NHL playoff standings Potential playoff matchups on Thursday

Rangers-Avs [1296x729] (Credit: Rich Graessle/Getty Images)

Darlan s Bangui on cusp of BAL playoffs

It's a typically busy Thursday night in the NHL, with 14 games on the schedule. And there are some absolute gems among those 14 contests, including several that could be run back during the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The early window includes three games that could take place in either the first round of the Eastern Conference bracket or further down the road:

The wild-card Washington Capitals visit the Atlantic's No. 3 seed, the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+) Though their hopes are dwindling, the New York Islanders could wind up as a wild card, and their first-round matchup could come with the Florida Panthers, who remain in the mix to take the Atlantic crown (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+) Finally, another potential division champ vs. wild card matchup pits the Detroit Red Wings against the Carolina Hurricanes (7:30 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+)

A little later, we'll see a rematch of a first-round matchup from last season (that could potentially be one this season as well), as the Vegas Golden Knights take on the Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). Meanwhile, it's looking increasingly likely that the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings will square off in the first round for a third straight postseason, and those two will take the ice against one another Thursday (9 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+).

Two of the best teams in the Western Conference, the division-leading Dallas Stars and Vancouver Canucks, will square off Thursday (10 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+), and potentially again in the Western Conference finals.

The eyes of the hockey-loving world will be monitoring Thursday's main event: A potential Stanley Cup Final matchup between two juggernauts, as the New York Rangers visit the Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+).

It'll be a busy night, with mathematical implications in the standings and psychological implications for possible matchups later this spring.

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 Clinching scenarios Thursday's schedule Wednesday's scores Expanded standings Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

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

Western Conference

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

Clinching scenarios

1. The Florida Panthers will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the New York Islanders in any fashion. They will also clinch if they lose in overtime or shootout AND either the Detroit Red Wings lose to the Carolina Hurricanes in any fashion or the Philadelphia Flyers lose to the Montreal Canadiens in regulation. The Panthers will also clinch if the Red Wings lose to the Hurricanes in regulation.

2. The Hurricanes will clinch a playoff berth if they win in any fashion against the Red Wings. The Canes will also clinch if they lose in overtime or shootout AND the Flyers lose to the Canadiens in regulation.

3. The Boston Bruins will clinch a playoff berth if the Red Wings lose to the Canes in any fashion OR the Flyers lose to the Canadiens in regulation.

4. The Dallas Stars will clinch a playoff berth if they win against the Vancouver Canucks in any fashion. They will also clinch a berth if they lose in overtime or shootout AND

The St. Louis Blues lose to the Calgary Flames in any fashion OR The Minnesota Wild lose to the San Jose Sharks in any fashion AND the Blues lose to the Flames in regulation

5. The Canucks will clinch a playoff berth if they win against the Stars in any fashion. They can also qualify for the postseason if they lose in overtime or shootout AND

The Blues lose to the Flames in any fashion OR The Wild lose to the Sharks in any fashion AND the Blues lose to the Flames in regulation

6. The Colorado Avalanche will clinch a playoff berth with a win of any kind against the New York Rangers coupled with a Blues loss of any kind. They can also qualify with an overtime or shootout loss paired with a Wild loss of any fashion AND a Blues loss in regulation.

Thursday'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).

Washington Capitals at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. Philadelphia Flyers at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m. Chicago Blackhawks at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m. New York Islanders at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m. Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. Detroit Red Wings at Carolina Hurricanes, 7:30 p.m. Calgary Flames at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m. San Jose Sharks at Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m. Vegas Golden Knights at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m. New York Rangers at Colorado Avalanche, 9 p.m. Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m. Dallas Stars at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m. Nashville Predators at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m. Anaheim Ducks at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.

Wednesday's scoreboard

Ottawa Senators 6, Buffalo Sabres 2 Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Boston Bruins 1

Expanded standings Atlantic Division Boston Bruins

Points: 99 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: A1 Games left: 8 Points pace: 110 Next game: @ WSH (Saturday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 97 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: A2 Games left: 10 Points pace: 111 Next game: vs. NYI (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 89 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: A3 Games left: 11 Points pace: 103 Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 87 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 10 Points pace: 99 Next game: vs. NYI (Saturday) Playoff chances: 98.7% Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 79 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 90 Next game: @ CAR (Thursday) Playoff chances: 24.5% Tragic number: 18

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 73 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 82 Next game: vs. NJ (Friday) Playoff chances: 1.4% Tragic number: 10

Ottawa Senators

Points: 66 Regulation wins: 22 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 76 Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 7

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 66 Regulation wins: 17 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 76 Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 7

Metropolitan Division x - New York Rangers

Points: 100 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: M1 Games left: 10 Points pace: 114 Next game: @ COL (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 97 Regulation wins: 37 Playoff position: M2 Games left: 9 Points pace: 109 Next game: vs. DET (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 82 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: M3 Games left: 9 Points pace: 92 Next game: @ MTL (Thursday) Playoff chances: 86.6% Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 81 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 11 Points pace: 94 Next game: @ TOR (Thursday) Playoff chances: 65.1% Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 76 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 85 Next game: @ BUF (Friday) Playoff chances: 11.7% Tragic number: 13

New York Islanders

Points: 75 Regulation wins: 22 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 87 Next game: @ FLA (Thursday) Playoff chances: 10.8% Tragic number: 16

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 72 Regulation wins: 26 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 83 Next game: vs. CBJ (Thursday) Playoff chances: 1.2% Tragic number: 13

e - Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 58 Regulation wins: 18 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 66 Next game: @ PIT (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E

Central Division Dallas Stars

Points: 99 Regulation wins: 34 Playoff position: C1 Games left: 9 Points pace: 111 Next game: @ VAN (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 97 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: C2 Games left: 10 Points pace: 111 Next game: vs. NYR (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 94 Regulation wins: 39 Playoff position: C3 Games left: 10 Points pace: 107 Next game: vs. VGK (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 90 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 10 Points pace: 103 Next game: @ ARI (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.8% Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 80 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 91 Next game: vs. CGY (Thursday) Playoff chances: 4.3% Tragic number: 14

Minnesota Wild

Points: 77 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 89 Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday) Playoff chances: 2% Tragic number: 13

e - Arizona Coyotes

Points: 65 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 74 Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 47 Regulation wins: 15 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 54 Next game: @ OTT (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E

Pacific Division Vancouver Canucks

Points: 98 Regulation wins: 39 Playoff position: P1 Games left: 10 Points pace: 112 Next game: vs. DAL (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 90 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: P2 Games left: 12 Points pace: 105 Next game: vs. LA (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 87 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: P3 Games left: 11 Points pace: 101 Next game: @ EDM (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.3% Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 86 Regulation wins: 30 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 10 Points pace: 98 Next game: @ WPG (Thursday) Playoff chances: 94.5% Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 71 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 82 Next game: @ STL (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: 7

Seattle Kraken

Points: 71 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 82 Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 7

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 52 Regulation wins: 18 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 59 Next game: @ SEA (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 40 Regulation wins: 12 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 46 Next game: @ MIN (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: 40 Regulation wins: 12

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 47 Regulation wins: 15

3. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 52 Regulation wins: 18

4. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 58 Regulation wins: 18

5. Ottawa Senators

Points: 64 Regulation wins: 21

6. Arizona Coyotes

Points: 65 Regulation wins: 24