NHL playoff watch: Key matchups on the schedule Tuesday (2024)

Following Monday's trade deadline, the NHL's top contenders have all loaded up for the final rush to the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. While the eight teams in the Eastern Conference field are largely decided (with some shuffling forthcoming for seeding), the West remains open for a few slots. Tuesday's slate may help to provide some clarity.

The two key matchups we'll be monitoring most closely are the Edmonton Oilers-Dallas Stars game and the Nashville Predators-Los Angeles Kings contest. Three of those four are currently in playoff position, with the Stars just one point back of the Vegas Golden Knights for the second wild-card spot; the Knights are poised to take on the Winnipeg Jets tonight, as they hope to pull out of what has been a rough stretch of late.

As we enter the post-deadline stretch of the 2021-22 regular season, it's time to check in on all the playoff races -- along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2022 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via FiveThirtyEight. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta of the NHL.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today's games
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
M2 New York Rangers vs. M3 Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
C2 Minnesota Wild vs. C3 Nashville Predators
P1 Calgary Flames vs. WC1 St. Louis Blues
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Today's games

Note: All times Eastern. All out-of-market games available on ESPN+

New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia Flyers at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m.
Ottawa Senators at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at Dallas Stars, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN+ exclusive)
San Jose Sharks at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.
Seattle Kraken at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN+ exclusive)

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Florida Panthers

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 20
Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 21
Next game: @ CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 20
Next game: vs. NJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Boston Bruins

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 19
Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 20
Next game: vs. PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 17

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19
Next game: vs. PIT (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 10

Ottawa Senators

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 20
Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 9

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19
Next game: vs. FLA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 2

Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 20
Next game: vs. TB (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 19
Next game: @ NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 19
Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 18
Next game: vs. STL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99%
Tragic number: N/A

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19
Next game: @ PIT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 25

New York Islanders

Points: 61
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 22
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 25

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 20
Next game: @ DET (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 11

New Jersey Devils

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 20
Next game: vs. NYR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 9

Central Division

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 95
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 19
Next game: vs. VAN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 21
Next game: vs. VAN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 98%
Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 19
Next game: @ LA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 96%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 21
Next game: @ WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 97%
Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 21
Next game: vs. EDM (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 72%
Tragic number: 41

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19
Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 12%
Tragic number: 34

Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 53
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19
Next game: @ ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 19

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 20
Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 12

Pacific Division

Calgary Flames

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 20
Next game: vs. SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 18
Next game: vs. NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 81%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 19
Next game: @ DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 84%
Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 17
Next game: @ WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 50%
Tragic number: N/A

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18
Next game: @ COL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 9%
Tragic number: 32

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Next game: vs. CHI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 27

San Jose Sharks

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 20
Next game: @ CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 30

Seattle Kraken

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19
Next game: @ ARI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 10

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order at the top of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team may 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.

1. Montreal Canadiens

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 12

2. Arizona Coyotes

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 15

3. Seattle Kraken

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 16

4. New Jersey Devils

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 15

5. Ottawa Senators

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 18

6. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 16

7. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 17

8. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 53
Regulation wins: 14

9. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 14

10. New York Islanders

Points: 61
Regulation wins: 24

11. San Jose Sharks

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 18

12. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 18

13. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 22

14. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 24

15. Winnipeg Jets

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 25

16. Dallas Stars

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 22