NHL Playoff Ranking: Top Stanley Cup Contenders

Following a packed Saturday of 14 games, a slightly smaller group of teams is back in action on Sunday.

Among these seven matchups, one features a clash between two recent Stanley Cup champions: the Tampa Bay Lightning visiting the Vegas Golden Knights. It`s the perfect moment to assess and rank the leading contenders for the Cup.

According to Stathletes, the Vegas Golden Knights are currently leading Western Conference teams with a 12.4% chance of winning the Stanley Cup. Closely following are the Colorado Avalanche at 12.3%, with their next game scheduled for Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The Winnipeg Jets (5.8%, hosting the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday) and the Edmonton Oilers (5.4%, next game on Wednesday) complete the top four in the West.

Despite what`s considered a successful trade deadline with the acquisition of Mikko Rantanen, the Dallas Stars are positioned seventh among Western teams with a 3.1% chance, behind the Los Angeles Kings (3.9%) and St. Louis Blues (3.5%).

In the Eastern Conference, the Tampa Bay Lightning rank second (12.6%), trailing the Carolina Hurricanes who lead with 15.3%. The Hurricanes continue their road trip in the West against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday. Other top Eastern contenders include the Washington Capitals (9.5%), facing the Jets on Tuesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs (5.5%), and the Florida Panthers (5.0%).

With the regular season stretching until April 17, there`s still a significant journey ahead. We`ll keep you updated on all the crucial developments with our NHL playoff watch, tracking the playoff races and the teams vying for a better position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff probabilities are provided by Stathletes.

Explore Further:
Current Playoff Matchups
Today`s Schedule
Yesterday`s Scores
Expanded Standings
Race for No. 1 Pick

Current Playoff Matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
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 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Sunday`s Games

Note: All times Eastern Time. Games not on TNT or NHL Network are available for streaming on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions may apply).

Philadelphia Flyers at Chicago Blackhawks, 3 PM (NHLN)
Buffalo Sabres at Winnipeg Jets, 3 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins at Florida Panthers, 6 PM
Nashville Predators at St. Louis Blues, 6 PM
Tampa Bay Lightning at Vegas Golden Knights, 8 PM
Carolina Hurricanes at Anaheim Ducks, 8 PM
Boston Bruins at Los Angeles Kings, 9 PM

Saturday`s Scoreboard

New York Rangers 5, Vancouver Canucks 3
Dallas Stars 3 Philadelphia Flyers 2 (OT)
Minnesota Wild 4, Buffalo Sabres 1
St. Louis Blues 4, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Calgary Flames 4, New York Islanders 3 (OT)
Los Angeles Kings 7, Carolina Hurricanes 2
Washington Capitals 6, Florida Panthers 3
Utah Hockey Club 6, Tampa Bay Lightning 4
Colorado Avalanche 5, Montreal Canadiens 4 (SO)
Ottawa Senators 3, New Jersey Devils 2
Nashville Predators 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 2
Vegas Golden Knights 6, Detroit Red Wings 3
Edmonton Oilers 5, Seattle Kraken 4
San Jose Sharks 3, Boston Bruins 1

Expanded Standings

Atlantic Division

Florida Panthers

Points: 87, Regulation wins: 35, Playoff position: A1, Games left: 12, Points pace: 101.9, Next game: vs. PIT (Sunday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 87, Regulation wins: 34, Playoff position: A2, Games left: 12, Points pace: 101.9, Next game: vs. PHI (Tuesday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 85, Regulation wins: 34, Playoff position: A3, Games left: 13, Points pace: 101.0, Next game: @ VGK (Sunday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A

Ottawa Senators

Points: 79, Regulation wins: 28, Playoff position: WC1, Games left: 13, Points pace: 93.9, Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday), Playoff chances: 96.2%, Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 75, Regulation wins: 24, Playoff position: WC2, Games left: 13, Points pace: 89.1, Next game: @ STL (Tuesday), Playoff chances: 45.7%, Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 70, Regulation wins: 24, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 13, Points pace: 83.2, Next game: @ UTA (Monday), Playoff chances: 6%, Tragic number: 22

Boston Bruins

Points: 69, Regulation wins: 23, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 11, Points pace: 79.7, Next game: @ LA (Sunday), Playoff chances: 1.4%, Tragic number: 17

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 60, Regulation wins: 21, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 14, Points pace: 72.4, Next game: @ WPG (Sunday), Playoff chances: ~0%, Tragic number: 14

