The Western Conference does not officially have its eight playoff teams identified yet (though that could change after Friday night's action). But even when that octet is confirmed, the seeding remains to be clarified.
Heading into Friday's five-game slate, the current matchups are as follows:
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
C2 Winnipeg Jets vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
What can change?
Right off the top, we'll point out that the St. Louis Blues can be eliminated if they lose to the Carolina Hurricanes (8 p.m. ET, NHL Network) and the Vegas Golden Knights get a point against the Minnesota Wild (10 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). But about those seedings ...
The Knights are three points and four regulation wins behind the Los Angeles Kings for the No. 3 seed in the Pacific Division, with the Edmonton Oilers currently in the No. 2 spot.
The Oilers host the Arizona Coyotes (9 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+), and they still have a chance to overtake the Vancouver Canucks for the Pacific crown. Heading into this contest, the Oilers are four points and four regulation wins behind the Canucks but have two games in hand -- and a game against the Canucks on Saturday.
Whoever does win the Pacific appears likely to take on the first Western wild card in the opening round of the playoffs. As of now, that team is the Nashville Predators, who skate against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday (8:30 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). The Preds cannot catch any teams ahead of them in the Central. With 95 points and 36 regulation wins, they are even in points and regulation wins with the Kings, and three points and four regulation wins ahead of the Knights.
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
Fridya's schedule
Thursday'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 Pittsburgh Penguins
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New York Islanders
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
C2 Winnipeg Jets vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
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 Minnesota Wild in regulation AND the St. Louis blues lose to the Carolina Hurricanes in any fashion. The Knights can also clinch a berth if they win against the Wild in overtime or shootout AND the Blues lose to the Canes in regulation.
2. The Edmonton Oilers will clinch home-ice advantage in Round 1 if they have any result other than a regulation loss to the Arizona Coyotes.
Friday'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).
Carolina Hurricanes at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m. (NHLN)
Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.
Arizona Coyotes at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.
Calgary Flames at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
Thursday's scoreboard
Buffalo Sabres 4, Washington Capitals 2
New Jersey Devils 6, Toronto Maple Leafs 5
Ottawa Senators 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (SO)
Florida Panthers 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 0
Philadelphia Flyers 4, New York Rangers 1
Pittsburgh Penguins 6, Detroit Red Wings (OT)
New York Islanders 3, Montreal Canadiens 2 (OT)
Winnipeg Jets 3, Dallas Stars 0
San Jose Sharks 3, Seattle Kraken 1
Los Angeles Kings 4, Calgary Flames 1
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
x - Boston Bruins
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
x - Florida Panthers
Points: 106
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 1089
Next game: vs. BUF (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Toronto Maple Leafs
Points: 101
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 3
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. DET (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Tampa Bay Lightning
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 100
Next game: @ WSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Detroit Red Wings
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 37.1%
Tragic number: 5
e - Buffalo Sabres
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Ottawa Senators
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 77
Next game: vs. MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Montreal Canadiens
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 76
Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Metropolitan Division
x - New York Rangers
Points: 110
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. NYI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Carolina Hurricanes
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
New York Islanders
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 3
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 92.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. BOS (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 42.0%
Tragic number: N/A
Washington Capitals
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 88
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 18.9%
Tragic number: 5
Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 87
Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 9.1%
Tragic number: 3
e - New Jersey Devils
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ PHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 66
Next game: @ NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
x - Dallas Stars
Points: 109
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 112
Next game: vs. SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Winnipeg Jets
Points: 104
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 108
Next game: @ COL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Colorado Avalanche
Points: 104
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 3
Points pace: 108
Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Nashville Predators
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
St. Louis Blues
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. CAR (Friday)
Playoff chances: 1.0%
Tragic number: 3
e - Minnesota Wild
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
e - Arizona Coyotes
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 76
Next game: @ EDM (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 54
Next game: vs. NSH (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
x - Vancouver Canucks
Points: 105
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 109
Next game: @ EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Edmonton Oilers
Points: 101
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 108
Next game: vs. ARI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Los Angeles Kings
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 3
Points pace: 99
Next game: vs. ANA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Vegas Golden Knights
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 97
Next game: vs. MIN (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.1%
Tragic number: N/A
e - Seattle Kraken
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Calgary Flames
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 79
Next game: @ ANA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Anaheim Ducks
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
e - San Jose Sharks
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 49
Next game: vs. MIN (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: 47
Regulation wins: 14
2. Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17
3. Anaheim Ducks
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
5. Montreal Canadiens
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 20
6. Arizona Coyotes
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 27
7. Ottawa Senators
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 24
8. Calgary Flames
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
9. Seattle Kraken
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
10. Buffalo Sabres
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 32
11. New Jersey Devils
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
12. Minnesota Wild
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 30
13. Detroit Red Wings
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 27
14. Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 29
15. Washington Capitals
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 29
16. St. Louis Blues
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30