NHL playoff watch: Vegas-Vancouver a first-round preview? (2024)

ESPN staffApr 8, 2024, 07:00 AM ET

Rare is the night in the NHL when every team in action is in playoff position, or at least close to it. Monday is such a night -- though it helps that there are only two games.

The early game pits the Pittsburgh Penguins (one point out of the second wild card) against the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). For the Penguins, this is a chance to help crystallize their positioning in the chaotic race for the second wild card; for the Leafs, a win would bolster their grip on the Atlantic Division's No. 3 slot.

A more tantalizing matchup looms in the late game as the Vegas Golden Knights visit the Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). The hosts have surprisingly been at (or near) the top of the Pacific Division for much of the season, and that trend holds as of Monday. Based on the current standings, the Canucks will take on the West's first wild-card team. As of Monday, that is the Nashville Predators, though the Knights are two points back with two games in hand.

This fourth matchup will provide another clue as to how a potential playoff series might play out. The Knights have won two of three against the Canucks, including a 6-3 Vegas victory last Tuesday.

So how likely is this matchup in Round 1? The Canucks have a 63.2% chance to win the Pacific, according to Stathletes. The Knights have a 22.9% chance of getting the West's first wild card, a 28.9% chance at the second wild card, and a 47.1% chance of finishing third in the Pacific. The Los Angeles Kings are one point and three regulation wins ahead of Vegas in that position, though the Knights have a game in hand on them.

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
Monday's schedule
Sunday'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

Monday'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).

Pittsburgh Penguins at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.

Sunday's scoreboard

Detroit Red Wings 3, Buffalo Sabres 1
Minnesota Wild 4, Chicago Blackhawks 0
Carolina Hurricanes 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 0
Ottawa Senators 3, Washington Capitals 2 (OT)
Arizona Coyotes 5, San Jose Sharks 2
Nashville Predators 3, New Jersey Devils 2 (SO)
New York Rangers 5, Montreal Canadiens 2
St. Louis Blues 6, Anaheim Ducks 5 (SO)
Dallas Stars 7, Colorado Avalanche 4

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: 97
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. PIT (Monday)
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: 37.9%
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: 2%
Tragic number: 3

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: 68%
Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ TOR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 37.3%
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: 31.9%
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: 22.2%
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: 0.7%
Tragic number: 3

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: 99.8%
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: 0.3%
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: 102
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. VGK (Monday)
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: 6
Points pace: 99
Next game: @ VAN (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
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