Metro Division

x – Washington Capitals

Points: 102, Regulation wins: 40, Playoff position: M1, Games left: 12, Points pace: 119.5, Next game: @ WPG (Tuesday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 88, Regulation wins: 37, Playoff position: M2, Games left: 13, Points pace: 104.6, Next game: @ ANA (Sunday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 80, Regulation wins: 33, Playoff position: M3, Games left: 11, Points pace: 92.4, Next game: vs. VAN (Monday), Playoff chances: 95.8%, Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 74, Regulation wins: 31, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 11, Points pace: 85.5, Next game: @ LA (Tuesday), Playoff chances: 18.9%, Tragic number: 22

New York Islanders

Points: 73, Regulation wins: 25, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 13, Points pace: 86.8, Next game: vs. CBJ (Monday), Playoff chances: 26%, Tragic number: 25

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 71, Regulation wins: 23, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 13, Points pace: 84.4, Next game: @ NYI (Monday), Playoff chances: 9.8%, Tragic number: 23

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 68, Regulation wins: 20, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 11, Points pace: 78.5, Next game: @ FLA (Sunday), Playoff chances: 0.1%, Tragic number: 16

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 65, Regulation wins: 17, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 11, Points pace: 75.1, Next game: @ CHI (Sunday), Playoff chances: 0.1%, Tragic number: 13

Central Division

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 100, Regulation wins: 38, Playoff position: C1, Games left: 12, Points pace: 117.1, Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 92, Regulation wins: 35, Playoff position: C2, Games left: 13, Points pace: 109.3, Next game: vs. MIN (Monday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 89, Regulation wins: 36, Playoff position: C3, Games left: 11, Points pace: 102.8, Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 85, Regulation wins: 32, Playoff position: WC1, Games left: 12, Points pace: 99.6, Next game: @ DAL (Monday), Playoff chances: 93.5%, Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 79, Regulation wins: 26, Playoff position: WC2, Games left: 11, Points pace: 91.2, Next game: vs. NSH (Sunday), Playoff chances: 56.9%, Tragic number: N/A

Utah Hockey Club

Points: 75, Regulation wins: 24, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 12, Points pace: 87.9, Next game: vs. DET (Monday), Playoff chances: 12.2%, Tragic number: 21

Nashville Predators

Points: 60, Regulation wins: 22, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 13, Points pace: 71.3, Next game: @ STL (Sunday), Playoff chances: ~0%, Tragic number: 8

e – Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49, Regulation wins: 17, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 12, Points pace: 57.4, Next game: vs. PHI (Sunday), Playoff chances: 0%, Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 90, Regulation wins: 38, Playoff position: P1, Games left: 13, Points pace: 107.0, Next game: vs. TB (Sunday), Playoff chances: 99.9%, Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 87, Regulation wins: 30, Playoff position: P2, Games left: 12, Points pace: 101.9, Next game: vs. DAL (Wednesday), Playoff chances: 99.6%, Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 85, Regulation wins: 33, Playoff position: P3, Games left: 14, Points pace: 102.5, Next game: vs. BOS (Sunday), Playoff chances: 99.6%, Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 77, Regulation wins: 26, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 13, Points pace: 91.5, Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday), Playoff chances: 16.8%, Tragic number: 25

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 76, Regulation wins: 25, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 12, Points pace: 89.0, Next game: @ NJ (Monday), Playoff chances: 21.4%, Tragic number: 22

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 68, Regulation wins: 22, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 13, Points pace: 80.8, Next game: vs. CAR (Sunday), Playoff chances: 0.1%, Tragic number: 16

Seattle Kraken

Points: 65, Regulation wins: 24, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 11, Points pace: 75.1, Next game: @ CGY (Tuesday), Playoff chances: ~0%, Tragic number: 9

e – San Jose Sharks

Points: 47, Regulation wins: 14, Playoff position: N/A, Games left: 12, Points pace: 55.1, Next game: vs. TOR (Thursday), Playoff chances: 0%, Tragic number: E

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, so last place doesn`t guarantee the No. 1 pick. A team can move up 10 spots max if they win the lottery, making 11 teams eligible for No. 1. Details on the process are available. Matthew Schaefer, OHL Erie Otters defenseman, is currently ranked No. 1.

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 47, Regulation wins: 14

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49, Regulation wins: 17

3. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 60, Regulation wins: 21

4. Nashville Predators

Points: 60, Regulation wins: 22

5. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 65, Regulation wins: 17

6. Seattle Kraken

Points: 65, Regulation wins: 24

7. Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 68, Regulation wins: 20

8. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 68, Regulation wins: 22

9. Boston Bruins

Points: 69, Regulation wins: 23

10. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 70, Regulation wins: 24

11. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 71, Regulation wins: 23