The NHL schedule makers do not all the time give us nice matchups every day of the week. However, generally they outdo themselves.
Sunday options 4 marquee video games:
It’s no shock that the Knights and Oilers are vying for the division crown, and this sport is a “four-point swing” if one in all the two can win in regulation. What’s somewhat extra shocking is that this sport will start with the Anaheim Ducks in the No. 1 spot in the Pacific. So how will this race shake out?
Anaheim performs the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, and the Ducks might open a three-point lead on Vegas with a win (and a Vegas loss). After Sunday, the Ducks have 19 video games left; they play the Oilers yet one more time (March 28) however have accomplished their slate in opposition to the Knights. Of these 19 remaining video games, Anaheim performs in opposition to a staff at present in playoff place simply 5 instances.
The Knights have 18 video games left after the Sunday tilt in opposition to the Oilers, and 10 of them are in opposition to present playoff groups, together with two extra vs. Edmonton (March 26 and April 4). They additionally face the juggernaut Avalanche as soon as and the near-juggernaut Dallas Stars twice.
As for the Oilers, in addition they have 18 video games left after Sunday, and have 10 of these in opposition to groups in a playoff spot. They must play Dallas solely as soon as … however must play Colorado twice, in addition to the Atlantic-leading Lightning.
The Oilers nonetheless have to play the remainder of their video games, after all, however primarily based on power of remaining schedule, the Ducks have a little bit of an edge at this juncture.
Every staff has about 20 video games left earlier than the season concludes April 16, and we’ll assist you maintain monitor of all of it right here on the NHL playoff watch every single day. As we traverse the last stretch, we’ll present particulars on all the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff likelihood is through Stathletes.
Jump forward:
Current playoff matchups
Sunday’s schedule
Saturday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. WC1 Detroit Red Wings
A2 Buffalo Sabres vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Boston Bruins
M2 New York Islanders vs. M3 Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Seattle Kraken
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah Mammoth
P2 Vegas Golden Knights vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Sunday’s video games
Note: All instances ET. All video games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (native blackout restrictions apply).
Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche, 2 p.m. (TNT)
Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins, 4:30 p.m. (TNT)
Tampa Bay Lightning at Buffalo Sabres, 6 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at Dallas Stars, 6 p.m.
Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
St. Louis Blues at Anaheim Ducks, 9 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Saturday’s scoreboard
Boston Bruins 3, Washington Capitals 1
New Jersey Devils 6, New York Rangers 3
Buffalo Sabres 3, Nashville Predators 2
Philadelphia Flyers 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (SO)
Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 2
Utah Mammoth 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 4 (OT)
Winnipeg Jets 3, Vancouver Canucks 2 (OT)
Montreal Canadiens 4, Los Angeles Kings 3
Calgary Flames 5, Carolina Hurricanes 4
New York Islanders 2, San Jose Sharks 1 (OT)
Ottawa Senators 7, Seattle Kraken 4
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff place: A1
Games left: 21
Points tempo: 110.2
Next sport: @ BUF (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff place: A2
Games left: 19
Points tempo: 106.7
Next sport: vs. TB (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.1%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: A3
Games left: 20
Points tempo: 103.2
Next sport: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 89.2%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: WC1
Games left: 19
Points tempo: 100.2
Next sport: @ NJ (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 53.7%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: WC2
Games left: 20
Points tempo: 99.2
Next sport: @ PIT (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 73.6%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 20
Points tempo: 93.9
Next sport: @ VAN (Monday)
Playoff probabilities: 59.1%
Tragic quantity: 36
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 19
Points tempo: 84.6
Next sport: vs. DET (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 5.1%
Tragic quantity: 28
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 18
Points tempo: 83.3
Next sport: @ MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.1%
Tragic quantity: 26
Metro Division
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff place: M1
Games left: 19
Points tempo: 111.9
Next sport: vs. PIT (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: M2
Games left: 18
Points tempo: 98.7
Next sport: @ STL (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 51.1%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: M3
Games left: 20
Points tempo: 100.5
Next sport: vs. BOS (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 78.2%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 20
Points tempo: 96.6
Next sport: vs. LA (Monday)
Playoff probabilities: 56.5%
Tragic quantity: 38
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 20
Points tempo: 91.3
Next sport: vs. NYR (Monday)
Playoff probabilities: 9.4%
Tragic quantity: 34
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 18
Points tempo: 88.4
Next sport: vs. CGY (Monday)
Playoff probabilities: 19.3%
Tragic quantity: 30
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 19
Points tempo: 85.9
Next sport: vs. DET (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 5.7%
Tragic quantity: 29
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 20
Points tempo: 74.1
Next sport: @ PHI (Monday)
Playoff probabilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 21
Central Division
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff place: C1
Games left: 21
Points tempo: 125
Next sport: vs. MIN (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: C2
Games left: 20
Points tempo: 113.7
Next sport: vs. CHI (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: C3
Games left: 19
Points tempo: 109.3
Next sport: @ COL (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: WC1
Games left: 19
Points tempo: 93.7
Next sport: @ CHI (Monday)
Playoff probabilities: 98.2%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 19
Points tempo: 83.3
Next sport: @ SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 5.4%
Tragic quantity: 35
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 20
Points tempo: 82
Next sport: vs. ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 5.7%
Tragic quantity: 35
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 20
Points tempo: 75.4
Next sport: @ ANA (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.7%
Tragic quantity: 30
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 20
Points tempo: 74.1
Next sport: @ DAL (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.1%
Tragic quantity: 29
Pacific Division
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: P1
Games left: 20
Points tempo: 96.6
Next sport: vs. STL (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 96.4%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: P3
Games left: 19
Points tempo: 93.7
Next sport: vs. EDM (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 96.3%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: P2
Games left: 19
Points tempo: 88.5
Next sport: @ VGK (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 77%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: WC2
Games left: 20
Points tempo: 88.6
Next sport: vs. NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 34%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 21
Points tempo: 88.7
Next sport: @ BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 78.6%
Tragic quantity: 41
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 20
Points tempo: 84.7
Next sport: @ CBJ (Monday)
Playoff probabilities: 7.6%
Tragic quantity: 37
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 20
Points tempo: 75.4
Next sport: @ WSH (Monday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.1%
Tragic quantity: 30
Points: 46
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 19
Points tempo: 59.9
Next sport: vs. OTT (Monday)
Playoff probabilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 17
Race for the No. 1 choose
The NHL makes use of a draft lottery to find out the order of the first spherical, so the staff that finishes in final place is just not assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a staff can transfer up a most of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so solely 11 groups are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 choose. Full details on the process can be found here. Sitting atop draft boards for this summer time is Gavin McKenna, a ahead for Penn State.
Points: 46
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 16
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 22
*Note: The Maple Leafs’ choose belongs to the Bruins, until it lands in the prime 5.
