NHL playoff watch: Not all first-round matchups set yet (2024)

ESPN staffApr 17, 2024, 07:00 AM ET

As expected, Tuesday's games resulted in many playoff seeds being clinched:

The Washington Capitals nabbed the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot with their win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Thanks to their win, and the Boston Bruins' loss, the Florida Panthers are Atlantic Division champs, which sets up ideal first-round matchups (for fans of heated rivalries): Panthers-Lightning and Bruins-Maple Leafs.
The Vancouver Canucks locked up the No. 1 seed in the Pacific Division and will take on the Nashville Predators (the first wild card) or the second wild card in Round 1.

In fact, the entire East bracket is now locked in. So what remains to be determined out West? It's just the shuffle between the Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings for the Pacific Division's No. 3 seed vs. the second West wild card. Whoever gets the No. 3 spot will take on the Edmonton Oilers in Round 1; whoever gets the wild card will square off against the top division champ in the West, currently the Dallas Stars.

Both clubs are idle Wednesday night (with Vegas pulling one point ahead on Tuesday), and close things out Thursday -- the Knights against the Anaheim Ducks and the Kings against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Wednesday's schedule
Tuesday's scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
A2 Boston Bruins vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 New York Rangers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New York Islanders

Western Conference

C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Los Angeles Kings
C2 Winnipeg Jets vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights

Wednesday'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).

Toronto Maple Leafs at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. (TNT)
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders, 7 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Dallas Stars, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
Edmonton Oilers at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m.

Tuesday's scoreboard

NHL playoff watch: Not all first-round matchups set yet (3)

P.K. Subban to McAfee: Penguins should have kept Jake Guentzel

P.K. Subban voices to Pat McAfee his firm belief that the Penguins should not have traded Jake Guentzel.

Ottawa Senators 3, Boston Bruins 1
Detroit Red Wings 5, Montreal Canadiens 4 (SO)
Washington Capitals 2, Philadelphia Flyers 1
Columbus Blue Jackets 6, Carolina Hurricanes 3
Florida Panthers 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 2
Winnipeg Jets 5, Seattle Kraken 3
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Vancouver Canucks 4, Calgary Flames 1

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

y - Florida Panthers

Points: 110
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Boston Bruins

Points: 109
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 103
Next game: @ TB (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 97
Next game: vs. TOR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

e - Detroit Red Wings

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Buffalo Sabres

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Ottawa Senators

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Montreal Canadiens

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Metropolitan Division

p - New York Rangers

Points: 114
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 111
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - New York Islanders

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 93
Next game: vs. PIT (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Washington Capitals

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

e - Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 89
Next game: @ NYI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e -Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - New Jersey Devils

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

x - Winnipeg Jets

Points: 108
Regulation wins: 45
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. VAN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Colorado Avalanche

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 106
Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Nashville Predators

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 0
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

e - St. Louis Blues

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Minnesota Wild

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 88
Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Arizona Coyotes

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 76
Next game: vs. EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 52
Next game: @ LA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

y - Vancouver Canucks

Points: 109
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ WPG (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Edmonton Oilers

Points: 104
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ ARI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 99
Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Los Angeles Kings

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 98
Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

e - Calgary Flames

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 80
Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 80
Next game: @ MIN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 58
Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 48
Next game: @ CGY (Thursday)
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.

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17

3. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20

4. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 21

5. Arizona Coyotes

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 27

6. Montreal Canadiens

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 20

7. Ottawa Senators

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25

8. Seattle Kraken

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27

9. Calgary Flames

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31

10. New Jersey Devils

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33

11. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 33

12. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30

13. Minnesota Wild

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 32

14. Pittsburgh Penguins*

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 32

15. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 27

16. St. Louis Blues

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 31

* The Penguins' first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.