The NHL playoff races are heating up as the regular season nears its end. In the Atlantic Division, while playoff berths are expected for the top three teams, the final divisional ranking is still to be determined.

The stakes are high: the division winner will face a wild-card team, likely the Ottawa Senators, in the first round. The second and third-place teams will compete against each other, with the second seed securing home-ice advantage.

As of Sunday`s games, the Toronto Maple Leafs lead the division with 92 points. The Florida Panthers are close behind with 91 points, having played one less game (72) than the Tampa Bay Lightning (73).

Tie-breaking scenarios could come into play. The primary tiebreaker is regulation wins. Currently, the Lightning lead with 37, followed by the Leafs with 36, and the Panthers with 35.

Looking ahead, the Florida Panthers play next, hosting the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday. The Toronto Maple Leafs continue their road trip against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, and the Tampa Bay Lightning will play the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

Key upcoming games include two matchups between the Panthers and Leafs and one between the Panthers and Lightning. The Leafs will also face the Lightning in their final regular-season game.

Analyzing schedule strength, the Leafs have the most challenging remaining schedule among the three teams, while the Lightning have the easiest. The Panthers` schedule strength falls in between.

Stathletes` projections give the Lightning the highest probability of winning the division (44.5%), followed by the Panthers (33.9%) and the Leafs (21.6%).

Will these projections hold true? The final weeks of the season will be decisive as teams battle for playoff positioning and division supremacy.

With less than three weeks until April 17th, follow along with the NHL playoff watch for updates on playoff races and teams vying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances data provided by Stathletes.

Current Playoff Matchups

Eastern Conference

  • A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
  • A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
  • M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 New York Rangers
  • 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 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Sunday`s Games

Note: All times ET. Games not on TNT or NHL Network are available on ESPN+ (blackout restrictions apply).

  • Montreal Canadiens at Florida Panthers, 1 p.m. (NHL)
  • Buffalo Sabres at Washington Capitals, 3 p.m.
  • Vancouver Canucks at Winnipeg Jets, 3 p.m.
  • Utah Hockey Club at Chicago Blackhawks, 4 p.m.
  • Ottawa Senators at Pittsburgh Penguins, 5 p.m.
  • New York Islanders at Carolina Hurricanes, 5 p.m.
  • Toronto Maple Leafs at Anaheim Ducks, 8 p.m.
  • San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings, 10 p.m. (ESPN)

Saturday`s Scoreboard

  • Philadelphia Flyers 7, Buffalo Sabres 4
  • Tampa Bay Lightning 5, New York Islanders 3
  • St. Louis Blues 2, Colorado Avalanche 1
  • New Jersey Devils 5, Minnesota Wild 2
  • Vegas Golden Knights 3, Nashville Predators 1
  • Ottawa Senators 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 2
  • Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Los Angeles Kings 1
  • Detroit Red Wings 2, Boston Bruins 1
  • Edmonton Oilers 3, Calgary Flames 2 (OT)
  • New York Rangers 6, San Jose Sharks 1
  • Dallas Stars 5, Seattle Kraken 1

Expanded Standings

Atlantic Division

Toronto Maple Leafs

  • Points: 92
  • Regulation wins: 36
  • Playoff position: A1
  • Games left: 9
  • Points pace: 103.3
  • Next game: @ ANA (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 99.9%
  • Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

  • Points: 91
  • Regulation wins: 35
  • Playoff position: A2
  • Games left: 10
  • Points pace: 103.6
  • Next game: vs. MTL (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 99.9%
  • Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

  • Points: 91
  • Regulation wins: 37
  • Playoff position: A3
  • Games left: 9
  • Points pace: 102.2
  • Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)
  • Playoff chances: 99.9%
  • Tragic number: N/A

Ottawa Senators

  • Points: 83
  • Regulation wins: 30
  • Playoff position: WC1
  • Games left: 10
  • Points pace: 94.5
  • Next game: @ PIT (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 99.9%
  • Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

  • Points: 75
  • Regulation wins: 24
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 10
  • Points pace: 85.4
  • Next game: @ FLA (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 30.0%
  • Tragic number: 19

Detroit Red Wings

  • Points: 74
  • Regulation wins: 26
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 9
  • Points pace: 83.1
  • Next game: @ STL (Tuesday)
  • Playoff chances: 3.3%
  • Tragic number: 16

Boston Bruins

  • Points: 69
  • Regulation wins: 23
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 8
  • Points pace: 76.5
  • Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)
  • Playoff chances: 0.1%
  • Tragic number: 9

Buffalo Sabres

  • Points: 66
  • Regulation wins: 24
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 10
  • Points pace: 75.2
  • Next game: @ WSH (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 0.1%
  • Tragic number: 10

Metro Division

x – Washington Capitals

  • Points: 103
  • Regulation wins: 40
  • Playoff position: M1
  • Games left: 10
  • Points pace: 117.3
  • Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 100%
  • Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

  • Points: 92
  • Regulation wins: 39
  • Playoff position: M2
  • Games left: 10
  • Points pace: 104.8
  • Next game: vs. NYI (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 99.9%
  • Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

  • Points: 85
  • Regulation wins: 35
  • Playoff position: M3
  • Games left: 7
  • Points pace: 92.9
  • Next game: vs. MIN (Monday)
  • Playoff chances: 99.7%
  • Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

  • Points: 77
  • Regulation wins: 32
  • Playoff position: WC2
  • Games left: 8
  • Points pace: 85.3
  • Next game: vs. MIN (Wednesday)
  • Playoff chances: 33.1%
  • Tragic number: N/A

Columbus Blue Jackets

  • Points: 75
  • Regulation wins: 23
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 10
  • Points pace: 85.4
  • Next game: vs. NSH (Tuesday)
  • Playoff chances: 19.6%
  • Tragic number: 19

