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SPORTS

NHL playoff standings: How high can the Kraken finish?

ByTim Kavanagh ESPN logo

Thursday, March 30, 2023

The Vegas Golden Knights set unrealistic expectations for every expansion franchise that has come (and will come) after them, making it to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural campaign.

But from an absolute perspective, what the Seattle Kraken have done in their second campaign is quite impressive.

With fewer than 10 games remaining, they are holding tightly to the Western Conference's second wild-card spot. But should they aim higher?

The Kraken have 88 points and 31 regulation wins, behind the Golden Knights (98, 34), Los Angeles Kings (96, 33) and Edmonton Oilers (95, 39). That seems like a lot to make up!

However, they'll face the lottery-bound Anaheim Ducks tonight (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu), and then host the Kings on Saturday (which is the vaunted "four-point swing" if they win in regulation). Then it's five straight games against lottery teams -- including three against the Arizona Coyotes! -- before closing out with a home-and-home against the Golden Knights. If things are close by then -- or the Knights are so far ahead they decide to rest key players -- it could be an occasion for Seattle to make up some serious ground.

Today's clinching scenarios

1. The Boston Bruins can clinch the Presidents' Trophy if they defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets in any fashion,or they get a point against the Blue Jackets and the Carolina Hurricanes lose to the Detroit Red Wings in any fashion,or if the Hurricanes lose to the Red Wings in regulation.

2. The Vegas Golden Knights can clinch a playoff spotif they beat the San Jose Sharks in any fashion,or if they get a point against the Sharks and the Nashville Predators do not win in regulation against the Pittsburgh Penguins,or if the Preds lose to the Pens in regulation.

As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, it's time to check all the playoff races -- along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2023 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via FiveThirtyEight.

Jump ahead:

Current playoff matchups

Today's games

Last night's scores

Expanded standings

Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Pittsburgh Penguins

A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning

M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 New York Islanders

M2 New Jersey Devils vs. M3 New York Rangers

Western Conference

C1 Minnesota Wild vs. WC1 Seattle Kraken

C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche

P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets

P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Thursday's games

Note: All times Eastern. All games not on ESPN, TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).

Columbus Blue Jackets at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.

Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.

New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia Flyers at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.

Nashville Predators at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.

Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.

Carolina Hurricanes at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)

St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.

Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m.

Anaheim Ducks at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)

Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday's scoreboard

Watch "In the Crease" on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.

Florida Panthers 3, Toronto Maple Leafs 2 (OT)

New York Islanders 2, Washington Capitals 1 (SO)

Minnesota Wild 4, Colorado Avalanche 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

y - Boston Bruins

Points: 119

Regulation wins: 49

Playoff position: A1

Games left: 8

Points pace: 132

Next game: vs. CBJ (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 98

Regulation wins: 37

Playoff position: A2

Games left: 8

Points pace: 109

Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 92

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: A3

Games left: 7

Points pace: 101

Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)

Playoff chances:>99%

Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 81

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 89

Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 35%

Tragic number: 14

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 77

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 87

Next game: vs. NYR (Friday)

Playoff chances: 4%

Tragic number: 14

Ottawa Senators

Points: 77

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 85

Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 3%

Tragic number: 12

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 73

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 82

Next game: vs. CAR (Thursday)

Playoff chances:<1%

Tragic number: 10

e - Montreal Canadiens

Points: 66

Regulation wins: 20

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 72

Next game: vs. FLA (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Metropolitan Division

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 103

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: M1

Games left: 9

Points pace: 116

Next game: @ DET (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - New Jersey Devils

Points: 100

Regulation wins: 34

Playoff position: M2

Games left: 8

Points pace: 111

Next game: vs. NYR (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - New York Rangers

Points: 98

Regulation wins: 34

Playoff position: M3

Games left: 8

Points pace: 109

Next game: @ NJ (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 87

Regulation wins: 33

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 6

Points pace: 94

Next game: @ TB (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 93%

Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 82

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 8

Points pace: 91

Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 63%

Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 77

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 84

Next game: @ TB (Thursday)

Playoff chances:<1%

Tragic number: 10

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 70

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 79

Next game: @ OTT (Thursday)

Playoff chances:<1%

Tragic number: 7

e - Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 53

Regulation wins: 15

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 60

Next game: @ BOS (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Central Division

Minnesota Wild

Points: 97

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: C1

Games left: 7

Points pace: 106

Next game: @ VGK (Saturday)

Playoff chances:>99%

Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 94

Regulation wins: 33

Playoff position: C2

Games left: 8

Points pace: 104

Next game: @ ARI (Friday)

Playoff chances:>99%

Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 94

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: C3

Games left: 8

Points pace: 104

Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday)

Playoff chances:>99%

Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 85

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 7

Points pace: 93

Next game: vs. DET (Friday)

Playoff chances: 55%

Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 82

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 92

Next game: @ PIT (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 21%

Tragic number: 16

St. Louis Blues

Points: 74

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 82

Next game: @ CHI (Thursday)

Playoff chances:<1%

Tragic number: 6

e - Arizona Coyotes

Points: 67

Regulation wins: 20

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 73

Next game: vs. DAL (Friday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 54

Regulation wins: 16

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 60

Next game: vs. STL (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 98

Regulation wins: 34

Playoff position: P1

Games left: 8

Points pace: 109

Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)

Playoff chances:>99%

Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 96

Regulation wins: 33

Playoff position: P2

Games left: 8

Points pace: 106

Next game: @ EDM (Thursday)

Playoff chances:>99%

Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 95

Regulation wins: 39

Playoff position: P3

Games left: 7

Points pace: 104

Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)

Playoff chances:>99%

Tragic number: N/A

Seattle Kraken

Points: 88

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 9

Points pace: 99

Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 98%

Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 83

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 91

Next game: @ VAN (Friday)

Playoff chances: 25%

Tragic number: 13

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 74

Regulation wins: 22

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 82

Next game: vs. CGY (Friday)

Playoff chances:<1%

Tragic number: 6

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 56

Regulation wins: 13

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 62

Next game: @ SEA (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 55

Regulation wins: 15

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 61

Next game: vs. VGK (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

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 might 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 Connor Bedard, who has been lauded as a generational talent.