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NHL playoff standings: Who wins the second East wild card?

ByTim Kavanagh ESPN logo

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Heading into today's massive 14-game slate, one of the major storylines we're following is: Who will win the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference?

As it stands, the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings both have 72 points; the Isles are given the tiebreaker in the standings right now as they have a higher points percentage, but when regulation wins come into play, the Red Wings sit two ahead. But thanks to some up-and-down play from those teams as of late, there are four teams within five points behind them.

The Isles have the best chance of making the playoffs, per Stathletes' projections, at 61.1%. Eight of their final 17 games are against teams currently outside the playoffs -- including today's matchup against the Ottawa Senators (12:30 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+).
The Red Wings, who have a 12.1% chance of a playoff berth, play nine of their final 16 against non-playoff clubs, though they face the hot Buffalo Sabres today (12:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network).
Speaking of the Sabres, they've gone 6-3-1 in their past 10 to pull within three points of the Isles and Wings, and have a 13.2% chance of reaching the postseason. Just seven of their remaining 15 games are against teams out of playoff position, but they've dispatched playoff-bound teams as well during the recent heater (including a 7-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights). Of note, the most recent Red Wings-Sabres tilt went to Buffalo, 7-3.
The Washington Capitals are looming one point behind the Isles and Wings and Stathletes projects their playoff chances at 37.8%. They'll skate in one of the evening's nightcaps, at the Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). Washington's schedule is tough, with just seven out of 17 games against teams not in playoff position.
One of those games will come against their classic rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are currently five back of the Isles and Wings. The Penguins -- who play the New York Rangers this afternoon (3 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+) -- are the longest shot of the teams we'll mention here, with a 4.0% chance of the playoffs. And much like the Caps, seven of their final 17 contests are vs. teams currently outside the postseason mix.
Finally, the New Jersey Devils -- who had the highest projected point totals of any of these teams heading into the season -- will hope their annual trip to Arizona State University earns them two points today against the Arizona Coyotes (5 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). Including today's game against the Yotes, six of the Devils' final 16 games are against teams not in playoff position, and Stathletes gives them a 14.0% chance of qualifying for the postseason.

With a matchup against one of the East's dominant powers on tap in the first round as the prize, this race is far from over. And while matching up against the Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins, Rangers or Carolina Hurricanes doesn't sound appealing, the Panthers did author a stunning upset of the juggernaut No. 1 seed Bruins last spring. Could one of these teams do the same?

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 Florida Panthers vs. WC2 New York Islanders

A2 Boston Bruins vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs

M1 New York Rangers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning

M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC1 Nashville Predators

C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Dallas Stars

P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights

P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Saturday'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).

Buffalo Sabres at Detroit Red Wings, 12:30 p.m. (NHLN)

Ottawa Senators at New York Islanders, 12:30 p.m.

New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins, 3 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)

New Jersey Devils at Arizona Coyotes, 5 p.m.

Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers, 6 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)

Philadelphia Flyers at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.

Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.

San Jose Sharks at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.

Montreal Canadiens at Calgary Flames, 7 p.m.

Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.

Los Angeles Kings at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.

Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m.

Washington Capitals at Vancouver Canucks 10 p.m.

Nashville Predators at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.

Friday's scoreboard

Winnipeg Jets 6, Anaheim Ducks 0

Los Angeles Kings 5, Chicago Blackhawks 0

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Florida Panthers

Points: 94

Regulation wins: 37

Playoff position: A1

Games left: 15

Points pace: 115

Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Boston Bruins

Points: 93

Regulation wins: 30

Playoff position: A2

Games left: 14

Points pace: 112

Next game: vs. PHI (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 84

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: A3

Games left: 17

Points pace: 106

Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 76

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 16

Points pace: 94

Next game: @ FLA (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 92.7%

Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 72

Regulation wins: 23

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 16

Points pace: 90

Next game: vs. BUF (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 12.1%

Tragic number: 32

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 69

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 85

Next game: @ DET (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 13.2%

Tragic number: 27

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 61

Regulation wins: 15

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 16

Points pace: 76

Next game: @ CGY (Saturday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 21

Ottawa Senators

Points: 58

Regulation wins: 19

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 18

Points pace: 74

Next game: @ NYI (Saturday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 22

Metropolitan Division

New York Rangers

Points: 90

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: M1

Games left: 16

Points pace: 112

Next game: @ PIT (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 86

Regulation wins: 34

Playoff position: M2

Games left: 16

Points pace: 107

Next game: @ TOR (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 76

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: M3

Games left: 15

Points pace: 93

Next game: @ BOS (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 65.2%

Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 72

Regulation wins: 21

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 17

Points pace: 91

Next game: vs. OTT (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 61.1%

Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 71

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 17

Points pace: 90

Next game: @ VAN (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 37.8%

Tragic number: 33

New Jersey Devils

Points: 68

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 16

Points pace: 85

Next game: @ ARI (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 14.0%

Tragic number: 28

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 67

Regulation wins: 24

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 17

Points pace: 85

Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 4.0%

Tragic number: 29

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 55

Regulation wins: 17

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 16

Points pace: 68

Next game: vs. SJ (Saturday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 15

Central Division

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 89

Regulation wins: 37

Playoff position: C1

Games left: 16

Points pace: 111

Next game: @ CBJ (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 89

Regulation wins: 36

Playoff position: C2

Games left: 15

Points pace: 109

Next game: @ EDM (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 89

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: C3

Games left: 14

Points pace: 107

Next game: vs. LA (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 80

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 15

Points pace: 98

Next game: @ SEA (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 95%

Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 73

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 89

Next game: @ STL (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 25.8%

Tragic number: 26

St. Louis Blues

Points: 71

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 16

Points pace: 88

Next game: vs. MIN (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 2.6%

Tragic number: 26

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 59

Regulation wins: 22

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 72

Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)

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: 15

Points pace: 113

Next game: vs. WSH (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 83

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: P2

Games left: 18

Points pace: 106

Next game: vs. COL (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 79

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: P3

Games left: 16

Points pace: 98

Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)

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: 69

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 16

Points pace: 86

Next game: vs. MTL (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 2.8%

Tragic number: 24

Seattle Kraken

Points: 68

Regulation wins: 22

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 17

Points pace: 86

Next game: vs. NSH (Saturday)

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: 17

Points pace: 49

Next game: @ CBJ (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.