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NHL playoff standings: The stakes in play on Wednesday

ByESPN Staff ESPN logo

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

With a combination of results on Tuesday, the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues clinched the two wild-card spots in the Western Conference, eliminating the Calgary Flames from postseason contention.

On the other side of the continent, the Columbus Blue Jackets won in regulation against the Philadelphia Flyers, keeping their slim chances intact. Will Wednesday see the clinching of team No. 16 in the playoff field, or will Thursday's games be the determinant?

This is the most important game of the night by a considerable margin. With a win of any variety, or a loss in overtime/shootout, the Canadiens clinch the second Eastern wild-card spot. The only thing that keeps the Blue Jackets' hopes intact is a regulation loss for Montreal. It's unclear what type of roster the Habs will face from the Canes, as the latter have been locked into the No. 2 in the Metro for a while now.

The Ducks will finish no lower than ninth in the draft lottery order -- they enter this game with 79 points, and the teams lower than them have 82 or more. But a loss here followed by wins Thursday by the Penguins and Sabres could get them as high as seventh. The Jets recently locked up the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top regular-season team (and No. 1 seed for as long as they last in the playoffs).

The Wings are currently 12th in the draft lottery order, with 83 points and 29 regulation wins, and can move up as high as 10th (if the Islanders win Thursday, and they lose their next two games). Like the Hurricanes, the Devils have been locked in their playoff position for a while now, and it is Carolina against whom they match up in Round 1.

Two teams at opposite ends of the Central Division, and neither can make a move based on the results of this game; the Stars will open the playoffs in the No. 2 spot in the Central against the No. 3-seeded Colorado Avalanche, while the Predators are locked in the No. 3 position in the draft lottery order.

And here are a pair of Pacific Division teams whose results tonight will not change the standings. The Golden Knights clinched the No. 1 seed in the Pacific Division recently, and the Canucks are locked in as the No. 15 team in the draft lottery order.

... and here's another pair of Pacific teams that are already locked in as well. San Jose has been in the No. 1 spot in the draft lottery order for quite some time, a position they clinched recently. Meanwhile, the Oilers will be the No. 3 seed in the Pacific Division bracket, taking on the No. 2-seeded Los Angeles Kings in Round 1.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

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 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

Wednesday's games

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

Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.

>Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets, 7 p.m.

>Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)

>Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.

>Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m. (TNT)

>Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.

Tuesday's scoreboard

New Jersey Devils 5, Boston Bruins 4 (OT)

>Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Buffalo Sabres 0

>Chicago Blackhawks 4, Ottawa Senators 3 (OT)

>Columbus Blue Jackets 3, Philadelphia Flyers 0

>Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Florida Panthers 1

>Washington Capitals 3, New York Islanders 1

>St. Louis Blues 6, Utah Hockey Club 1

>Minnesota Wild 3, Anaheim Ducks 2 (OT)

>Calgary Flames 5, Vegas Golden Knights 4 (SO)

>Los Angeles Kings 6, Seattle Kraken 5

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

y - Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 106

>Regulation wins: 41

>Playoff position: A1

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 107.3

>Next game: vs. DET (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 102

>Regulation wins: 41

>Playoff position: A2

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 103.3

>Next game: @ NYR (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - Florida Panthers

Points: 98

>Regulation wins: 37

>Playoff position: A3

>Games left: 0

>Points pace: 98

>Next game: N/A

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - Ottawa Senators

Points: 95

>Regulation wins: 34

>Playoff position: WC1

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 96.2

>Next game: vs. CAR (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 89

>Regulation wins: 29

>Playoff position: WC2

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 90.1

>Next game: vs. CAR (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 74.3%

>Tragic number: N/A

e - Detroit Red Wings

Points: 83

>Regulation wins: 29

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 85.1

>Next game: @ NJ (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Buffalo Sabres

Points: 77

>Regulation wins: 28

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 78.0

>Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Boston Bruins

Points: 76

>Regulation wins: 26

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 0

>Points pace: 76

>Next game: N/A

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

Metro Division

z - Washington Capitals

Points: 111

>Regulation wins: 43

>Playoff position: M1

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 112.4

>Next game: @ PIT (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 99

>Regulation wins: 42

>Playoff position: M2

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 101.5

>Next game: @ MTL (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - New Jersey Devils

Points: 91

>Regulation wins: 36

>Playoff position: M3

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 92.1

>Next game: vs. DET (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 87

>Regulation wins: 29

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 88.1

>Next game: vs. NYI (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 25.7%

>Tragic number: 1

e - New York Rangers

Points: 83

>Regulation wins: 34

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 84.0

>Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - New York Islanders

Points: 82

>Regulation wins: 28

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 83.0

>Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 78

>Regulation wins: 23

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 79.0

>Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 76

>Regulation wins: 21

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 77.0

>Next game: @ BUF (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

Central Division

p - Winnipeg Jets

Points: 114

>Regulation wins: 43

>Playoff position: C1

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 115.4

>Next game: vs. ANA (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - Dallas Stars

Points: 106

>Regulation wins: 41

>Playoff position: C2

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 107.3

>Next game: @ NSH (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - Colorado Avalanche

Points: 102

>Regulation wins: 40

>Playoff position: C3

>Games left: 0

>Points pace: 102

>Next game: N/A

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - Minnesota Wild

Points: 97

>Regulation wins: 33

>Playoff position: WC1

>Games left: 0

>Points pace: 97

>Next game: N/A

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - St. Louis Blues

Points: 96

>Regulation wins: 32

>Playoff position: WC2

>Games left: 0

>Points pace: 96

>Next game: N/A

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

e - Utah Hockey Club

Points: 89

>Regulation wins: 30

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 0

>Points pace: 89

>Next game: N/A

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Nashville Predators

Points: 66

>Regulation wins: 23

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 66.8

>Next game: vs. DAL (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 61

>Regulation wins: 20

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 0

>Points pace: 61

>Next game: N/A

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

y - Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 108

>Regulation wins: 45

>Playoff position: P1

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 109.3

>Next game: @ VAN (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - Los Angeles Kings

Points: 105

>Regulation wins: 43

>Playoff position: P3

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 106.3

>Next game: vs. CGY (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - Edmonton Oilers

Points: 99

>Regulation wins: 35

>Playoff position: P2

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 100.2

>Next game: @ SJ (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

e - Calgary Flames

Points: 94

>Regulation wins: 30

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 95.2

>Next game: LA (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Vancouver Canucks

Points: 90

>Regulation wins: 28

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 91.1

>Next game: vs. VGK (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 79

>Regulation wins: 24

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 80.0

>Next game: @ WPG (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 76

>Regulation wins: 28

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 0

>Points pace: 76

>Next game: N/A

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 52

>Regulation wins: 14

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 52.6

>Next game: vs. EDM (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

Note: A "p" means that the team has clinched the Presidents' Trophy as the top team in the regular season. A "z" means that the team has clinched the top record in the conference. A "y" means that the team has clinched the division title. 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. 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 No. 1 pick. More details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL's Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.