It’s a slower than usual Sunday on the NHL schedule, with just one game on the docket. But, there are implications from the outcome of the clash between the Anaheim Ducks and Vancouver Canucks (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT).
For the Canucks, it’s an opportunity to make up ground in the Western Conference and Presidents’ Trophy races. Vancouver was a little wobbly in February (going 5-6-2), recovered for most of March with a 7-3-1 record, but their most recent two games account for two of those losses.
Sitting atop the Pacific Division by a four-point margin, the Canucks are currently five points behind the Dallas Stars for the West’s No. 1 seed, but have three additional regulation wins. As for the NHL’s overall points race, the Canucks are six points behind the New York Rangers, and tied in regulation wins.
As for the Ducks, they’re on the opposite end of the league standings, currently in the No. 3 spot in the draft lottery order. With 52 points, they are three points and two regulation wins ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks, while they are 10 points and five regulation wins ahead of the San Jose Sharks. The team in the No. 4 spot, the Columbus Blue Jackets, sits at 60 points and an equal number of regulation wins to the Ducks.
As we traverse the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check in on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2024 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Sunday’s schedule
Saturday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 New York Rangers vs. WC2 Philadelphia Flyers
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Washington Capitals
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Los Angeles Kings
C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights
Sunday’s game
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
Anaheim Ducks at Vancouver Canucks, 3:30 p.m. (TNT)
Saturday’s scoreboard
Florida Panthers 3, Detroit Red Wings 2 (SO)
Vegas Golden Knights 2, Minnesota Wild 1 (OT)
Edmonton Oilers 6, Anaheim Ducks 1
Colorado Avalanche 7, Nashville Predators 4
New York Rangers 8, Arizona Coyotes 5
Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Buffalo Sabres 0
Carolina Hurricanes 3, Montreal Canadiens 0
Tampa Bay Lightning 4, New York Islanders 1
Chicago Blackhawks 5, Philadelphia Flyers 1
Boston Bruins 3, Washington Capitals 2 (SO)
Columbus Blue Jackets 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (SO)
Ottawa Senators 3, Winnipeg Jets 2
San Jose Sharks 4, St. Louis Blues 0
Calgary Flames 4, Los Angeles Kings 2
Dallas Stars 3, Seattle Kraken 0
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 101
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ TOR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 9
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. FLA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 100
Next game: vs. DET (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 889
Next game: @ TB (Monday)
Playoff chances: 22.8%
Tragic number: 14
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.8%
Tragic number: 7
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 79
Next game: @ MIN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 6
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 76
Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 4
Metropolitan Division
Points: 104
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 115
Next game: vs. PIT (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 101
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 110
Next game: vs. BOS (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 9
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 59.8%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. NYI (Monday)
Playoff chances: 80.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 87
Next game: @ PHI (Monday)
Playoff chances: 27.2%
Tragic number: 13
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 84
Next game: vs. PIT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 6.4%
Tragic number: 10
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 84
Next game: @ NYR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 2.5%
Tragic number: 11
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 67
Next game: vs. COL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 103
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 111
Next game: @ CBJ (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 8
Points pace: 104
Next game: vs. LA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 100
Next game: vs. BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.2%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 91
Next game: vs. EDM (Monday)
Playoff chances: 5.1%
Tragic number: 11
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 2.1%
Tragic number: 10
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 74
Next game: vs. VAN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 54
Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 110
Next game: vs. ANA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ STL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 8
Points pace: 100
Next game: vs. VAN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 95.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 98
Next game: @ WPG (Monday)
Playoff chances: 98.1%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 4
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ SJ (Monday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 4
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 58
Next game: @ VAN (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 42
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 47
Next game: vs. SEA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
p — clinched Presidents’ Trophy
y — clinched division
x — clinched playoff berth
e — 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 draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston University.
Points: 42
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 16
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 31
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 29
* The Penguins’ first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.