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NHL playoff standings: Hurricanes' path to the No. 1 seed

ByTim Kavanagh ESPN logo

Sunday, March 17, 2024

While six teams remain in contention for the Eastern Conference's final wild-card spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, there is some excitement happening at the other end of the playoff-bound spectrum.

Specifically, can the Carolina Hurricanes go on enough of a run in their final 15 games to earn the No. 1 spot in the Metro ahead of the New York Rangers -- or even the top position in the conference, above the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins?

The Canes made trades with divisional rivals in acquiring winger Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov, and the early returns have been encouraging: Kuznetsov had a goal and Guentzel had an assist in Carolina's 4-0 trouncing of the Panthers on Thursday. Regulation wins against teams they are chasing are quite helpful in earning that No. 1 position.

Unfortunately, when considering that notion, the Canes have two games left against the Bruins this season (April 4 in Raleigh, April 9 in Boston), but none against New York or Florida. But they do have five games left against clubs that are close to the basement, beginning with Sunday's clash with the Ottawa Senators (6 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). They'll also skate against the Montreal Canadiens (March 30), Columbus Blue Jackets twice (April 7 and 16) and Chicago Blackhawks once (April 14).

As of Sunday, Carolina is four points and two regulation wins behind the Rangers in the Metro; the Canes are seven points behind the Bruins (but three ahead in regulation wins), and six points and three regulation wins behind the Panthers.

While that seems like a lot of ground to make up, this is a team that just added two top-six difference-makers, and recently welcomed No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen back to the ice as well. If there's a team that could pull off such a heater to close out the season, this sure looks like it.

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

Today's schedule

Last night's scores

Expanded standings

Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Detroit Red Wings

A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs

M1 New York Rangers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning

M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers

Western Conference

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC1 Nashville Predators

C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets

P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights

P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Sunday'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).

New York Islanders at New York Rangers, 1 p.m. (TNT)

New Jersey Devils at Vegas Golden Knights, 3:30 p.m. (TNT)

Carolina Hurricanes at Ottawa Senators, 6 p.m.

Detroit Red Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins, 6 p.m.

Winnipeg Jets at Columbus Blue Jackets, 6 p.m.

San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks, 6 p.m.

Anaheim Ducks at St. Louis Blues, 7 p.m.

Saturday's scoreboard

Detroit Red Wings 4, Buffalo Sabres 1

Ottawa Senators 4, New York Islanders 3 (OT)

New York Rangers 7, Pittsburgh Penguins 4

Arizona Coyotes 4, New Jersey Devils 1

Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Florida Panthers 3

Boston Bruins 6, Philadelphia Flyers 5

Carolina Hurricanes 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 4 (SO)

Columbus Blue Jackets 4, San Jose Sharks 2

Calgary Flames 5, Montreal Canadiens 2

St. Louis Blues 3, Minnesota Wild 2 (SO)

Dallas Stars 4, Los Angeles Kings 1

Colorado Avalanche 3, Edmonton Oilers 2 (OT)

Washington Capitals 2, Vancouver Canucks 1

Nashville Predators 4, Seattle Kraken 1

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins

Points: 95

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: A1

Games left: 13

Points pace: 113

Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 94

Regulation wins: 37

Playoff position: A2

Games left: 14

Points pace: 113

Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 85

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: A3

Games left: 16

Points pace: 106

Next game: @ PHI (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 78

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 15

Points pace: 96

Next game: @ VGK (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 92.7%

Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 74

Regulation wins: 24

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 15

Points pace: 91

Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 12.1%

Tragic number: N/A

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 69

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 83

Next game: @ SEA (Monday)

Playoff chances: 13.2%

Tragic number: 23

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 61

Regulation wins: 15

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 75

Next game: @ EDM (Tuesday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 17

Ottawa Senators

Points: 60

Regulation wins: 19

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 17

Points pace: 76

Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 20

Metropolitan Division

New York Rangers

Points: 92

Regulation wins: 36

Playoff position: M1

Games left: 15

Points pace: 113

Next game: vs. NYI (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 88

Regulation wins: 34

Playoff position: M2

Games left: 15

Points pace: 108

Next game: @ OTT (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 76

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: M3

Games left: 14

Points pace: 92

Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 65.2%

Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 73

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 16

Points pace: 91

Next game: @ CGY (Monday)

Playoff chances: 37.8%

Tragic number: 31

New York Islanders

Points: 73

Regulation wins: 21

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 16

Points pace: 91

Next game: @ NYR (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 61.1%

Tragic number: 31

New Jersey Devils

Points: 68

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 83

Next game: @ VGK (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 14%

Tragic number: 24

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 67

Regulation wins: 24

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 16

Points pace: 83

Next game: vs. DET (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 4%

Tragic number: 25

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 57

Regulation wins: 18

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 70

Next game: vs. WPG (Sunday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 13

Central Division

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 91

Regulation wins: 36

Playoff position: C1

Games left: 14

Points pace: 110

Next game: @ STL (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 91

Regulation wins: 30

Playoff position: C2

Games left: 13

Points pace: 108

Next game: vs. ARI (Wednesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 89

Regulation wins: 37

Playoff position: C3

Games left: 16

Points pace: 111

Next game: @ CBJ (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 82

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 14

Points pace: 99

Next game: vs. SJ (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 95%

Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 74

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 89

Next game: @ ANA (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 25.8%

Tragic number: 26

St. Louis Blues

Points: 73

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 89

Next game: vs. ANA (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 2.6%

Tragic number: 26

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 61

Regulation wins: 23

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 74

Next game: @ DAL (Wednesday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 12

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 41

Regulation wins: 13

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 50

Next game: vs. SJ (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 92

Regulation wins: 36

Playoff position: P1

Games left: 14

Points pace: 111

Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 84

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: P2

Games left: 17

Points pace: 106

Next game: vs. MTL (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 79

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: P3

Games left: 15

Points pace: 97

Next game: vs. CHI (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 85.4%

Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 77

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 16

Points pace: 96

Next game: vs. NJ (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 84.4%

Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 71

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 87

Next game: vs. WSH (Monday)

Playoff chances: 2.8%

Tragic number: 24

Seattle Kraken

Points: 68

Regulation wins: 22

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 16

Points pace: 85

Next game: vs. BUF (Monday)

Playoff chances: 4.1%

Tragic number: 25

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 49

Regulation wins: 17

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 60

Next game: @ STL (Sunday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 2

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 39

Regulation wins: 12

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 16

Points pace: 49

Next game: @ CHI (Sunday)

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.