With the Montreal Canadiens on the precipice of punching their playoff ticket Monday night, the Chicago Blackhawks shocked the world by pulling off the shootout victory. So the Columbus Blue Jackets remain in the hunt for the final Eastern Conference wild card.
In the West, there was no movement in the three-way wild-card race between the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames on Monday, but all three play Tuesday.
Here’s everything you need to know heading into what could be a highly consequential evening:
New Jersey Devils at Boston Bruins
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
This is the Devils’ penultimate tuneup before beginning their first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes. On the other side, the Bruins enter this matchup in the fourth slot for the draft lottery order; they cannot catch the Predators at No. 3, but they are one point ahead of the Kraken and Flyers, and two ahead of the Sabres.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
The Maple Leafs have a four-point lead atop the Atlantic Division, but with two games left for the team chasing them (the Lightning), nothing is resolved. However, with a win or an overtime/shootout loss against their cross-border neighbors, the division title is theirs. Buffalo has closed the season out strong, but past foibles have the Sabres in the No. 7 spot in the draft lottery heading into Tuesday night; they are in a jumble of teams from No. 4-9, all between 75 and 78 points.
Chicago Blackhawks at Ottawa Senators
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
The Blackhawks’ win Monday did not alter their final standings result, as they are locked into the No. 2 spot in the draft lottery. The Senators are locked into another part of the standings, the first Eastern Conference wild card, with a matchup against the Atlantic Division champs (either the Maple Leafs or Lightning) on the docket in Round 1.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Philadelphia Flyers
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Montreal’s loss in the shootout on Monday kept the Blue Jackets’ playoff door open just a crack. Columbus needs regulation wins in both of its final two games (it hosts the Islanders on Thursday), PLUS the Canadiens to lose in regulation against the Hurricanes on Wednesday to earn the second wild card. The Flyers are part of the above-mentioned jumble of teams between 75 and 78 points; they begin the evening in the No. 6 spot with 76.
Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning
7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
The most likely postseason scenario in the Atlantic includes these in-state rivals squaring off in Round 1. The Panthers cannot catch the Lightning (they can tie in standings points, but Tampa Bay is well ahead in regulation wins); the Lightning can catch the Maple Leafs, but need to win their final two and have the Leafs lose their final two in regulation. In other words, this game might involve some “message-sending” ahead of their upcoming game rather than any additional standings shuffling concerns.
Washington Capitals at New York Islanders
7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Locked in as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Capitals may not be, ahem, as honed in as we’ve seen them in recent weeks as they were chasing that clinched position (and Alex Ovechkin was still chasing Wayne Gretzky’s record). On the Islanders side, they sit 10th in the draft lottery order with 82 points, four behind the Ducks (78) with two games to go, and one point ahead of the Rangers and Red Wings at 83.
Utah Hockey Club at St. Louis Blues
8 p.m. (ESPN+)
With a win of any variety and a Flames loss of any variety, the Blues clinch a playoff spot; with any other set of results, it’s a little more complicated. In the franchise’s first season, the Hockey Club remained in the playoff mix quite long, but they’ll be in the draft lottery this May. Currently 14th, they can fall behind the Canucks for 15th if they win tonight.
Anaheim Ducks at Minnesota Wild
8 p.m. (ESPN+)
A win of any variety for the Wild clinches their playoff spot (regardless of what the Flames do); the Wild can also clinch if they lose in OT/shootout and the Flames lose in any fashion. The Ducks are at the tail end of the 75- to 78-point teams in the draft lottery order, sitting ninth as play begins Tuesday.
Vegas Golden Knights at Calgary Flames
9 p.m. (ESPN+)
Every game is a must-win for the Flames, and regulation wins will be critical; they are currently two points behind the Blues and one RW, so if the Blues win in regulation Tuesday and the Flames win in OT/shootout, that eliminates the Flames (they could tie in standings points with a win Thursday, but couldn’t catch up in RW). If the Blues lose in any fashion, that leaves the door open for Calgary. The Knights are locked in as the No. 1 seed in the Pacific — and will play whichever team winds up in the first wild-card spot when the playoffs begin. If they don’t want to see Calgary in a series this spring, they can end that possibility by beating them on Tuesday night.
Los Angeles Kings at Seattle Kraken
10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
The Kings’ win over the Oilers on Monday clinched home-ice advantage for them in the first-round series against those very same Oilers. Seattle is our final team in that 75- to 78-point mashup, beginning play on Tuesday night as the No. 5 team in the draft lotto order with 76 points and 28 regulation wins.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Clinching scenarios
Today’s schedule
Yesterday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Clinching scenarios
The Montreal Canadiens will clinch a playoff berth with any result in the Columbus Blue Jackets-Philadelphia Flyers game other than a Blue Jackets regulation win.
The Minnesota Wild will clinch a playoff berth if:
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They win or lose in overtime/shootout to the Anaheim Ducks
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The Blues lose to the Hockey Club in any fashion
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The Flames lose to the Golden Knights in any fashion
The St. Louis Blues will clinch a playoff berth if:
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They defeat the Utah Hockey Club in regulation
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They defeat the Hockey Club in OT/shootout, AND either the Wild lose to the Ducks in regulation OR there is any result in Flames-Golden Knights other than a regulation win for Calgary
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They lose in OT/shootout, AND the Flames lose to the Golden Knights in any fashion
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The Flames lose to the Golden Knights in regulation
Tuesday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
New Jersey Devils at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Washington Capitals at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
Utah Hockey Club at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Seattle Kraken, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Monday’s scoreboard
Chicago Blackhawks 4, Montreal Canadiens 3 (SO)
Detroit Red Wings 6, Dallas Stars 4
New York Rangers 5, Florida Panthers 3
Utah Hockey Club 7, Nashville Predators 3
Los Angeles Kings 5, Edmonton Oilers 0
Vancouver Canucks 2, San Jose Sharks 1 (OT)
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 104
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 106.6
Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 102.5
Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 99.2
Next game: @ TB (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 96.4
Next game: vs. CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 90.1
Next game: vs. CAR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 89.6%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 85.1
Next game: @ NJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 78.9
Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 75.9
Next game: vs. NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Metro Division
Points: 109
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 111.7
Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 101.5
Next game: @ MTL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 91.2
Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 87.1
Next game: @ PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 10.4%
Tragic number: 1
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 84.0
Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 84.1
Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 79.0
Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 77.9
Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 114
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 115.4
Next game: vs. ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 106
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 107.3
Next game: @ NSH (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 0
Points pace: 102
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 96.2
Next game: vs. ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 98.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 95.2
Next game: vs. UTA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 91.3%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 90.1
Next game: @ STL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 66.8
Next game: vs. DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 59.7
Next game: @ OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 107
Regulation wins: 45
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 109.7
Next game: @ CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 103
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 105.6
Next game: @ SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 100.2
Next game: @ SJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 94.3
Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 10.3%
Tragic number: 3
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 91.1
Next game: vs. VGK (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 80.0
Next game: @ MIN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 76.9
Next game: vs. LA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 52.6
Next game: vs. EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Note: A “p” means that the team has clinched the Presidents’ Trophy as the top team in the regular season. A “z” means that the team has clinched the top record in the conference. A “y” means that the team has clinched the division title. An “x” means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An “e” means that the team has been 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 No. 1 pick. More details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL’s Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 34
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 30
