After the trade deadline, the rush to the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs is in full swing. Up until the final day of the regular season, we’ll bring you daily updated playoff schedules and predictions, game schedules, last night’s scores and current lottery predictions, with Connor Bedard sitting as the winning team’s prize. Choice #1.
But before all that, let’s focus on the race for the two wild cards in the Western Conference today.
After Sunday’s action, the Colorado Avalanche moved into third place in the Central Division with 74 points, while the Winnipeg Jets slipped into the second wild card spot. Edmonton Oilers (76 points) took first place.
Tonight, the Oilers travel to the Buffalo Sabers exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu as the Oilers continue their push for a slot or at least a wild card spot in the Pacific Division seeds. The Jets host the San Jose Sharks.
The Nashville Predators, who traded Matthias Ekholm, Tanner Jeanneau, Nino Niederreiter and Mikael Granlund, trail Winnipeg by six points heading into tonight’s game against the Vancouver Canucks. FiveThirtyEight gives them a 38% chance to make the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames – who won the Pacific Division crown last season – have seven points with a 15% chance of making the playoffs. They host the Dallas Stars tonight, a club looking to solidify the top spot in the Central Division.
As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check out all the playoff races, as well as the teams vying for a spot in the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery.
Note: Playoff odds via FiveThirtyEight.
Jump forward:
Current playoff matches
Today’s games
Last night’s scores
Extended Tables
Race for the #1 pick
Current playoff matches
Eastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins and WC2 Pittsburgh Penguins
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes and WC1 New York Islanders
M2 New Jersey Devils and M3 New York Rangers
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC1 Edmonton Oilers
C2 Minnesota Wild vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets
P2 Los Angeles Kings and P3 Seattle Kraken
Monday’s games
Note: Outgoing at all times. All games not on ESPN, TNT or the NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play included with your ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
Edmonton Oilers at Buffalo Sabres, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
San Jose Sharks at Winnipeg Jets, 7:30 p.m
Calgary Flames at Dallas Stars, 8:30 p.m
Ottawa Senators at Chicago Blackhawks, 9 p.m
Washington Capitals at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m
Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks, 10:30 p.m
Sunday’s scoreboard
Watch In the Crease on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.
Carolina Hurricanes 6, Tampa Bay Lightning 0
Philadelphia Flyers 3, Detroit Red Wings 1
Vegas Golden Knights 4, Montreal Canadiens 3
New Jersey Devils 5, Arizona Coyotes 4 (OT)
Seattle Kraken 3, Colorado Avalanche 2 (OT)
Extended Tables
Atlantic Division
Points: 103
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff standings: A1
Other games: 20
Next game: EDM vs. (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad number: No
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff standings: A2
Other games: 19
Next game: @ NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad number: No
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff standings: A3
Other games: 19
Next game: vs. PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 99%
Sad number: No
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 21
Next game: EDM Vs (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 30%
Sad number: 39
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 20
Next game: @ CHI (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 17%
Sad number: 37
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 18
Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 30%
Sad number: 33
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 19
Next game: vs. CHI (Wednesday)
Playoff Chances: 1%
Sad number: 32
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 19
Next game: CAR vs. (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad number: 23
Metropolitan Division
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff standings: M1
Other games: 21
Next game: @ MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad number: No
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff standings: M2
Other games: 20
Next game: TOR vs. (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Sad number: No
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff standings: M3
Other games: 19
Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)
Playoff Chances: 98%
Sad number: No
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff standings: WC1
Other games: 17
Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 41%
Sad number: No
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff standings: WC2
Other games: 20
Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 69%
Sad number: No
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 18
Next game: @ LA (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 14%
Sad number: 33
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 19
Next game: @TB (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad number: 26
Points: 46
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 19
Next game: CAR vs. (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad number: 13
Central part
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff standings: C1
Other games: 19
Next game: vs. CGY (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 99%
Sad number: No
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff standings: C2
Other games: 19
Next game: vs. CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 95%
Sad number: No
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff standings: C3
Other games: 21
Next game: vs. SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 98%
Sad number: No
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff standings: WC2
Other games: 19
Next game: vs. SJ (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 74%
Sad number: No
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 22
Next game: @ VAN (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 38%
Sad number: 38
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 20
Next game: @ ARI (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad number: 25
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 19
Next game: STL (Tuesday) Vs
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad number: 16
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 20
Next game: vs. BAR (Monday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad number: 13
Pacific Division
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff standings: P1
Other games: 19
Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 98%
Sad number: No
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff standings: P2
Other games: 18
Next game: vs WSH (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 95%
Sad number: No
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff standings: P3
Other games: 19
Next game: vs. ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 96%
Sad number: No
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff standings: WC1
Other games: 18
Next game: @ BUF (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 91%
Sad number: No
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 19
Next game: @ DAL (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 15%
Sad number: 31
Points: 55
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 20
Next game: NSH vs (Monday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad number: 21
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 19
Next game: @ SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad number: 14
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff standings: No
Other games: 19
Next game: @ WPG (Monday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Sad number: 12
Race for the #1 pick
The NHL uses the draft lottery to determine the order at the top of the first round, so the team that finishes last is not guaranteed the No. 1 pick. Starting in 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if they win the lottery, so only 11 teams can enter the lottery for the No. 1 pick. More information about the process can be found here. No. 1 on the draft board this summer is Connor Bedard, hailed as a generational talent.
Points: 46
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 11
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 16
Points: 55
Regulation wins: 16
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 27
Notes on traded picks impacting the Top 16:
