The Wednesday night schedule in the NHL is significantly lighter than Tuesday’s, with just three games compared to 13. But, there is one doozy on the docket.
The Vegas Golden Knights visit the Edmonton Oilers (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT) in a game that will have implications on the Pacific Division and the entire Western Conference playoff bracket.
For the Oilers, there is a path to winning the division. Entering Wednesday, Edmonton trails the Vancouver Canucks by five points and five regulation wins, though it has two games in hand. The Canucks are in action Wednesday night as well, against the Arizona Coyotes (10:30 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). The Oilers don’t necessarily have to win out to take the division title, but there’s not a ton of wiggle room. Of note, they will host the Canucks on Saturday.
The Golden Knights are nearly a lock for a playoff spot, but their first-round matchup remains in flux. Heading into Wednesday, they are in the second wild-card spot, and would face the Western Division champ with the most points (currently the Dallas Stars). However, they are one point and three regulation wins behind the Los Angeles Kings for the No. 3 seed in the Pacific, while they are three points and four regulation wins behind the Nashville Predators for the first wild-card spot.
Put another way: While there is little doubt which eight Western teams are making the playoffs, there are a great many permutations regarding the first-round matchups — and this game Wednesday will have a notable impact on determining which of those is most likely.
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
Clinching scenarios
Wednesday’s schedule
Tuesday’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 Washington Capitals
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New York Islanders
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Clinching scenarios
1. The Vegas Golden Knights will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Edmonton Oilers in regulation AND the St. Louis Blues lose to the Chicago Blackhawks in any fashion. They can also clinch a berth if they defeat the Oilers in overtime or a shootout AND the Blues lose to the Blackhawks in regulation.
2. The idle Los Angeles Kings will clinch a playoff berth if the Blues lose to the Blackhawks in regulation.
Wednesday’s games
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).
Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Edmonton Oilers, 8:30 p.m (TNT)
Arizona Coyotes at Vancouver Canucks, 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday’s scoreboard
Carolina Hurricanes 4, Boston Bruins 1
Montreal Canadiens 9, Philadelphia Flyers 3
Washington Capitals 2, Detroit Red Wings 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 2
Florida Panthers 2, Ottawa Senators 0
Toronto Maple Leafs 5, New Jersey Devils 2
New York Islanders 4, New York Rangers 2
Winnipeg Jets 4, Nashville Predators 3 (OT)
Dallas Stars 3, Buffalo Sabres 2
Colorado Avalanche 5, Minnesota Wild 2
Anaheim Ducks 3, Los Angeles Kings 1
Seattle Kraken 5, Arizona Coyotes 0
Calgary Flames 3, San Jose Sharks 2 (OT)
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 107
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 111
Next game: @ PIT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 104
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 108
Next game: vs. CBJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 101
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 4
Points pace: 106
Next game: vs. NJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 100
Next game: vs. OTT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ PIT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 33.2%
Tragic number: 7
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 1
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 76
Next game: @ TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 76
Next game: @ NYI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Metropolitan Division
Points: 110
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 114
Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 107
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 111
Next game: @ STL (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 4
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 83.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 89
Next game: @ BUF (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 44.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 88
Next game: vs. DET (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 34.5%
Tragic number: 8
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 86
Next game: @ NYR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 4.4%
Tragic number: 4
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ TOR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 1
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 66
Next game: @ FLA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 109
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. WPG (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 104
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 108
Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 4
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ DAL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 99
Next game: @ CHI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. CHI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0.5%
Tragic number: 3
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 87
Next game: @ VGK (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 75
Next game: @ VAN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 54
Next game: @ STL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 104
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. ARI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 107
Next game: vs. VGK (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 4
Points pace: 98
Next game: vs. CGY (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 98
Next game: @ EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 84
Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 80
Next game: @ LA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 59
Next game: vs. CGY (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 47
Next game: @ SEA (Thursday)
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: 45
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 30
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 31
Points: 87
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.
Source: www.espn.com