Since the 1985-86 season, the NHL has awarded the Presidents` Trophy to the team that finishes the regular season with the most points. Throughout its history, this trophy has been handed out 37 times to 18 different NHL franchises.

However, winning the Presidents` Trophy is not a guarantee of Stanley Cup success. In the salary cap era (since 2005-06), only two teams have managed to win both the Presidents` Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season: the 2007-08 Detroit Red Wings and the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks. Notably, in recent years, two of the last six Presidents` Trophy winners were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

This historical context sets the stage for the current season`s trophy contenders. As it stands, the race for the Presidents` Trophy appears to be between two teams: the Winnipeg Jets, who have accumulated 106 points in 74 games, and the Washington Capitals, with 103 points in 73 games.

Upcoming key games include the Capitals facing the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, and the Jets playing against the Los Angeles Kings on the same day.

Looking at the remaining schedules, the Winnipeg Jets face a slightly tougher path. According to Stathletes, the combined win percentage of their remaining opponents is 51.3%, ranking as the 12th most difficult. In contrast, the Washington Capitals` remaining opponents have a combined win percentage of 47.3%, making their schedule the 28th toughest.

Despite the slightly harder schedule, Stathletes projects the Winnipeg Jets to finish with 115.9 points, narrowly edging out the Capitals, who are projected to finish with 114.7 points. This suggests the race for the Presidents` Trophy will likely remain tight until the very end of the regular season!

With less than three weeks remaining until the season concludes on April 17th, fans are closely following the NHL playoff picture. Updates on the playoff races and the teams vying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery will continue to be provided as the season progresses.

Note: Playoff probabilities are sourced from Stathletes.

Contents
  1. Current Playoff Matchups
  2. Eastern Conference
  3. Western Conference
  4. Clinching Scenarios
  5. Tuesday`s Games
  6. Monday`s Scoreboard
  7. Expanded Standings
  8. Atlantic Division
  9. Toronto Maple Leafs
  10. Tampa Bay Lightning
  11. Florida Panthers
  12. Ottawa Senators
  13. Montreal Canadiens
  14. Detroit Red Wings
  15. Boston Bruins
  16. Buffalo Sabres
  17. Metro Division
  18. x – Washington Capitals
  19. Carolina Hurricanes
  20. New Jersey Devils
  21. New York Rangers
  22. Columbus Blue Jackets
  23. New York Islanders
  24. Pittsburgh Penguins
  25. Philadelphia Flyers
  26. Central Division
  27. x – Winnipeg Jets
  28. x – Dallas Stars
  29. Colorado Avalanche
  30. Minnesota Wild
  31. St. Louis Blues
  32. Utah Hockey Club
  33. e – Nashville Predators
  34. e – Chicago Blackhawks
  35. Pacific Division
  36. Vegas Golden Knights
  37. Los Angeles Kings
  38. Edmonton Oilers
  39. Calgary Flames
  40. Vancouver Canucks
  41. Anaheim Ducks
  42. e – Seattle Kraken
  43. e – San Jose Sharks
  44. Race for the No. 1 Pick
  45. 1. San Jose Sharks
  46. 2. Chicago Blackhawks
  47. 3. Nashville Predators
  48. 4. Seattle Kraken
  49. 5. Buffalo Sabres
  50. 6. Boston Bruins
  51. 7. Philadelphia Flyers
  52. 8. Pittsburgh Penguins
  53. 9. Anaheim Ducks
  54. 10. New York Islanders
  55. 11. Detroit Red Wings
  56. 12. Columbus Blue Jackets
  57. 13. New York Rangers
  58. 14. Utah Hockey Club
  59. 15. Vancouver Canucks
  60. 16. Calgary Flames

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

The Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs will secure a playoff spot if either of these conditions is met:

  • The Montreal Canadiens lose to the Florida Panthers in any game.
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets lose to the Nashville Predators in any game.

The Tampa Bay Lightning will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the New York Islanders, AND both of the following occur:

  • The Canadiens lose to the Panthers in regulation time.
  • The Blue Jackets lose to the Predators in regulation time.

The Florida Panthers will clinch a playoff spot if they defeat the Canadiens in regulation time AND the Blue Jackets lose to the Predators in regulation time.

The Vegas Golden Knights will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Edmonton Oilers in any game, OR:

If they lose in overtime or a shootout to the Oilers and either:

  • The Calgary Flames lose to the Utah Hockey Club in any game.
  • The St. Louis Blues lose to the Detroit Red Wings in regulation time.

The Golden Knights will also clinch a playoff spot regardless of their own game outcome if the Flames lose to the Hockey Club in regulation time.

Tuesday`s Games

Note: All times are Eastern Time.

  • Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.
  • Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
  • Buffalo Sabres at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
  • Nashville Predators at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
  • Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
  • Detroit Red Wings at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.
  • Calgary Flames at Utah Hockey Club, 9 p.m.
  • Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.
  • San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
  • Winnipeg Jets at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.

Monday`s Scoreboard

  • New Jersey Devils 3, Minnesota Wild 2 (SO)
  • Philadelphia Flyers 2, Nashville Predators 1
  • Calgary Flames 3, Colorado Avalanche 2 (SO)
  • Dallas Stars 3, Seattle Kraken 1

Expanded Standings

Atlantic Division

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 94

Regulation wins: 37

Playoff position: A1

Games left: 8

Points pace: 104.2

Next game: vs. FLA (Wednesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 91

Regulation wins: 37

Playoff position: A2

Games left: 9

Points pace: 102.2

Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 91

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: A3

Games left: 9

Points pace: 102.2

Next game: @ MTL (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Ottawa Senators

Points: 84

Regulation wins: 30

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 9

Points pace: 94.4

Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.8%

Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 77

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 9

Points pace: 86.5

Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 44%

Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 74

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 83.1

Next game: @ STL (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 2.9%

Tragic number: 16

Boston Bruins

Points: 69

Regulation wins: 23

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 76.5

Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 0.1%

Tragic number: 9

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 68

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 76.4

Next game: @ OTT (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 0.1%

Tragic number: 10

Metro Division

x – Washington Capitals

Points: 103

Regulation wins: 40

Playoff position: M1

Games left: 9

Points pace: 115.7

Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 94

Regulation wins: 40

Playoff position: M2

Games left: 9

Points pace: 105.6

Next game: vs. WSH (Wednesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 87

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: M3

Games left: 6

Points pace: 93.9

Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.6%

Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 77

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 85.3

Next game: vs. MIN (Wednesday)

Playoff chances: 27.8%

Tragic number: 17

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 75

Regulation wins: 23

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 10

Points pace: 85.4

Next game: vs. NSH (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 17.1%

Tragic number: 19

New York Islanders

Points: 74

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 83.1

Next game: vs. TB (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 8.7%

Tragic number: 16

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 71

Regulation wins: 20

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 77.6

Next game: @ STL (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0.1%

Tragic number: 9

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 71

Regulation wins: 20

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 6

Points pace: 76.6

Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)

Playoff chances: ~0%

Tragic number: 7

Central Division

x – Winnipeg Jets

Points: 106

Regulation wins: 40

Playoff position: C1

Games left: 8

Points pace: 117.5

Next game: @ LA (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x – Dallas Stars

Points: 102

Regulation wins: 40

Playoff position: C2

Games left: 8

Points pace: 113.0

Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 94

Regulation wins: 38

Playoff position: C3

Games left: 7

Points pace: 102.8

Next game: @ CHI (Wednesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 88

Regulation wins: 33

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 7

Points pace: 96.2

Next game: @ NYR (Wednesday)

Playoff chances: 93.4%

Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 87

Regulation wins: 30

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 7

Points pace: 95.1

Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 95.5%

Tragic number: N/A

Utah Hockey Club

Points: 78

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 86.4

Next game: vs. CGY (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 0.5%

Tragic number: 8

e – Nashville Predators

Points: 62

Regulation wins: 23

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 68.7

Next game: @ CBJ (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e – Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51

Regulation wins: 18

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 56.5

Next game: vs. COL (Wednesday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 98

Regulation wins: 42

Playoff position: P1

Games left: 9

Points pace: 110.1

Next game: vs. EDM (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 91

Regulation wins: 36

Playoff position: P3

Games left: 9

Points pace: 102.2

Next game: vs. WPG (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 89

Regulation wins: 30

Playoff position: P2

Games left: 9

Points pace: 100.0

Next game: @ VGK (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.5%

Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 82

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 92.1

Next game: @ UTA (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 7.9%

Tragic number: 14

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 81

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 89.8

Next game: vs. SEA (Wednesday)

Playoff chances: 3.3%

Tragic number: 11

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 72

Regulation wins: 23

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 80.9

Next game: vs. SJ (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: 4

e – Seattle Kraken

Points: 68

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 74.4

Next game: @ VAN (Wednesday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e – San Jose Sharks

Points: 49

Regulation wins: 14

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 55.0

Next game: @ ANA (Tuesday

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Note: An `x` indicates a clinched playoff berth. An `e` indicates elimination from playoff contention.

Race for the No. 1 Pick

The NHL Draft Lottery determines the first-round draft order, meaning the last-place team is not guaranteed the top pick. Since 2021, teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the lottery, limiting eligibility for the No. 1 pick to the bottom 11 teams. More details on the lottery process are available. Matthew Schaefer, an OHL defenseman for the Erie Otters, is currently ranked as the No. 1 prospect.

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 49

Regulation wins: 14

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51

Regulation wins: 18

3. Nashville Predators

Points: 62

Regulation wins: 23

4. Seattle Kraken

Points: 68

Regulation wins: 25

5. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 68

Regulation wins: 25

6. Boston Bruins

Points: 69

Regulation wins: 23

7. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 71

Regulation wins: 20

8. Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 71

Regulation wins: 20

9. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 72

Regulation wins: 23

10. New York Islanders

Points: 74

Regulation wins: 25

11. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 74

Regulation wins: 26

12. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 75

Regulation wins: 23

13. New York Rangers

Points: 77

Regulation wins: 32

14. Utah Hockey Club

Points: 78

Regulation wins: 25

15. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 81

Regulation wins: 26

16. Calgary Flames

Points: 82

Regulation wins: 26