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          NHL playoff standings: Will the Capitals get the wild card?

          • Tim Kavanagh, ESPN.comMar 18, 2024, 10:59 AM
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              Tim Kavanagh is a senior editor for ESPN digital editorial. He's a native of upstate New York.
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          Typically when one thinks of a playoff contender, one would imagine that this team would have a strong goal differential. Certainly not minus-30.

          But, the Washington Capitals have continued to be one of the NHL's most enigmatic clubs this season, and despite being on the wrong side of that lopsided statistic, they remain very much in the mix for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

          Heading into tonight's game against the Calgary Flames (8:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network), the Caps are one point behind the Detroit Red Wings, with a two-game regulation win advantage and two games in hand. They are tied with the New York Islanders in standings points, but they have a five-game regulation win advantage and have a game in hand.

          Beyond the matchup against Calgary, the club heads back to D.C. for a challenging gauntlet that might tell us ultimately where they are headed: They'll host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, then the Red Wings on Tuesday, March 26. Of their remaining 16 games, 11 are against teams currently in playoff position, and they also have two against the Buffalo Sabres, who are after the wild card as well.

          So the odds seem to be stacked against them. But perhaps they'll continue to abide by the "never tell me the odds" credo and pull this off.

          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
          Today's schedule
          Last night's scores
          Expanded standings
          Race for No. 1 pick

          Current playoff matchups

          Eastern Conference

          A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Detroit Red Wings
          A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
          M1 New York Rangers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
          M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers

          Western Conference

          C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
          C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Dallas Stars
          P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
          P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

          Monday'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).

          Washington Capitals at Calgary Flames, 8:30 p.m. (NHLN)
          Buffalo Sabres at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.

          Sunday's scoreboard

          New York Rangers 5, New York Islanders 2
          Vegas Golden Knights 3, New Jersey Devils 1
          Carolina Hurricanes 7, Ottawa Senators 2
          Pittsburgh Penguins 6, Detroit Red Wings 3
          Winnipeg Jets 6, Columbus Blue Jackets 1
          Chicago Blackhawks 5, San Jose Sharks 2
          St. Louis Blues 4, Anaheim Ducks 2

          Expanded standings

          Atlantic Division

          Boston Bruins

          Points: 95
          Regulation wins: 31
          Playoff position: A1
          Games left: 13
          Points pace: 113
          Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Florida Panthers

          Points: 94
          Regulation wins: 37
          Playoff position: A2
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 113
          Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Toronto Maple Leafs

          Points: 85
          Regulation wins: 26
          Playoff position: A3
          Games left: 16
          Points pace: 105
          Next game: @ PHI (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Tampa Bay Lightning

          Points: 78
          Regulation wins: 29
          Playoff position: WC1
          Games left: 15
          Points pace: 96
          Next game: @ VGK (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 97.6%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Detroit Red Wings

          Points: 74
          Regulation wins: 24
          Playoff position: WC2
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 89
          Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 20.3%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Buffalo Sabres

          Points: 69
          Regulation wins: 26
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 83
          Next game: @ SEA (Monday)
          Playoff chances: 4.8%
          Tragic number: 23

          Montreal Canadiens

          Points: 61
          Regulation wins: 15
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 15
          Points pace: 75
          Next game: @ EDM (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: ~0%
          Tragic number: 17

          Ottawa Senators

          Points: 60
          Regulation wins: 19
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 16
          Points pace: 75
          Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: ~0%
          Tragic number: 18

          Metropolitan Division

          New York Rangers

          Points: 94
          Regulation wins: 37
          Playoff position: M1
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 113
          Next game: vs. WPG (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Carolina Hurricanes

          Points: 90
          Regulation wins: 35
          Playoff position: M2
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 109
          Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Philadelphia Flyers

          Points: 76
          Regulation wins: 26
          Playoff position: M3
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 92
          Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 55.7%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Washington Capitals

          Points: 73
          Regulation wins: 26
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 16
          Points pace: 91
          Next game: @ CGY (Monday)
          Playoff chances: 57.3%
          Tragic number: 31

          New York Islanders

          Points: 73
          Regulation wins: 21
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 15
          Points pace: 89
          Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 51.2%
          Tragic number: 29

          Pittsburgh Penguins

          Points: 69
          Regulation wins: 25
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 15
          Points pace: 85
          Next game: @ NJ (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 6.9%
          Tragic number: 25

