Saturday`s NHL action clarified the playoff landscape, officially eliminating the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, and New York Islanders from contention. The Columbus Blue Jackets are now the only team chasing the Montreal Canadiens for the final playoff spot in the East.
In the Western Conference, the St. Louis Blues` shootout loss to the Seattle Kraken kept the Calgary Flames` hopes flickering. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights secured their division titles with victories.
As the regular season nears its end on Thursday, here`s a look at what`s at stake in Sunday`s nine games:
- Philadelphia Flyers at Ottawa Senators
- New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils
- Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins
- Toronto Maple Leafs at Carolina Hurricanes
- Buffalo Sabres at Tampa Bay Lightning
- Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals
- Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets
- San Jose Sharks at Calgary Flames
- Colorado Avalanche at Anaheim Ducks
- Current Playoff Matchups
- Eastern Conference
- Western Conference
- Sunday`s Games
- Saturday`s Scoreboard
- Expanded Standings
- Atlantic Division
- Metro Division
- Central Division
- Pacific Division
- Race for the No. 1 Pick
Philadelphia Flyers at Ottawa Senators
1 p.m. ET
The Senators are locked into the first wild-card spot in the East, set to face the top Atlantic team. The Flyers are currently fifth in the draft lottery order, two points behind the Boston Bruins and one ahead of the Kraken.
New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils
1 p.m. ET
The Islanders` playoff aspirations ended with a Saturday shootout loss. They are now 10th in the draft lottery, behind the Ducks and Penguins, and ahead of the Rangers and Red Wings. The Devils are locked into the Metro`s No. 3 seed and will start the playoffs on the road against the Hurricanes.
Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins
3:30 p.m. ET
While these teams have a history of playoff battles, today`s matchup is about draft positioning. Boston is currently the No. 4 draft lottery seed, ahead of Philly and Seattle. The Penguins are eighth, behind the Sabres and Ducks, and ahead of the Islanders.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Carolina Hurricanes
5 p.m. ET
This could be an Eastern Conference Finals preview. Toronto leads the Atlantic by four points over Tampa Bay and Florida and can clinch the division today with a win and a Lightning loss. The Hurricanes are locked into second in the Metro and will face the Devils in the first round.
Buffalo Sabres at Tampa Bay Lightning
6 p.m. ET
The Lightning are still in contention for the Atlantic Division title and need wins. The Sabres, despite being high in the draft lottery (currently No. 7), are playing well, with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals
6 p.m. ET
A rematch of Saturday`s game won 7-0 by Columbus. The Blue Jackets are five points behind Montreal for the final wild-card spot with a game in hand. The Capitals are locked into the Eastern Conference`s top seed but trail the Jets by five points for the Presidents` Trophy with three games remaining.
Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets
7 p.m. ET
The Oilers have clinched a playoff spot and will face the Los Angeles Kings in the first round for the fourth consecutive year. Home-ice advantage is still at stake; the Kings are four points ahead with three games left. The Jets are the West`s No. 1 seed and await their first-round opponent: either the Wild, Blues, or Flames.
San Jose Sharks at Calgary Flames
8 p.m. ET
The Flames are a long shot for the playoffs, needing to overcome a four-game deficit to the Blues and five to the Wild, though they have games in hand. The Sharks have clinched the No. 1 spot in the draft lottery.
Colorado Avalanche at Anaheim Ducks
10 p.m. ET
The Avalanche, locked into the Central`s No. 3 spot and a first-round series against Dallas, face the Ducks. Anaheim is currently ninth in the draft lottery order, tied with Pittsburgh, behind Buffalo, and ahead of the Islanders.
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
Sunday`s Games
- Philadelphia Flyers at Ottawa Senators, 1 p.m. ET
- New York Islanders at New Jersey Devils, 1 p.m. ET
- Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins, 3:30 p.m. ET
- Toronto Maple Leafs at Carolina Hurricanes, 5 p.m. ET
- Buffalo Sabres at Tampa Bay Lightning, 6 p.m. ET
- Columbus Blue Jackets at Washington Capitals, 6 p.m. ET
- Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets, 7 p.m. ET
- San Jose Sharks at Calgary Flames, 8 p.m. ET
- Colorado Avalanche at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m. ET
Saturday`s Scoreboard
- Philadelphia Flyers 4, New York Islanders 3 (SO)
- Columbus Blue Jackets 7, Washington Capitals 0
- Carolina Hurricanes 7, New York Rangers 3
- Los Angeles Kings 5, Colorado Avalanche 4
- Florida Panthers 3, Buffalo Sabres 2 (SO)
- Toronto Maple Leafs 1, Montreal Canadiens 0 (OT)
- Winnipeg Jets 5, Chicago Blackhawks 4 (SO)
- Utah Hockey Club 5, Dallas Stars 3
- Minnesota Wild 3, Vancouver Canucks 2 (OT)
- Vegas Golden Knights 5, Nashville Predators 3
- Seattle Kraken 4, St. Louis Blues 3 (SO)
Expanded Standings
Atlantic Division
x – Toronto Maple Leafs
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 3
x – Tampa Bay Lightning
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 3
x – Florida Panthers
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 2
x – Ottawa Senators
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 3
Montreal Canadiens
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 2
e – Detroit Red Wings
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
e – Buffalo Sabres
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
e – Boston Bruins
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Metro Division
z – Washington Capitals
Points: 109
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 3
x – Carolina Hurricanes
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 3
x – New Jersey Devils
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 3
Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
e – New York Rangers
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
e – New York Islanders
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
e – Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
e – Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Central Division
z – Winnipeg Jets
Points: 114
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 2
x – Dallas Stars
Points: 106
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 2
x – Colorado Avalanche
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 1
Minnesota Wild
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 1
St. Louis Blues
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 1
e – Utah Hockey Club
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
e – Nashville Predators
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
e – Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Pacific Division
y – Vegas Golden Knights
Points: 107
Regulation wins: 45
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 2
x – Los Angeles Kings
Points: 101
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 3
x – Edmonton Oilers
Points: 97
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 3
Calgary Flames
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
e – Vancouver Canucks
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
e – Anaheim Ducks
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
e – Seattle Kraken
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
e – San Jose Sharks
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Note: `z` – clinched top conference record, `y` – division title, `x` – playoff berth, `e` – eliminated.
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 is currently the top-ranked draft prospect.
1. San Jose Sharks
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 14
2. Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
3. Nashville Predators
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
4. Boston Bruins
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25
5. Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 21
6. Seattle Kraken
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
7. Buffalo Sabres
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
8. Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23
9. Anaheim Ducks
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24
10. New York Islanders
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 27
11. New York Rangers
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
12. Detroit Red Wings
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
13. Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27
14. Utah Hockey Club
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
15. Vancouver Canucks
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 28
16. Calgary Flames
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 29
