by -
Tim KavanaghESPN.com
Now that the trade deadline has passed, the rush to the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs begins in earnest. Every day until the final day of the regular season, we’ll bring you updated standings and predictions, the game schedule, scores from the night before and the current draft lottery prospect, with Connor Bedard sitting as the prize for the winning team. Pick No. 1 in the 2023 draft.
But before all that, let’s take a look today at the race for the two wild card spots in the Western Conference.
After Sunday’s action, the Colorado Avalanche have moved into third place in the Central Division with 74 points, while the Winnipeg Jets have slipped back into the second wild card spot. The Edmonton Oilers (76 points) are in the first wild card spot.
Tonight, the Oilers will visit the Buffalo Sabers in a game exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu, as the Oilers continue their push for a slot in the Pacific Division seeds, or at least a wild card. The Jets will face the San Jose Sharks.
The Nashville Predators – who traded away Mattias Ekholm, Tanner Jeannot, Nino Niederreiter and Mikael Granlund – are six points behind Winnipeg heading into tonight’s matchup against the Vancouver Canucks. FiveThirtyEight gives them a 38% chance to make the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Calgary Flames – who won the Pacific Division crown last season, before the summer of roster upheaval – are seven points out, with a 15% chance at the playoffs. They will face the Dallas Stars tonight, a club that is trying to tighten its grip on the top spot in the Central Division.
As we enter the final stretch of the 2022-23 regular season, it’s time to check in on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2023 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff odds are via FiveThirtyEight.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff match
Today’s games
Last night’s scores
Increased position
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff match
Eastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs WC2 Pittsburgh Penguins
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
Hurricane M1 Carolina vs. WC1 New York Islanders
M2 Devils New Jersey vs M3 New York Rangers
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs WC1 Edmonton Oilers
C2 Minnesota Wild vs C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs WC2 Winnipeg Jets
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs P3 Seattle Kraken
Monday games
Note: All Eastern time. All games not on ESPN, TNT or NHL Network are available through NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
Edmonton Oilers at Buffalo Sabres, 7:30pm (ESPN+/Hulu)
San Jose Sharks at Winnipeg Jets, 7:30 PM
Calgary Flames at Dallas Stars, 8:30 PM
Ottawa Senators at Chicago Blackhawks, 9 PM
Washington Capitals at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 PM
Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks, 10:30 PM
Sunday’s scoreboard
Watch In the Crease on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.
Carolina Hurricanes 6, Tampa Bay Lightning 0
Philadelphia Flyers 3, Detroit Red Wings 1
Vegas Golden Knights 4, Montreal Canadiens 3
New Jersey Devils-Arizona Coyotes
Seattle Kraken-Colorado Avalanche
Increased position
Atlantic Division
Points: 103
The regulation won: 42
Location of play: A1
Remaining games: 20
Another game: vs. EDM (Thursday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
The regulation won: 32
Location of play: A2
Remaining games: 19
Another game: @ NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
The regulation won: 30
Location of play: A3
Remaining games: 19
Another game: vs PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 68
The regulation won: 24
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 21
Another game: vs. EDM (Monday)
Playoff chances: 30%
Tragic number: 39
Points: 68
The regulation won: 25
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 20
Another game: @ CHI (Monday)
Playoff chances: 17%
Tragic number: 37
Points: 68
The regulation won: 27
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 18
Another game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 30%
Tragic number: 33
Points: 65
The regulation won: 22
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 19
Another game: vs. CHI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 32
Points: 56
The regulation won: 17
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 19
Another game: vs CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 23
The Metropolitan Division
Points: 90
The regulation won: 31
Location of play: M1
Remaining games: 21
Another game: @MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88
The regulation won: 30
Location of play: M2
Remaining games: 20
Another game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
The regulation won: 27
Location of play: M3
Remaining games: 19
Another game: @MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 98%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 72
The regulation won: 28
Location of play: WC1
Remaining games: 17
Another game: vs BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 41%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71
The regulation won: 24
Location of play: WC2
Remaining games: 20
Another game: vs CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 69%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 68
The regulation won: 24
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 18
Another game: @ LA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 14%
Tragic number: 33
Points: 59
The regulation won: 22
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 19
Another game: @TB (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 26
Points: 46
The regulation won: 15
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 19
Another game: vs CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 13
Central Division
Points: 81
The regulation won: 29
Location of play: C1
Remaining games: 19
Another game: vs CGY (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
The regulation won: 25
Location of play: Q2
Remaining games: 19
Another game: vs CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 95%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 74
The regulation won: 24
Location of play: C3
Remaining games: 21
Another game: vs SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 98%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 74
The regulation won: 28
Location of play: WC2
Remaining games: 19
Another game: vs SJ (Monday)
Playoff chances: 74%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 68
The regulation won: 24
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 22
Another game: @VAN (Monday)
Playoff chances: 38%
Tragic number: 38
Points: 59
The regulation won: 19
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 20
Another game: @ ARI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 25
Points: 52
The regulation won: 16
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 19
Another game: vs STL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 16
Points: 47
The regulation won: 13
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 20
Another game: vs. OTT (Monday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 13
Pacific Division
Points: 82
The regulation won: 28
Location of play: P1
Remaining games: 19
Another game: @ FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 98%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80
The regulation won: 26
Location of play: P2
Remaining games: 18
Another game: vs WSH (Monday)
Playoff chances: 95%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
The regulation won: 29
Location of play: P3
Remaining games: 19
Another game: vs ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 96%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76
The regulation won: 32
Location of play: WC1
Remaining games: 18
Another game: @ BUF (Monday)
Playoff chances: 91%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 67
The regulation won: 22
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 19
Another game: @ DAL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 15%
Tragic number: 31
Points: 55
The regulation won: 16
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 20
Another game: vs NSH (Monday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 21
Points: 50
The regulation won: 11
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 19
Another game: @ SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 14
Points: 48
The regulation won: 14
Location of play: N/A
Remaining games: 19
Another game: @ WPG (Monday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 12
Race for pick No. 1
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order at the top of the first round, so the team that finishes last is not guaranteed the No. 1 pick. 1. From 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 points if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for pick No. 1. Full details of the process can be found here. Sitting at No. 1 on the draft board this summer is Connor Bedard, who has been praised as a generation boy.
Points: 46
The regulation won: 15
Points: 47
The regulation won: 13
Points: 48
The regulation won: 14
Points: 50
The regulation won: 11
Points: 52
The regulation won: 16
Points: 55
The regulation won: 16
Points: 56
The regulation won: 17
Points: 59
The regulation won: 19
Points: 59
The regulation won: 22
Points: 65
The regulation won: 22
Points: 67
The regulation won: 22
Points: 68
The regulation won: 24
Points: 68
The regulation won: 24
Points: 68
The regulation won: 24
Points: 68
The regulation won: 25
Points: 68
The regulation won: 27
Notes on traded picks impacting the top 16:
