Gone are the days when the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals were battling atop the Metropolitan Division.
But believe it or not, with the Capitals clinging to the East's second wild-card spot, the Penguins aren't entirely out of the running to make the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Heading into Thursday's clash between the clubs (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+), the Penguins are three points behind the Capitals in the standings, with one more regulation win. Notably, Washington has a game in hand on Pittsburgh (and the other teams vying for the wild card).
After the game against the Capitals, the Penguins will face teams currently in playoff position in four of their final six contests -- and the two teams that aren't currently in playoff position are in the aforementioned "vying for the wild card" cohort: the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders, both of whom are currently ahead of the Pens.
Washington's post-Pittsburgh schedule includes dates against four current playoff teams in its final seven, as well as games against the Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres (who remain mathematically in the wild-card race as well), and the nearly eliminated Ottawa Senators.
Stathletes gives the Capitals a 53.7% chance of earning a playoff spot of any variety (whether as a wild card or the No. 3 seed in the Metro), while the Penguins are at 10.4%. It appears there is some juice left in the Alex Ovechkin vs. Sidney Crosby rivalry!
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
Thursday's schedule
Wednesday'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
Thursday'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).
Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
New York Islanders at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m.
Calgary Flames at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday's scoreboard
Tampa Bay Lightning 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 1
New York Rangers 4, New Jersey Devils 3
Dallas Stars 5, Edmonton Oilers 0
Los Angeles Kings 5, Seattle Kraken 2
Vancouver Canucks 2, Arizona Coyotes 1
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
x - Boston Bruins
Points: 103
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 111
Next game: @ CAR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Florida Panthers
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ OTT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Toronto Maple Leafs
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 104
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Tampa Bay Lightning
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 100
Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Detroit Red Wings
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. NYR (Friday)
Playoff chances: 47.0%
Tragic number: 14
Buffalo Sabres
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. PHI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0.7%
Tragic number: 7
Ottawa Senators
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 78
Next game: vs. FLA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 4
Montreal Canadiens
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 78
Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 4
Metropolitan Division
x - New York Rangers
Points: 106
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 114
Next game: @ DET (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Carolina Hurricanes
Points: 101
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 110
Next game: vs. BOS (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 90
Next game: @ BUF (Friday)
Playoff chances: 53.3%
Tragic number: N/A
Washington Capitals
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 91
Next game: vs. PIT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 53.7%
Tragic number: N/A
New York Islanders
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 89
Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 34.6%
Tragic number: 13
Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 86
Next game: @ WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 10.4%
Tragic number: 11
New Jersey Devils
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.3%
Tragic number: 6
e - Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 68
Next game: vs. NYI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
x - Dallas Stars
Points: 105
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 113
Next game: @ CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Colorado Avalanche
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 109
Next game: @ MIN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Winnipeg Jets
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. CGY (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Nashville Predators
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 98
Next game: vs. STL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 98.3%
Tragic number: N/A
St. Louis Blues
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ NSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 3.5%
Tragic number: 9
Minnesota Wild
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. COL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 1.9%
Tragic number: 8
e - Arizona Coyotes
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 73
Next game: vs. VGK (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 54
Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
x - Vancouver Canucks
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Edmonton Oilers
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. COL (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Vegas Golden Knights
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 101
Next game: @ ARI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A
Los Angeles Kings
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 97
Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 96.8%
Tragic number: N/A
e - Seattle Kraken
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ ANA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Calgary Flames
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 81
Next game: @ WPG (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 1
e - Anaheim Ducks
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 58
Next game: vs. SEA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - San Jose Sharks
Points: 42
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 47
Next game: vs. LA (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.
1. San Jose Sharks
Points: 42
Regulation wins: 13
2. Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 16
3. Anaheim Ducks
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 19
5. Arizona Coyotes
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 25
6. Montreal Canadiens
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 19
7. Ottawa Senators
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
8. Calgary Flames
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29
9. Seattle Kraken
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25
10. New Jersey Devils
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 31
11. Buffalo Sabres
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 30
12. Pittsburgh Penguins*
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 29
13. New York Islanders
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 24
14. Minnesota Wild
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
15. Detroit Red Wings
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
16. St. Louis Blues
Points: 84
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.