Hurricanes, Devils battle for Metro
It was a livid Saturday of motion across the NHL, as 30 of 32 groups had been in motion. That included the 2 groups sitting atop the Metropolitan Division — the Carolina Hurricanes and New Jersey Devils — a duo that may sq. off Sunday night time (7 ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+) for the ultimate time within the common season.
Each membership has one regulation win to this point, and the Canes took a shootout victory on New Year’s Day. Taking a fast gander on the Metro standings, the Canes are two factors forward main into the sport, with one recreation in hand and one further regulation win this season.
Both groups are all however locks to achieve the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. But their journeys will take fairly completely different paths primarily based on their respective finishes. The division chief will (possible) tackle the East’s No. 1 wild card — probably the New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres or Washington Capitals — whereas the second-place workforce will earn a first-round sequence in opposition to the superstar-laden (and Igor Shesterkin-backstopped) New York Rangers.
As we enter the ultimate stretch of the common season, it is time to verify in on all of the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place within the 2023 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff likelihood is through FiveThirtyEight.
Jump forward:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s video games
Last night time’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 choose
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 New York Islanders
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Pittsburgh Penguins
M2 New Jersey Devils vs. M3 New York Rangers
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC1 Edmonton Oilers
C2 Minnesota Wild vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Seattle Kraken
Sunday’s video games
Note: All occasions Eastern. All video games not on ESPN, TNT or NHL Network can be found through NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (native blackout restrictions apply).
Boston Bruins at Detroit Red Wings, 1:30 p.m. (TNT)
New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins, 4 p.m. (TNT)
Carolina Hurricanes at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at St. Louis Blues, 7 p.m. (NHLN)
Winnipeg Jets at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
Ottawa Senators at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Anaheim Ducks, 9:30 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at Arizona Coyotes, 9:30 p.m.
Saturday’s scoreboard
Watch “In the Crease” on ESPN+ for highlights from each recreation.
Boston Bruins 3, Detroit Red Wings 2
Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Philadelphia Flyers 1
New Jersey Devils 3, Montreal Canadiens 1
Dallas Stars 4, Seattle Kraken 3 (OT)
New York Rangers 2, Buffalo Sabres 1 (OT)
Colorado Avalanche 3, Arizona Coyotes 2 (OT)
Vegas Golden Knights 4, Carolina Hurricanes 0
St. Louis Blues 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 2
Winnipeg Jets 5, Florida Panthers 4 (OT)
Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Toronto Maple Leafs 7, Edmonton Oilers 4
Washington Capitals 5, New York Islanders 1
Vancouver Canucks 5, Ottawa Senators 2
Nashville Predators, 2, Los Angeles Kings 1 (SO)
Minnesota Wild 5, San Jose Sharks 2
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 105
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff place: A1
Games left: 18
Points tempo: 135
Next recreation: @ DET (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff place: A2
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 111
Next recreation: vs. BUF (Monday)
Playoff possibilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff place: A3
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 104
Next recreation: vs. WPG (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 89
Next recreation: vs. MTL (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 41%
Tragic quantity: 27
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 88
Next recreation: @ CGY (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 9%
Tragic quantity: 28
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 87
Next recreation: @ TOR (Monday)
Playoff possibilities: 7%
Tragic quantity: 27
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 85
Next recreation: vs. BOS (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 1%
Tragic quantity: 25
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 72
Next recreation: vs. COL (Monday)
Playoff possibilities: <1%
Tragic quantity: 14
Metropolitan Division
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff place: M1
Games left: 18
Points tempo: 120
Next recreation: @ NJ (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: M2
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 116
Next recreation: vs. CAR (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: M3
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 105
Next recreation: @ PIT (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: WC1
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 96
Next recreation: vs. NYR (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 80%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff place: WC2
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 92
Next recreation: @ LA (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: 49%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 87
Next recreation: @ NYR (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: 13%
Tragic quantity: 25
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 73
Next recreation: vs. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: <1%
Tragic quantity: 15
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 59
Next recreation: @ SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: <1%
Tragic quantity: 5
Central Division
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff place: C1
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 106
Next recreation: @ SEA (Monday)
Playoff possibilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: C2
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 103
Next recreation: @ ARI (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 98%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: C3
Games left: 18
Points tempo: 100
Next recreation: @ MTL (Monday)
Playoff possibilities: 98%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: WC2
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 96
Next recreation: @ TB (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 68%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 19
Points tempo: 92
Next recreation: @ ANA (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 31%
Tragic quantity: 32
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 80
Next recreation: vs. VGK (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: <1%
Tragic quantity: 20
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 71
Next recreation: vs. MIN (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: <1%
Tragic quantity: 12
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 62
Next recreation: vs. BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: <1%
Tragic quantity: 5
Pacific Division
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff place: P1
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 107
Next recreation: @ STL (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: P2
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 104
Next recreation: vs. NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff place: P3
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 101
Next recreation: vs. DAL (Monday)
Playoff possibilities: 94%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff place: WC1
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 98
Next recreation: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: 96%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 88
Next recreation: vs. OTT (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 16%
Tragic quantity: 26
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 77
Next recreation: vs. DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: <1%
Tragic quantity: 18
Points: 53
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 66
Next recreation: vs. NSH (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: <1%
Tragic quantity: 8
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 61
Next recreation: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: <1%
Tragic quantity: 3
Race for the No. 1 choose
The NHL makes use of a draft lottery to find out the order on the prime of the primary spherical, so the workforce that finishes in final place just isn’t assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a workforce would possibly 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 particulars on the method could be discovered right here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer season is Connor Bedard, who has been lauded as a generational expertise.
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 53
Regulation wins: 12
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 28
Notes on traded picks impacting the highest 16: