncertain. Both teams, after struggling with similar records of 8-9-3 in their last 20 games, face a critical juncture as they head into their Wednesday night matchup.
The Minnesota Wild currently hold a playoff spot and are given a strong 93.7% probability of qualifying for the playoffs, according to Stathletes. This is largely due to their favorable remaining schedule. Their opponents have a combined winning percentage of just 46.0%, making it the second-easiest remaining schedule in the league.
In contrast, the New York Rangers face a tougher road. With only a 19.0% chance of making the playoffs, they are currently outside the playoff picture. Their remaining opponents have a significantly higher combined winning percentage of 54.1%, ranking as the second most difficult schedule remaining.
If the Wild secure the first wild card spot, they are likely to face the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round. If they fall to the second wild card, a matchup against the Winnipeg Jets is anticipated. Historically, Minnesota has struggled against these potential opponents, losing all three games against both teams this season.
For the Rangers, their most probable playoff entry point is as the second wild card, setting up a first-round series against the Washington Capitals, a team that has swept them in all three games this season. Alternatively, if they climb to the first wild card, they would face the champion of the Atlantic Division. Their record against potential Atlantic opponents is mixed: 1-2 against Toronto, 0-2 against Florida (with one more game scheduled), and 0-1 against Tampa Bay (with two more games to come).
While the playoff path ahead may not be straightforward for either team, the opportunity to compete for the Stanley Cup is still within reach. As the saying goes, anything can happen once you`re in the playoffs.
With the regular season concluding on April 17, the focus intensifies on the playoff race and the teams vying for a better position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.
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 Minnesota Wild
- C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
- P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 St. Louis Blues
- P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Wednesday`s Games
Note: All times ET. Games not on TNT or NHL Network stream on ESPN+ (blackouts apply).
- Minnesota Wild at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
- Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m. (TNT)
- Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m.
- Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
- Seattle Kraken at Vancouver Canucks, 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday`s Scoreboard
Washington Capitals 4, Boston Bruins 3
Montreal Canadiens 3, Florida Panthers 2 (OT)
Buffalo Sabres 5, Ottawa Senators 2
Columbus Blue Jackets 8, Nashville Predators 4
Tampa Bay Lightning 4, New York Islanders 1
St. Louis Blues 2, Detroit Red Wings 1 (OT)
Utah Hockey Club 3, Calgary Flames 1
Edmonton Oilers 3, Vegas Golden Knights 2
Anaheim Ducks 4, San Jose Sharks 3 (SO)
Los Angeles Kings 4, Winnipeg Jets 1
Expanded Standings
Atlantic Division
Toronto Maple Leafs
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 104.1
Next game: vs. FLA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
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: 8
Points pace: 102.0
Next game: @ TOR (Wednesday)
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: 98.6%
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: 51.7%
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: 2.3%
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: 8
Points pace: 116.4
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Carolina Hurricanes
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 105.6
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
New Jersey Devils
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 93.9
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A
Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 86.5
Playoff chances: 25.5%
Tragic number: 17
New York Rangers
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 85.3
Playoff chances: 19.0%
Tragic number: 15
New York Islanders
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. MIN (Friday)
Playoff chances: 3.1%
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
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
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Colorado Avalanche
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 102.8
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
St. Louis Blues
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 96.0
Playoff chances: 96.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Minnesota Wild
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 96.2
Playoff chances: 93.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Utah Hockey Club
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 87.5
Playoff chances: 0.7%
Tragic number: 7
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: 51
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 56.5
Next game: vs. COL (Wednesday)
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
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
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
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
Playoff chances: 6.4%
Tragic number: 11
Vancouver Canucks
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 89.8
Next game: vs. SEA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 2.4%
Tragic number: 10
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: 3
e – Seattle Kraken
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 74.3
Next game: @ VAN (Wednesday)
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: `x` = clinched playoff berth, `e` = eliminated from contention.
Race for the No. 1 Pick
The NHL Draft Lottery determines the first-round order, ensuring the last-place team isn`t guaranteed the top pick. Teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the lottery, limiting No. 1 pick eligibility to the bottom 11 teams. Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters is currently the top-ranked prospect.
1. San Jose Sharks
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
2. Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18
3. Nashville Predators
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
4. Seattle Kraken
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 25
5. Buffalo Sabres
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
6. Boston Bruins
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
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. New York Rangers
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 32
13. Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
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