NHL playoff watch: Capitals-Red Wings is Tuesday's most critical game (2024)

ESPN staffApr 9, 2024, 07:00 AM ET

All 16 teams in the NHL's Eastern Conference will have completed their 82-game seasons by the end of April 17. At that time -- and perhaps not a moment earlier -- we will officially know the identities of the eight Eastern clubs moving on to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Eight of Tuesday's 13 games include Eastern teams, and no game is more vital to the race for the second wild-card spot than Washington Capitals-Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).

Entering the game, the Red Wings are in possession of the second wild card, with 84 points and 27 regulation wins through 77 games. The Capitals are right behind, with 83 points and 28 regulation wins through 77 games. The stakes for these two clubs are obvious: Getting two points -- and better yet, another regulation win -- is the goal, and denying the opponent those same things is critical as well.

But what about the other teams in the mix for that spot?

The Pittsburgh Penguins are idle after losing in overtime to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday; they have 84 points and 31 regulation wins through 78 games.
The Philadelphia Flyers visit the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+), and they are at 83 points and 28 regulation wins through 78 games.
In the mathematically still alive section, we have the New Jersey Devils (79 points, 32 RW), who host the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+); and the Buffalo Sabres (79 points, 31 RW), who are visiting the Dallas Stars (8 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+).

Ahead of all of these teams is the Metropolitan Division's third seed, the New York Islanders (85 points, 26 RW), who skate against the New York Rangers on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+).

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
Clinching scenarios
Tuesday's schedule
Monday's scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 New York Rangers vs. WC2 Detroit Red Wings
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New York Islanders

Western Conference

C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Clinching scenarios

1. The Nashville Predators will clinch a playoff berth if they win, lose in overtime or lose in the shootout against the Winnipeg Jets.

2. The Los Angeles Kings will clinch a playoff berth if they win against the Anaheim Ducks in any fashion.

3. The New York Rangers will clinch the Metropolitan Division if they defeat the New York Islanders in any fashion AND the Carolina Hurricanes lose to the Boston Bruins in regulation.

4. The Boston Bruins will clinch the Atlantic Division if they beat the Hurricanes in any fashion and BOTH of these outcomes transpire:

The Toronto Maple Leafs lose to the New Jersey Devils in any fashion
The Florida Panthers lose to the Ottawa Senators in regulation

5. The Dallas Stars will clinch the Central Division if they win against the Buffalo Sabres in any fashion and BOTH of these things take place:

The Colorado Avalanche lose to the Minnesota Wild in regulation
The Jets lose to the Predators in regulation

Tuesday'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).

Carolina Hurricanes at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia Flyers at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Washington Capitals at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Columbus Blue Jackets at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
Ottawa Senators at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
New York Rangers at New York Islanders, 7 p.m.
Winnipeg Jets at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
Arizona Coyotes at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.
Calgary Flames at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.

Monday's scoreboard

Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 2 (OT)
Vancouver Canucks 4, Vegas Golden Knights 3

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

x - Boston Bruins

Points: 107
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Florida Panthers

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 107
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 105
Next game: @ NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 99
Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 60.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 4

e - Ottawa Senators

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 77
Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Montreal Canadiens

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 75
Next game: vs. PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Metropolitan Division

x - New York Rangers

Points: 110
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 116
Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 91
Next game: vs. NYR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 67.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 88
Next game: vs. DET (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 31.0%
Tragic number: 9

Washington Capitals

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ DET (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 22.2%
Tragic number: 9

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 87
Next game: @ MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 18.9%
Tragic number: 7

New Jersey Devils

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 4

e - Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 67
Next game: @ TB (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

x - Colorado Avalanche

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 107
Next game: vs. MIN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Winnipeg Jets

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 107
Next game: @ NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 99
Next game: vs. WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 92
Next game: vs. CHI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0.5%
Tragic number: 3

Minnesota Wild

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ COL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 1

e - Arizona Coyotes

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 76
Next game: @ SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 54
Next game: @ STL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

x - Vancouver Canucks

Points: 104
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. ARI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Edmonton Oilers

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 107
Next game: vs. VGK (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 99
Next game: @ ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 98
Next game: @ EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. ARI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Calgary Flames

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 79
Next game: @ SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 55
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 58
Next game: vs. LA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 47
Next game: vs. CGY (Tuesday)
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.

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17

3. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 55
Regulation wins: 19

4. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20

5. Montreal Canadiens

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 19

6. Arizona Coyotes

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27

7. Ottawa Senators

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 24

8. Calgary Flames

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29

9. Seattle Kraken

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26

10. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31

11. New Jersey Devils

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32

12. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28

13. Washington Capitals