New York Islanders

  • Points: 74
  • Regulation wins: 25
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 10
  • Points pace: 84.3
  • Next game: @ CAR (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 14.4%
  • Tragic number: 18

Pittsburgh Penguins

  • Points: 69
  • Regulation wins: 20
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 8
  • Points pace: 76.5
  • Next game: vs. OTT (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 0.1%
  • Tragic number: 9

Philadelphia Flyers

  • Points: 69
  • Regulation wins: 19
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 7
  • Points pace: 75.4
  • Next game: vs. NSH (Monday)
  • Playoff chances: 0.1%
  • Tragic number: 7

Central Division

x – Winnipeg Jets

  • Points: 104
  • Regulation wins: 39
  • Playoff position: C1
  • Games left: 9
  • Points pace: 116.8
  • Next game: vs. VAN (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 100%
  • Tragic number: N/A

x – Dallas Stars

  • Points: 100
  • Regulation wins: 39
  • Playoff position: C2
  • Games left: 9
  • Points pace: 112.3
  • Next game: @ SEA (Monday)
  • Playoff chances: 100%
  • Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

  • Points: 93
  • Regulation wins: 38
  • Playoff position: C3
  • Games left: 8
  • Points pace: 103.1
  • Next game: vs. CGY (Monday)
  • Playoff chances: 99.9%
  • Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

  • Points: 87
  • Regulation wins: 33
  • Playoff position: WC1
  • Games left: 8
  • Points pace: 96.4
  • Next game: @ NJ (Monday)
  • Playoff chances: 92.3%
  • Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

  • Points: 87
  • Regulation wins: 30
  • Playoff position: WC2
  • Games left: 7
  • Points pace: 95.1
  • Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday)
  • Playoff chances: 94.9%
  • Tragic number: N/A

Utah Hockey Club

  • Points: 76
  • Regulation wins: 24
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 9
  • Points pace: 85.4
  • Next game: @ CHI (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 0.4%
  • Tragic number: 8

e – Nashville Predators

  • Points: 62
  • Regulation wins: 23
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 9
  • Points pace: 69.6
  • Next game: @ PHI (Monday)
  • Playoff chances: 0%
  • Tragic number: E

e – Chicago Blackhawks

  • Points: 51
  • Regulation wins: 18
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 9
  • Points pace: 57.3
  • Next game: vs. UTA (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 0%
  • Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Vegas Golden Knights

  • Points: 98
  • Regulation wins: 42
  • Playoff position: P1
  • Games left: 9
  • Points pace: 110.1
  • Next game: vs. EDM (Tuesday)
  • Playoff chances: 99.9%
  • Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

  • Points: 89
  • Regulation wins: 35
  • Playoff position: P3
  • Games left: 10
  • Points pace: 101.4
  • Next game: vs. SJ (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 99.8%
  • Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

  • Points: 89
  • Regulation wins: 30
  • Playoff position: P2
  • Games left: 9
  • Points pace: 100.0
  • Next game: @ VGK (Tuesday)
  • Playoff chances: 99.4%
  • Tragic number: N/A

Vancouver Canucks

  • Points: 81
  • Regulation wins: 26
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 9
  • Points pace: 91.0
  • Next game: @ WPG (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 5.8%
  • Tragic number: 13

Calgary Flames

  • Points: 80
  • Regulation wins: 26
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 10
  • Points pace: 91.1
  • Next game: @ COL (Monday)
  • Playoff chances: 7.3%
  • Tragic number: 14

Anaheim Ducks

  • Points: 72
  • Regulation wins: 23
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 10
  • Points pace: 82.0
  • Next game: vs. TOR (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 0.1%
  • Tragic number: 6

e – Seattle Kraken

  • Points: 68
  • Regulation wins: 25
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 8
  • Points pace: 75.4
  • Next game: vs. DAL (Monday)
  • Playoff chances: 0%
  • Tragic number: E

e – San Jose Sharks

  • Points: 49
  • Regulation wins: 14
  • Playoff position: N/A
  • Games left: 10
  • Points pace: 55.8
  • Next game: @ LA (Sunday)
  • Playoff chances: 0%
  • Tragic number: E

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 Draft Lottery determines the first-round order, so the last-place team isn`t guaranteed the top pick. A team can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the lottery, making only 11 teams eligible for the No. 1 pick. More details on the process are available. Matthew Schaefer, an OHL defenseman for Erie Otters, is currently ranked No. 1 on the draft board.

1. San Jose Sharks

  • Points: 49
  • Regulation wins: 14

2. Chicago Blackhawks

  • Points: 51
  • Regulation wins: 18

3. Nashville Predators

  • Points: 62
  • Regulation wins: 23

4. Buffalo Sabres

  • Points: 66
  • Regulation wins: 24

5. Seattle Kraken

  • Points: 68
  • Regulation wins: 25

6. Philadelphia Flyers

  • Points: 69
  • Regulation wins: 19

7. Pittsburgh Penguins

  • Points: 69
  • Regulation wins: 20

8. Boston Bruins

  • Points: 69
  • Regulation wins: 23

9. Anaheim Ducks

  • Points: 72
  • Regulation wins: 23

10. Detroit Red Wings

  • Points: 74
  • Regulation wins: 26

11. New York Islanders

  • Points: 74
  • Regulation wins: 25

12. Columbus Blue Jackets

  • Points: 75
  • Regulation wins: 23

13. Montreal Canadiens

  • Points: 75
  • Regulation wins: 24

14. Utah Hockey Club

  • Points: 76
  • Regulation wins: 24

15. Calgary Flames

  • Points: 80
  • Regulation wins: 26

16. Vancouver Canucks

  • Points: 81
  • Regulation wins: 26