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.