Tim KavanaghESPN.com8 minutes to read
Evgeni Malkin scores the late winner for the Penguins
Evgeni Malkin forces a turnover and takes the ball to score the game-winning goal for the Penguins with 80 seconds left in the game.
Much of what we examine in this space revolves around Races to earn playoff points (or race down to lottery teams). But let’s look a little further ahead at two teams who have already secured their spot in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Boston Bruins have been on record-breaking pace this season, securing a playoff ticket back on March 11 and the Atlantic Division title on Saturday with a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning. They need eight more points to win the President’s Trophy as the top team in the league this season – over the Carolina Hurricanes, who are their opponents today (5 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+).
Carolina has more work to do to clinch her oath; The New Jersey Devils are two points and one win behind the Kansas, though Carolina has two games in hand.
What are the chances of these two clubs meeting again in the Eastern Conference Finals for a rematch of last season’s epic seven-game first-round match?
The Money Puck gives the Bruins a 37.5% chance of making it to the Conference Finals, while the Hurricanes have a 48.3% chance.
The Bruins’ path will begin with the second wild card, a New York Islander, Pittsburgh Penguins, or Florida Panthers. They went 3-0-0 against the Islanders, 2-0-0 against the Penguins (with a game coming April 1), and 2-1-1 against the Panthers. In the second round, they will face the Toronto Maple Leafs (who lost to 2-1-0 with a game remaining, on April 6) or the Lightning (3-1-0).
For the Hurricanes, they’ll face their first wild card: They’ve gone 4-0-0 against the Penguins this season, 2-1-0 against the Islanders (with a game remaining, on April 2), and 1-1-0 against the Panthers (with one game remaining, on April 13). The second round would be even more difficult, as they lost 2-2-0 against the Devils and 1-3-0 against the New York Rangers.
Oh, and as this afternoon’s showdown looms, the B’s and Canes each win one game in the season series.
As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check out all the playoff races – along with the teams vying for a spot in the 2023 NHL Lottery.
Note: The chances of the final match are across FiveThirtyEight.
Jump forward:
Current playoffs
Today’s games
Scores last night
Extended arrangement
The race to pick #1
Current playoffs
Eastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Pittsburgh Penguins
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 New York Islanders
M2 New Jersey Devils vs. M3 New York Rangers
Western Conference
C1 Minnesota Wild vs WC1 Seattle Kraken
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Sunday matches
Note: All times are Eastern. All games not on ESPN, TNT, or the NHL are available via NHL Power Play, which is included with your ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
Colorado Avalanche at Arizona Coyotes, 3 p.m. (NHLN)
Boston Bruins at Carolina Hurricanes, 5 p.m
Vancouver Canucks at Chicago Blackhawks, 6 p.m
Toronto Maple Leafs at Nashville Predators, 6 p.m. (NHLN)
St. Louis Blues at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m
Scoreboard on Saturday
Watch “In the Crease” on ESPN+ for the highlights from each game.
Boston Bruins 2, Tampa Bay Lightning 1
Philadelphia Flyers 3, Detroit Red Wings 0
Seattle Kraken 7, Nashville Predators 2
Calgary Flames 5, San Jose Sharks 3
Los Angeles Kings 4, Winnipeg Jets 1
New York Rangers 4 Florida Panthers 3
Minnesota Wild 3, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Buffalo Sabers 2, New York Islanders 0
Carolina Hurricanes 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 3
Vancouver Canucks 3, Dallas Stars 1
Montreal Canadiens 8, Columbus Blue Jackets 2
New Jersey Devils 5, Ottawa Senators 3
Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Washington Capitals 3
Vegas Golden Knights 4 Edmonton Oilers 3 (OT)
St. Louis Blues 6, Anaheim Ducks 3
Extended arrangement
Department of the Atlantic
points: 117
Regulation wins: 49
dividing line: A1
Number of matches left: 10
Point speed: 133
Next match: @ CAR (Sunday)
Qualifying Chances: 100%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 95
Regulation wins: 36
dividing line: A 2
Number of matches remaining: 10
Point speed: 108
Next match: @NSH (Sunday)
Qualifying Chances: >99%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 90
Regulation wins: 34
dividing line: A3
Number of matches left: 8
Point speed: 100
Next match: @ CAR (Tuesday)
Qualifying Chances: >99%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches left: 9
Point speed: 89
Next match: @OTT (Monday)
Qualifying Chances: 37%
Tragic number: 16
points: 76
Regulation wins: 27
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches left: 10
Point speed: 87
Next match: vs. MTL (Monday)
Qualifying Chances: 7%
Tragic number: 15
points: 75
Regulation wins: 28
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches left: 9
Point speed: 84
Next match: against FLA (Monday)
Qualifying Chances: 2%
Tragic number: 12
points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches remaining: 10
Point speed: 81
Next match: Opposite House (Tuesday)
Qualifying Chances:
Tragic number: 10
points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches left: 9
Point speed: 72
Next match: @BUF (Monday)
Qualifying Chances:
Tragic number: 1
Metropolitan department
points: 102
Regulation wins: 35
dividing line: m 1