          New Jersey Devils

          Points: 68
          Regulation wins: 27
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 82
          Next game: vs. PIT (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 6.2%
          Tragic number: 22

          Columbus Blue Jackets

          Points: 57
          Regulation wins: 18
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 69
          Next game: @ DET (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: ~0%
          Tragic number: 11

          Central Division

          Winnipeg Jets

          Points: 91
          Regulation wins: 38
          Playoff position: C1
          Games left: 15
          Points pace: 111
          Next game: @ NYR (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Colorado Avalanche

          Points: 91
          Regulation wins: 36
          Playoff position: C2
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 110
          Next game: @ STL (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Dallas Stars

          Points: 91
          Regulation wins: 30
          Playoff position: C3
          Games left: 13
          Points pace: 108
          Next game: vs. ARI (Wednesday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Nashville Predators

          Points: 82
          Regulation wins: 32
          Playoff position: WC1
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 99
          Next game: vs. SJ (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 96.1%
          Tragic number: N/A

          St. Louis Blues

          Points: 75
          Regulation wins: 27
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 90
          Next game: vs. COL (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 5.4%
          Tragic number: 24

          Minnesota Wild

          Points: 74
          Regulation wins: 26
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 89
          Next game: @ ANA (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 13.6%
          Tragic number: 23

          Arizona Coyotes

          Points: 61
          Regulation wins: 23
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 74
          Next game: @ DAL (Wednesday)
          Playoff chances: ~0%
          Tragic number: 10

          e - Chicago Blackhawks

          Points: 43
          Regulation wins: 14
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 51.8529411764706
          Next game: @ LA (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 0%
          Tragic number: E

          Pacific Division

          Vancouver Canucks

          Points: 92
          Regulation wins: 36
          Playoff position: P1
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 111
          Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Edmonton Oilers

          Points: 84
          Regulation wins: 32
          Playoff position: P2
          Games left: 17
          Points pace: 106
          Next game: vs. MTL (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Los Angeles Kings

          Points: 79
          Regulation wins: 29
          Playoff position: P3
          Games left: 15
          Points pace: 97
          Next game: vs. CHI (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 89.0%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Vegas Golden Knights

          Points: 79
          Regulation wins: 28
          Playoff position: WC2
          Games left: 15
          Points pace: 97
          Next game: vs. TB (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 89.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Calgary Flames

          Points: 71
          Regulation wins: 28
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 15
          Points pace: 87
          Next game: vs. WSH (Monday)
          Playoff chances: 4.8%
          Tragic number: 22

          Seattle Kraken

          Points: 68
          Regulation wins: 22
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 16
          Points pace: 85
          Next game: vs. BUF (Monday)
          Playoff chances: 1.2%
          Tragic number: 21

          e - Anaheim Ducks

          Points: 49
          Regulation wins: 17
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 14
          Points pace: 59
          Next game: vs. MIN (Tuesday)
          Playoff chances: 0%
          Tragic number: E

          e - San Jose Sharks

          Points: 39
          Regulation wins: 12
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 15
          Points pace: 48
          Next game: @ NSH (Tuesday)
          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.

          1. San Jose Sharks

          Points: 39
          Regulation wins: 12

          2. Chicago Blackhawks

          Points: 43
          Regulation wins: 14

          3. Anaheim Ducks

          Points: 49
          Regulation wins: 17

          4. Columbus Blue Jackets

          Points: 57
          Regulation wins: 18

          5. Ottawa Senators

          Points: 60
          Regulation wins: 19

          6. Montreal Canadiens

          Points: 61
          Regulation wins: 15

          7. Arizona Coyotes

          Points: 61
          Regulation wins: 23

          8. Seattle Kraken

          Points: 68
          Regulation wins: 22

          9. New Jersey Devils

          Points: 68
          Regulation wins: 27

          10. Pittsburgh Penguins*

          Points: 69
          Regulation wins: 25

          11. Buffalo Sabres

          Points: 69
          Regulation wins: 26

          12. Calgary Flames

          Points: 71
          Regulation wins: 28

          13. New York Islanders

          Points: 73
          Regulation wins: 21

          14. Washington Capitals

          Points: 73
          Regulation wins: 26

          15. Minnesota Wild

          Points: 74
          Regulation wins: 26

          16. St. Louis Blues

          Points: 75
          Regulation wins: 27

          * The Penguins' first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.