NHL playoff bracket update: Here come the Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes made a surprising run to the Eastern Conference final last spring, and with much of the roster returning, there was hope that they'd be a top contender again in 2019-20. Instead, it's been an up-and-down season for Rod Brind'Amour's crew, as they've battled a number of injuries to key players. But are they getting hot at the right time? The Canes' dominant 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday catapulted them into the second wild-card spot. Of the Canes' 15 remaining games, eight are against teams currently in playoff position, and they have one left against the New York Islanders, who are nipping at their heels.
Here's where things stand throughout the league heading into Monday's five-game slate, including Washington Capitals-Buffalo Sabres and Colorado Avalanche-Los Angeles Kings streaming live on ESPN+.
Note: Playoff chances are courtesy of Money Puck, while tragic numbers are per the NHL's Damian Echevarrieta.
Jump to:br/>Eastern standings | Western standingsbr/>Race for No. 1 pick | Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
Boston Bruins
Points: 98
>Regulation wins: 37
>Playoff position: Atlantic 1
>Games left: 13 (6 home, 7 away)
>Next game: March 10: @ PHI
>Playoff chances: 100%
>Tragic number: N/A
Tampa Bay Lightning
Points: 92
>Regulation wins: 35
>Playoff position: Atlantic 2
>Games left: 13 (7 home, 6 away)
>Next game: March 10: @ TOR
>Playoff chances: 100%
>Tragic number: N/A
Toronto Maple Leafs
Points: 79
>Regulation wins: 27
>Playoff position: Atlantic 3
>Games left: 13 (8 home, 5 away)
>Next game: March 10: vs. TB
>Playoff chances: 78.3%
>Tragic number: N/A
Washington Capitals
Points: 89
>Regulation wins: 31
>Playoff position: Metro 1
>Games left: 14 (8 home, 6 away)
>Next game: March 9: @ BUF
>Playoff chances: 99.9%
>Tragic number: N/A
Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 89
>Regulation wins: 31
>Playoff position: Metro 2
>Games left: 14 (7 home, 7 away)
>Next game: March 10: vs. BOS
>Playoff chances: 100%
>Tragic number: N/A
Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 84
>Regulation wins: 28
>Playoff position: Metro 3
>Games left: 14 (6 home, 8 away)
>Next game: March 10: @ NJ
>Playoff chances: 90.7%
>Tragic number: N/A
Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 81
>Regulation wins: 25
>Playoff position: Wild card 1
>Games left: 12 (5 home, 7 away)
>Next game: March 12: vs. PIT
>Playoff chances: 51.7%
>Tragic number: N/A
Carolina Hurricanes
Points: 79
>Regulation wins: 26
>Playoff position: Wild card 2
>Games left: 15 (7 home, 8 away)
>Next game: March 10: @ DET
>Playoff chances: 82.6%
>Tragic number: N/A
New York Islanders
Points: 79
>Regulation wins: 24
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 15 (6 home, 9 away)
>Next game: March 10: @ VAN
>Playoff chances: 47.0%
>Tragic number: 31
New York Rangers
Points: 76
>Regulation wins: 30
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 14 (5 home, 9 away)
>Next game: March 10: @ DAL
>Playoff chances: 14.3%
>Tragic number: 26
Florida Panthers
Points: 76
>Regulation wins: 29
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 14 (6 home, 8 away)
>Next game: March 9: @ STL
>Playoff chances: 33.8%
>Tragic number: 26
Montreal Canadiens
Points: 71
>Regulation wins: 19
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 12 (5 home, 7 away)
>Next game: March 10: vs. NSH
>Playoff chances: 1.6%
>Tragic number: 17
New Jersey Devils
Points: 68
>Regulation wins: 22
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 14 (8 home, 6 away)
>Next game: March 10: vs. PIT
>Playoff chances: 0.1%
>Tragic number: 18
Buffalo Sabres
Points: 66
>Regulation wins: 22
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 14 (7 home, 7 away)
>Next game: March 9: vs. WSH
>Playoff chances: 0%
>Tragic number: 16
Ottawa Senators
Points: 62
>Regulation wins: 18
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 13 (4 home, 9 away)
