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Tim Kavanagh, ESPN.com
While six teams remain in viable contention for the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, there is some excitement happening at the other end of the playoff-bound spectrum.
Specifically, can the Carolina Hurricanes go on enough of a run in their final 15 games to earn the No. 1 spot in the Metro ahead of the New York Rangers — or even the top position in the conference, beyond the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins?
The Canes made trades with divisional rivals in acquiring winger Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov, and the early returns have been encouraging: Kuznetsov had a goal and Guentzel had an assist in Carolina’s 4-0 trouncing of the Panthers on Thursday. Regulation wins against teams they are chasing are quite helpful in earning that No. 1 position.
Unfortunately when considering that notion, the Canes have two games left against the Bruins this season (Apr. 4 in Raleigh, Apr. 9 in Boston), but none against New York or Florida. But they do have five games left against clubs that are close to the basement, beginning with Sunday’s clash with the Ottawa Senators (6 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). They’ll also skate against the Montreal Canadiens (March 30), Columbus Blue Jackets twice (Apr. 7 and 16) and Chicago Blackhawks once (Apr. 14).
As of Sunday, Carolina is four points and two regulation wins behind the Rangers in the Metro; the Canes are seven points behind the Bruins (but three ahead in regulation wins), and six points and three regulation wins behind the Panthers.
While that seems like a lot of ground to make up, this is a team that just added two top-six difference-makers, and recently welcomed No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen back to the ice as well. If there’s a team that could pull off such a heater to close out the season, this sure looks like it.
As we traverse the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check in on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2024 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Last night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Detroit Red Wings
A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 New York Rangers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers
Western Conference
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Sunday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
New York Islanders at New York Rangers, 1 p.m. (TNT)
New Jersey Devils at Vegas Golden Knights, 3:30 p.m. (TNT)
Carolina Hurricanes at Ottawa Senators, 6 p.m.
Detroit Red Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins, 6 p.m.
Winnipeg Jets at Columbus Blue Jackets, 6 p.m.
San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks, 6 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks at St. Louis Blues, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s scoreboard
Detroit Red Wings 4, Buffalo Sabres 1
Ottawa Senators 4, New York Islanders 3 (OT)
New York Rangers 7, Pittsburgh Penguins 4
Arizona Coyotes 4, New Jersey Devils 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Florida Panthers 3
Boston Bruins 6, Philadelphia Flyers 5
Carolina Hurricanes 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 4 (SO)
Columbus Blue Jackets 4, San Jose Sharks 2
Calgary Flames 5, Montreal Canadiens 2
St. Louis Blues 3, Minnesota Wild 2 (SO)
Dallas Stars 4, Los Angeles Kings 1
Colorado Avalanche 3, Edmonton Oilers 2 (OT)
Washington Capitals 2, Vancouver Canucks 1
Nashville Predators 4, Seattle Kraken 1
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 16
Points pace: 106
Next game: @ PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 15
Points pace: 96
Next game: @ VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 92.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 15
Points pace: 91
Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 12.1%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ SEA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 13.2%
Tragic number: 23
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 75
Next game: @ EDM (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 17
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 76
Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 20
Metropolitan Division
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 15
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. NYI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 15
Points pace: 108
Next game: @ OTT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 14
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 65.2%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 91
Next game: @ CGY (Monday)
Playoff chances: 37.8%
Tragic number: 31
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 91
Next game: @ NYR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 61.1%
Tragic number: 31
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ VGK (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 14%
Tragic number: 24
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. DET (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 4%
Tragic number: 25
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 70
Next game: vs. WPG (Sunday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 13
Central Division
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ STL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 108
Next game: vs. ARI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 16
Points pace: 111
Next game: @ CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 99
Next game: vs. SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 95%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 89
Next game: @ ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 25.8%
Tragic number: 26
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. ANA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 2.6%
Tragic number: 26
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 74
Next game: @ DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 12
Points: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 50
Next game: vs. SJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 111
Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 17
Points pace: 106
Next game: vs. MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 15
Points pace: 97
Next game: vs. CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 85.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 16
Points pace: 96
Next game: vs. NJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 84.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 87
Next game: vs. WSH (Monday)
Playoff chances: 2.8%
Tragic number: 24
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 85
Next game: vs. BUF (Monday)
Playoff chances: 4.1%
Tragic number: 25
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 60
Next game: @ STL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 2
Points: 39
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 49
Next game: @ CHI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
P — Clinched Presidents’ Trophy; Y — Clinched division; X — Clinched playoff berth; E — Eliminated from playoff contention
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston University.
Points: 39
Regulation wins: 12
Points: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 27
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 26
* The Penguins’ first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.