Number of matches remaining: 11
Point speed: 118
Next match: vs. BOS (Sunday)
Qualifying Chances: 100%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 100
Regulation wins: 34
dividing line: m 2
Number of matches left: 9
Point speed: 112
Next match: @NYI (Monday)
Qualifying Chances: 100%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 96
Regulation wins: 33
dividing line: m 3
Number of matches left: 9
Point speed: 108
Next match: In front of the Central Bank of Jordan (Tuesday)
Qualifying Chances: >99%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 83
Regulation wins: 32
dividing line: wc1
Number of matches left: 8
Point speed: 92
Next match: vs. New Jersey (Monday)
Qualifying Chances: 74%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 82
Regulation wins: 27
dividing line: wc2
Number of matches left: 9
Point speed: 92
Next match: @DET (Tuesday)
Qualifying Chances: 78%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches remaining: 8
Point speed: 84
Next match: vs. NYI (Wednesday)
Qualifying Chances: 1%
Tragic number: 11
points: 68
Regulation wins: 25
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches remaining: 10
Point speed: 77
Next match: vs. MTL (Tuesday)
Qualifying Chances:
Tragic number: 7
points: 53
Regulation wins: 15
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches left: 10
Point speed: 60
Next match: @ NYR (Tuesday)
Qualifying Chances: 0%
Tragic number: H
Central Division
points: 93
Regulation wins: 30
dividing line: C1
Number of matches remaining: 9
Point speed: 105
Next match: vs. SEA (Monday)
Qualifying Chances: >99%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 92
Regulation wins: 32
dividing line: C2
Number of matches remaining: 9
Point speed: 103
Next match: @ CHI (Tuesday)
Qualifying Chances: >99%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 90
Regulation wins: 30
dividing line: C 3
Number of matches remaining: 11
Point speed: 104
Next match: @ ARI (Sunday)
Qualifying Chances: >99%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 85
Regulation wins: 31
dividing line: wc2
Number of matches left: 8
Point speed: 94
Next match: @ SJ (Tuesday)
Qualifying Chances: 74%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches left: 11
Point speed: 92
Next match: vs TOR (Sunday)
Qualifying Chances: 15%
Tragic number: 18
points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches left: 10
Point speed: 82
Next match: @LA (Sunday)
Qualifying Chances:
Tragic number: 8
points: 66
Regulation wins: 20
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches left: 9
Point speed: 74
Next match: Cole’s Opposite (Sunday)
Qualifying Chances: 0%
Tragic number: H
points: 54
Regulation wins: 16
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches remaining: 10
Point speed: 62
Next match: vs. VAN (Sunday)
Qualifying Chances: 0%
Tragic number: H
Pacific Division
points: 98
Regulation wins: 34
dividing line: P1
Number of matches remaining: 9
Point speed: 110
Next match: vs. EDM (Tuesday)
Qualifying Chances: >99%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 94
Regulation wins: 32
dividing line: P2
Number of matches remaining: 10
Point speed: 107
Next match: In front of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (Sunday)
Qualifying Chances: >99%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 91
Regulation wins: 37
dividing line: p. 3
Number of matches remaining: 9
Point speed: 102
Next match: @ARI (Monday)
Qualifying Chances: >99%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 88
Regulation wins: 31
dividing line: wc1
Number of matches remaining: 10
Point speed: 100
Next match: @min (monday)
Qualifying Chances: 99%
Tragic number: Unavailable
points: 81
Regulation wins: 27
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches remaining: 8
Point speed: 90
Next match: vs Los Angeles (Tuesday)
Qualifying Chances: 12%
Tragic number: 13
points: 71
Regulation wins: 21
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches remaining: 10
Point speed: 81
Next match: @ CHI (Sunday)
Qualifying Chances:
Tragic number: 7
points: 56
Regulation wins: 13
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches remaining: 9
Point speed: 63
Next match: vs. COL (Monday)
Qualifying Chances: 0%
Tragic number: H
points: 53
Regulation wins: 14
dividing line: Unavailable
Number of matches remaining: 9
Point speed: 60
Next match: vs. WPG (Tuesday)
Qualifying Chances: 0%
Tragic number: H
Y – the extracted partition; X – playoff berth; E – Eliminated from the play-off
The race for number 1
The NHL uses the draft lottery to determine its first-round standings, so a team that finishes last is not guaranteed a #1 pick. As of 2021, a team may move up a maximum of 10 points if they win the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the first-pick drawing. . Full details on the process can be found here. High on the draft board this summer, Conor Bedard has been hailed as a generational talent.
points: 53
Regulation wins: 14
points: 53
Regulation wins: 15
points: 54
Regulation wins: 16
points: 56
Regulation wins: 13
points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
points: 66
Regulation wins: 20
points: 68
Regulation wins: 25
points: 71
Regulation wins: 21
points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
points: 75
Regulation wins: 28
points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
points: 76
Regulation wins: 27
points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
points: 81
Regulation wins: 27
*Notes on circulating picks affecting the Top 16:
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