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NHL playoff watch: The key games to watch Sunday for the wild-card races

Written by 
Published in Hockey
Sunday, 06 April 2025 06:14

A 13-game schedule on Saturday finished with some big results:

It's a smaller batch of games on Sunday, but there are playoff implications in most.

For those concerned with draft lottery positioning, the Boston Bruins take on the Buffalo Sabres (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+) and the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the Chicago Blackhawks (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+).

With the regular season ending April 17, we'll help you track it all with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we'll provide details on all the playoff races, along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

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

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 Minnesota Wild
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 St. Louis Blues
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers


Sunday's games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

Washington Capitals at New York Islanders, 12:30 p.m. (TNT)
Dallas Stars at Minnesota Wild, 3 p.m. (TNT)
Columbus Blue Jackets at Ottawa Senators, 5 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Detroit Red Wings, 5:30 p.m. (TNT)
Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres, 6 p.m.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Chicago Blackhawks, 6 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at Nashville Predators, 7 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.


Saturday's scoreboard

New Jersey Devils 4, New York Rangers 0
Ottawa Senators 3, Florida Panthers 0
Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Dallas Stars 3
Vancouver Canucks 6, Anaheim Ducks 2
Los Angeles Kings 3, Edmonton Oilers 0
Boston Bruins 5, Carolina Hurricanes 1
Buffalo Sabres 3, Tampa Bay Lightning 2 (SO)
Toronto Maple Leafs 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 0
Montreal Canadiens 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2
St. Louis Blues 5, Colorado Avalanche 4
Utah Hockey Club 4, Winnipeg Jets 1
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Calgary Flames 2 (OT)
Seattle Kraken 5, San Jose Sharks 1


Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

x - Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 105.7
Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 101.4
Next game: @ NYR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 99.3
Next game: @ DET (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Ottawa Senators

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 95.0
Next game: vs. CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 89.6
Next game: @ NSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 56.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 84.2
Next game: vs. FLA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 6.3%
Tragic number: 9

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 78.7
Next game: vs. BOS (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 4

e - Boston Bruins

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 75.6
Next game: @ BUF (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E


Metro Division

x - Washington Capitals

Points: 107
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 115.5
Next game: @ NYI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 103.6
Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 94.8
Next game: vs. BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.7%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 85.2
Next game: vs. TB (Monday)
Playoff chances: 24.4%
Tragic number: 9

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 84.2
Next game: @ OTT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 10.2%
Tragic number: 9

New York Islanders

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 83.1
Next game: vs. WSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 3.2%
Tragic number: 8

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 78.8
Next game: @ CHI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 2

e - Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 75.6
Next game: @ NYR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E


Central Division

x - Winnipeg Jets

Points: 108
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 115.0
Next game: vs. STL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Dallas Stars

Points: 104
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 112.2
Next game: @ MIN (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Colorado Avalanche

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 4
Points pace: 103.0
Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 97.8
Next game: @ ANA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 97.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 94.8
Next game: vs. DAL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 86.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Utah Hockey Club

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 87.3
Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.2%
Tragic number: 4

e - Nashville Predators

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 66.9
Next game: vs. MTL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 56.1
Next game: vs. PIT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E


Pacific Division

x - Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 107.9
Next game: @ VAN (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Los Angeles Kings

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 104.7
Next game: vs. SEA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 100.3
Next game: @ ANA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 91.7
Next game: @ SJ (Monday)
Playoff chances: 14.7%
Tragic number: 10

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 89.6
Next game: vs. VGK (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 1.1%
Tragic number: 7

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 79.8
Next game: vs. EDM (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 76.7
Next game: @ LA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 54.0
Next game: vs. CGY (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Note: An "x" means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An "e" means that the team has been 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 No. 1 pick. Full details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL's Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18

3. Nashville Predators

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23

4. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20

5. Boston Bruins

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24

6. Seattle Kraken

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 27

7. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 26

8. Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 21

9. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23

10. New York Islanders

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26

11. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24

12. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27

13. New York Rangers

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32

14. Utah Hockey Club

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27

15. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27

16. Calgary Flames

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 27

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