Based on how the Buffalo Sabres closed out the 2022-23 season, and the optimistic feelings around a team with so many impressive young players, the club was expected to be in the mix for a playoff spot this season.

Due to a number of factors, that expectation has dwindled significantly. And with just over two weeks left in the 2023-24 season, every game takes on added importance if the Sabres want to keep those hopes alive. They won't have to run the table, but there isn't much wiggle room left for regulation losses.

Heading into Wednesday night's showdown against the Ottawa Senators (7 p.m., NHL Power Play on ESPN+), the Sabres are eight points behind the Washington Capitals for the final wild-card spot in the East. If there is some hopeful news here, it is the Sabres' regulation wins total (28), which is equal to the Caps' and ahead of most other wild-card contenders.

So, about that whole "running the table" idea: After the Senators game, the Sabres have nine games left. Seven of those contests are against teams currently in playoff spots; the other two are against fellow wild-card bubble clubs, the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings.

In other words, the road back to the postseason will be a difficult one -- though not impossible. And having those two potential four-point swing games against Washington will help (provided Buffalo wins, of course).

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
Wednesday's schedule
Tuesday'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 Washington Capitals
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers

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

Wednesday'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).

Ottawa Senators at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:30 (TNT)

Tuesday's scoreboard

Boston Bruins 4, Florida Panthers 3
New York Rangers 6, Philadelphia Flyers 5 (OT)
Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Carolina Hurricanes 1
Washington Capitals 4, Detroit Red Wings 3 (OT)
New Jersey Devils 6, Toronto Maple Leafs 3
Nashville Predators 5, Vegas Golden Knights 4 (OT)
Edmonton Oilers 4, Winnipeg Jets 3 (OT)
Chicago Blackhawks 3, Calgary Flames 1
Montreal Canadiens 2, Colorado Avalanche 1
Arizona Coyotes 6, Columbus Blue Jackets 2
Seattle Kraken 4, Anaheim Ducks 0
Dallas Stars 6, San Jose Sharks 3

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 111
Next game: @ TB (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 115
Next game: vs. NYI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 11
Points pace: 103
Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 98
Next game: vs. BOS (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 98.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 90
Next game: @ CAR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 25.0%
Tragic number: 18

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. OTT (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 1.9%
Tragic number: 12

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 76
Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 7

Ottawa Senators

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 75
Next game: @ BUF (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 7

Metropolitan Division

x - New York Rangers

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 114
Next game: @ COL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. DET (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 9
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 85.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 94
Next game: @ TOR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 66.7%
Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 85
Next game: @ BUF (Friday)
Playoff chances: 8.7%
Tragic number: 13

New York Islanders

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 87
Next game: @ FLA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 13.3%
Tragic number: 16

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. CBJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0.5%
Tragic number: 13

e - Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 66
Next game: @ PIT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

Dallas Stars

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 111
Next game: @ VAN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 111
Next game: vs. NYR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 10
Points pace: 107
Next game: vs. VGK (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 103
Next game: @ ARI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 91
Next game: vs. CGY (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 4.3%
Tragic number: 14

Minnesota Wild

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 1.7%
Tragic number: 13

e - Arizona Coyotes

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 74
Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 54
Next game: @ OTT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 112
Next game: vs. DAL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 11
Points pace: 101
Next game: @ EDM (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 86
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 98
Next game: @ WPG (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 95.0%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ STL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 7

Seattle Kraken

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 7

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 59
Next game: @ SEA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 40
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 46
Next game: @ MIN (Thursday)
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: 40
Regulation wins: 12

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 15

3. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18

4. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 18

5. Ottawa Senators

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 21

6. Arizona Coyotes

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 24

7. Montreal Canadiens

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 17

8. Seattle Kraken

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23

9. Calgary Flames

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 28

10. Pittsburgh Penguins*

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 26

11. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 28

12. New York Islanders

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 22

13. New Jersey Devils

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 31

14. Minnesota Wild

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27

15. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 25

16. St. Louis Blues

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 28

* The Penguins' first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.