The NHL schedule works in mysterious ways. Following a one-game Friday night -- and ahead of a one-game Sunday -- there are 15 games on the slate on Saturday, beginning with the Detroit Red Wings visiting the Florida Panthers (12:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network) and capped off by two 10 p.m. ET games: Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames (NHL Power Play on ESPN+) and Dallas Stars at Seattle Kraken (NHL Power Play on ESPN+).
Amid this busy day, to which matchups should hockey fans pay the most attention?
There are two games where both teams are currently in playoff position. Following their first regulation loss since Feb. 15, the Nashville Predators are visiting the Colorado Avalanche (6 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). There is a possible future where this is a first-round matchup. The Preds are the West's first wild card right now, and the Avs are three points in back of the Stars for first in the Central. If that postseason clash doesn't occur, it's a possibility in Round 2 as well.
Our other "playoff team vs. playoff team" matchup pits the newly clinched Boston Bruins against the Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). If the current standings hold until the playoffs begin, this would not be an opening-round matchup. But if the Bruins overtake the New York Rangers as the East's top seed, or if the Caps jump the Tampa Bay Lightning to be the first wild card -- but not both -- then it would be!
Speaking of the Lightning, they'll host the New York Islanders (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+) in a contest that the visitors need quite a bit more than the hosts, as the Isles' tragic number continues to dwindle.
Similarly, the Vegas Golden Knights are in position to deal a devastating blow to the Minnesota Wild's postseason chances (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu exclusive), as the Wild enter the game eight points behind the Kings for the West's second wild card with 10 games remaining for each club.
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
Saturday's schedule
Friday'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 Philadelphia Flyers
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
Clinching scenarios
1. The Vancouver Canucks will clinch a playoff berth if the Minnesota Wild lose to the Vegas Golden Knights in any fashion AND the St. Louis Blues lose to the San Jose Sharks in regulation.
2. The Colorado Avalanche will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Nashville Predators in regulation or overtime, OR:
If they win against the Preds in a shootout AND there is any result in the Blues-Sharks game aside from a Blues regulation win
If they lose in overtime or a shootout to the Predators AND the Blues lose to the Sharks in any fashion
If the Wild lose to the Golden Knights in any fashion AND the Blues lose to the Sharks in regulation
Saturday'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).
Detroit Red Wings at Florida Panthers, 12:30 p.m. (NHLN)
Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
Anaheim Ducks at Edmonton Oilers, 4 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Colorado Avalanche, 6 p.m.
New York Rangers at Arizona Coyotes, 6 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
New York Islanders at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
Ottawa Senators at Winnipeg Jets, 7 p.m.
San Jose Sharks at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames, 10 p.m.
Dallas Stars at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.
Friday's scoreboard
Buffalo Sabres 5, New Jersey Devils 2
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
x - Boston Bruins
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ WSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Florida Panthers
Points: 97
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. DET (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Toronto Maple Leafs
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 10
Points pace: 104
Next game: @ BUF (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Tampa Bay Lightning
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 99
Next game: vs. NYI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Detroit Red Wings
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 89
Next game: @ FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 22.8%
Tragic number: 16
Buffalo Sabres
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.8%
Tragic number: 10
Ottawa Senators
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 77
Next game: @ WPG (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 7
Montreal Canadiens
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 77
Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 7
Metropolitan Division
x - New York Rangers
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 115
Next game: @ ARI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Carolina Hurricanes
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 8
Points pace: 91
Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 80.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Washington Capitals
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. BOS (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 59.8%
Tragic number: N/A
New York Islanders
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 27.2%
Tragic number: 16
New Jersey Devils
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: 11
Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 84
Next game: @ CBJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 2.5%
Tragic number: 13
e - Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 65
Next game: vs. PIT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
x - Dallas Stars
Points: 101
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 112
Next game: @ SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Colorado Avalanche
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 110
Next game: vs. NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Winnipeg Jets
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 9
Points pace: 106
Next game: vs. OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Nashville Predators
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 101
Next game: @ COL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.2%
Tragic number: N/A
St. Louis Blues
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 5.1%
Tragic number: 14
Minnesota Wild
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. VGK (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 2.1%
Tragic number: 13
e - Arizona Coyotes
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 75
Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 53
Next game: @ PHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Vancouver Canucks
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 110
Next game: vs. ANA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Edmonton Oilers
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 106
Next game: vs. ANA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Vegas Golden Knights
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 9
Points pace: 99
Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 95.5%
Tragic number: N/A
Los Angeles Kings
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 99
Next game: @ CGY (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 98.1%
Tragic number: N/A
Seattle Kraken
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 7
Calgary Flames
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 81
Next game: vs. LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 7
e - Anaheim Ducks
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 58
Next game: @ EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - San Jose Sharks
Points: 40
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 46
Next game: @ STL (Saturday)
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: 40
Regulation wins: 12
2. Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 15
3. Anaheim Ducks
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 18
5. Arizona Coyotes
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 25
6. Montreal Canadiens
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 18
7. Ottawa Senators
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23
8. Calgary Flames
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 28
9. Seattle Kraken
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 24
11. Pittsburgh Penguins*
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 27
10. Buffalo Sabres
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
12. New Jersey Devils
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 31
13. New York Islanders
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 23
14. Detroit Red Wings
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 25
15. Minnesota Wild
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
16. St. Louis Blues
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.