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NHL playoff standings: What to watch in Monday's six games

ByESPN Staff ESPN logo

Monday, April 14, 2025

For those who want to know the identities of the 16 Stanley Cup playoff teams, this was quite a productive weekend. As the games begin Monday, 14 of 16 clubs have punched their tickets, though a variety of seeds remain in contention.

With the end of the regular season approaching on Thursday, here's what's at stake in the six games taking place Monday:

The Columbus Blue Jackets' win on Sunday kept them in the playoff race for at least one more day; a win by the Canadiens in this one will clinch a berth (and eliminate the Blue Jackets). On the other side, the Blackhawks are locked in to the No. 2 spot in the draft lottery order.

The Stars can no longer catch the Jets or be caught by the Avalanche, so they will begin their first-round playoff series against the Avs at home. The Red Wings enter the evening 11th in the draft lottery order, tied in points with the Rangers, three points behind the Ducks (and the Penguins, but they have only one game left) and one point ahead of the Islanders.

As noted above, the Rangers are right in the mix for a top-10 draft pick, but they could finish as low in the order as 13th if they win out. On the other side, the Panthers cannot catch the Maple Leafs for first in the Atlantic Division, but they can potentially move ahead of the Lightning into second in the final week. They are four points ahead of the Senators, but hold a three-regulation win advantage with just two games left for both clubs, so Ottawa cannot catch them.

These two teams enter the evening 14th and 3rd, respectively, in the draft lottery order. Nashville is locked in at No. 3, but the Hockey Club (with 87 points) can potentially move up a spot to No. 13 (currently the Blue Jackets, 85 points), or down to No. 15 (currently the Canucks, 88 points).

Here's your No. 2 vs. No. 3 series in the Pacific Division, but it remains to be seen which team gets home-ice advantage. The Kings enter the evening in the second spot, with 101 points and 41 regulation wins (and a game in hand). The Oilers have 99 points and 35 RW, so this is essentially a must-win for them (and in regulation, too).

In the nightcap, it's two lottery-bound teams, though at the two ends of the table. The Sharks have clinched the No. 1 spot in the lottery, while the Canucks are 15th heading into this matchup. The Canucks can potentially switch spots with the Hockey Club at No. 14, and could also flip with the Calgary Flames at No. 16.

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

Monday's games

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

Chicago Blackhawks at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.

>Dallas Stars at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m. (NHL Network)

>New York Rangers at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.

>Utah Hockey Club at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.

>Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m.

>San Jose Sharks at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.

Sunday's scoreboard

Ottawa Senators 4, Philadelphia Flyers 3 (OT)

>New York Islanders 1, New Jersey Devils 0

>Boston Bruins 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 1

>Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Carolina Hurricanes 1

>Tampa Bay Lightning 7, Buffalo Sabres 4

>Columbus Blue Jackets 4, Washington Capitals 1

>Edmonton Oilers 4, Winnipeg Jets 1

>Calgary Flames 5, San Jose Sharks 2

>Colorado Avalanche 4, Anaheim Ducks 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

x - Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 104

>Regulation wins: 40

>Playoff position: A1

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 106.6

>Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 100

>Regulation wins: 40

>Playoff position: A2

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 102.5

>Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - Florida Panthers

Points: 98

>Regulation wins: 37

>Playoff position: A3

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 100.5

>Next game: vs. NYR (Monday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - Ottawa Senators

Points: 94

>Regulation wins: 34

>Playoff position: WC1

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 96.4

>Next game: vs. CHI (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 88

>Regulation wins: 29

>Playoff position: WC2

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 90.2

>Next game: vs. CHI (Monday)

>Playoff chances: 94.4%

>Tragic number: N/A

e - Detroit Red Wings

Points: 81

>Regulation wins: 29

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 3

>Points pace: 84.1

>Next game: vs. DAL (Monday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Buffalo Sabres

Points: 77

>Regulation wins: 28

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 78.9

>Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Boston Bruins

Points: 75

>Regulation wins: 26

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 75.9

>Next game: vs. NJ (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

Metro Division

z - Washington Capitals

Points: 109

>Regulation wins: 42

>Playoff position: M1

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 111.7

>Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)

>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: 89

>Regulation wins: 36

>Playoff position: M3

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 91.2

>Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 85

>Regulation wins: 28

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 87.1

>Next game: @ PHI (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 5.6%

>Tragic number: 2

e - New York Islanders

Points: 82

>Regulation wins: 28

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 84.1

>Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - New York Rangers

Points: 81

>Regulation wins: 33

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 83.0

>Next game: @ FLA (Monday)

>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: 2

>Points pace: 77.9

>Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)

>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: 2

>Points pace: 108.7

>Next game: @ DET (Monday)

>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

Minnesota Wild

Points: 95

>Regulation wins: 33

>Playoff position: WC1

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 96.2

>Next game: vs. ANA (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 98.3%

>Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 94

>Regulation wins: 31

>Playoff position: WC2

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 95.2

>Next game: vs. UTA (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 90.6%

>Tragic number: N/A

e - Utah Hockey Club

Points: 87

>Regulation wins: 29

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 89.2

>Next game: @ NSH (Monday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Nashville Predators

Points: 66

>Regulation wins: 23

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 67.7

>Next game: vs. UTA (Monday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 57

>Regulation wins: 20

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 58.4

>Next game: @ MTL (Monday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

y - Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 107

>Regulation wins: 45

>Playoff position: P1

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 109.7

>Next game: @ CGY (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - Los Angeles Kings

Points: 101

>Regulation wins: 41

>Playoff position: P3

>Games left: 3

>Points pace: 104.8

>Next game: @ EDM (Monday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - Edmonton Oilers

Points: 99

>Regulation wins: 35

>Playoff position: P2

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 101.5

>Next game: vs. LA (Monday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 92

>Regulation wins: 30

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 94.3

>Next game: s. VGK (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 11.1%

>Tragic number: 3

e - Vancouver Canucks

Points: 88

>Regulation wins: 28

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 90.2

>Next game: vs. SJ (Monday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 78

>Regulation wins: 24

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 80.0

>Next game: @ MIN (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 76

>Regulation wins: 28

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 1

>Points pace: 76.9

>Next game: vs. LA (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 51

>Regulation wins: 14

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 2

>Points pace: 52.3

>Next game: @ VAN (Monday)

>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.