NHL Eastern Conference Wild Card Standings: Playoff Race Heats Up

With just two weeks remaining in the regular NHL season, the battle for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference is intensifying, with five teams still in contention.

Two of these teams were in action on Thursday night. The Montreal Canadiens hosted the Boston Bruins, and the Columbus Blue Jackets played against the Colorado Avalanche.

As of Thursday, the Canadiens held the second wild card position with 79 points and 25 regulation wins in 74 games. The New York Rangers are even in points but have fewer regulation wins (32) and have played more games. The Blue Jackets are just two points behind, and one regulation win behind the Canadiens. The Detroit Red Wings (75 points, 26 regulation wins) and New York Islanders (74 points, 25 regulation wins) complete the group of five.

According to Stathletes` projections, the Montreal Canadiens are favored to make the playoffs with a 42.1% probability. The Blue Jackets are next at 27.4%, followed by the Rangers (26.8%), Islanders (2.8%), and Red Wings (2.7%). This week`s games involving these teams will be crucial in shaping the playoff picture.

As the regular season approaches its conclusion on April 17th, we are closely following the NHL playoff race. We will provide updates on all playoff scenarios and the teams vying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

Source: Stathletes projections.

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

Tampa Bay Lightning will clinch a playoff berth if:

• They defeat the Ottawa Senators in any game.
• They lose to the Senators in overtime or a shootout AND either the Montreal Canadiens lose to the Boston Bruins in any game OR the Columbus Blue Jackets lose to the Colorado Avalanche in any game.
• Both the Canadiens and Blue Jackets lose in regulation time.

The Avalanche will clinch a playoff berth if:

• They defeat the Blue Jackets in any game.
• They lose to the Blue Jackets in overtime or a shootout AND the Calgary Flames lose to the Anaheim Ducks in any game.
• The Flames lose to the Ducks in regulation time.

Thursday`s Games

Note: All times Eastern Time. Games may be subject to local blackout restrictions.

• Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
• Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
• Colorado Avalanche at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7:30 p.m.
• Pittsburgh Penguins at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.
• Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.
• Los Angeles Kings at Utah Hockey Club, 9 p.m.
• Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames, 9:30 p.m.
• Winnipeg Jets at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.
• Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday`s Scoreboard

• New York Rangers 5, Minnesota Wild 4 (OT)
• Carolina Hurricanes 5, Washington Capitals 1
• Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Florida Panthers 2
• Colorado Avalanche 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2 (SO)
• Seattle Kraken 5, Vancouver Canucks 0

Expanded Standings

Atlantic Division

Metro Division

Central Division

Pacific Division

Note: `x` – clinched playoff berth, `e` – eliminated from playoff contention.

Race for the No. 1 Pick

The NHL Draft Lottery determines the first-round order. A team can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the lottery. Matthew Schaefer of the Erie Otters is currently ranked as the No. 1 draft prospect.