>Next game: March 10: @ ANA
>Playoff chances: 0%
>Tragic number: 10
Detroit Red Wings
Points: 39
>Regulation wins: 13
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 12 (5 home, 7 away)
>Next game: March 8: vs. TB
>Playoff chances: 0%
>Tragic number: Eliminated
Western Conference
St. Louis Blues
Points: 92
>Regulation wins: 32
>Playoff position: Central 1
>Games left: 13 (7 home, 6 away)
>Next game: March 9: vs. FLA
>Playoff chances: 100%
>Tragic number: N/A
Colorado Avalanche
Points: 90
>Regulation wins: 37
>Playoff position: Central 2
>Games left: 14 (9 home, 5 away)
>Next game: March 9: @ LA
>Playoff chances: 100%
>Tragic number: N/A
Dallas Stars
Points: 82
>Regulation wins: 26
>Playoff position: Central 3
>Games left: 14 (8 home, 6 away)
>Next game: March 10: vs. NYR
>Playoff chances: 97.2%
>Tragic number: N/A
Vegas Golden Knights
Points: 84
>Regulation wins: 30
>Playoff position: Pacific 1
>Games left: 12 (4 home, 8 away)
>Next game: March 9: @ EDM
>Playoff chances: 98.8%
>Tragic number: N/A
Edmonton Oilers
Points: 82
>Regulation wins: 31
>Playoff position: Pacific 2
>Games left: 13 (9 home, 4 away)
>Next game: March 9: vs. VGS
>Playoff chances: 96.2%
>Tragic number: N/A
Calgary Flames
Points: 79
>Regulation wins: 25
>Playoff position: Pacific 3
>Games left: 12 (8 home, 4 away)
>Next game: March 12: vs. NYI
>Playoff chances: 80.2%
>Tragic number: N/A
Minnesota Wild
Points: 77
>Regulation wins: 30
>Playoff position: Wild card 1
>Games left: 13 (6 home, 7 away)
>Next game: March 12: vs. VGS
>Playoff chances: 75.4%
>Tragic number: N/A
Vancouver Canucks
Points: 76
>Regulation wins: 27
>Playoff position: Wild card 2
>Games left: 14 (7 home, 7 away)
>Next game: March 10: vs. NYI
>Playoff chances: 47.6%
>Tragic number: N/A
Nashville Predators
Points: 76
>Regulation wins: 27
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 14 (6 home, 8 away)
>Next game: March 10: @ MTL
>Playoff chances: 39.4%
>Tragic number: 29
Winnipeg Jets
Points: 76
>Regulation wins: 28
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 13 (5 home, 8 away)
>Next game: March 9: vs. ARI
>Playoff chances: 30.2%
>Tragic number: 27
Arizona Coyotes
Points: 74
>Regulation wins: 26
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 13 (8 home, 5 away)
>Next game: March 9: @ WPG
strong>Playoff chances: 31.3%
>Tragic number: 25
Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 70
>Regulation wins: 22
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 13 (8 home, 5 away)
>Next game: March 11: vs. SJ
>Playoff chances: 3.6%
>Tragic number: 21
Anaheim Ducks
Points: 65
>Regulation wins: 19
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 13 (7 home, 6 away)
>Next game: March 10: vs. OTT
>Playoff chances: 0%
>Tragic number: 16
San Jose Sharks
Points: 63
>Regulation wins: 22
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 13 (5 home, 8 away)
>Next game: March 11: @ CHI
>Playoff chances: 0%
>Tragic number: 14
Los Angeles Kings
Points: 60
>Regulation wins: 19
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 14 (9 home, 5 away)
>Next game: March 9: vs. COL
>Playoff chances: 0%
>Tragic number: 13
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. However, whoever does win the draft lottery has a chance to select Alexis Lafreniere.
Find out more about Lafreniere here, read up on the rest of the top draft prospects here, and check out all of our 2020 NHL draft coverage.
Detroit Red Wings
Points: 39
>Regulation wins: 13
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 18.5%
Los Angeles Kings
Points: 60
>Regulation wins: 19
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 13.5%
Ottawa Senators
Points: 62
>Regulation wins: 18
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 11.5%
San Jose Sharks
Note: Pick belongs to Ottawa.
Points: 63
>Regulation wins: 22
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 9.5%
Anaheim Ducks
Points: 65
>Regulation wins: 19
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 8.5%
Buffalo Sabres
Points: 66
>Regulation wins: 22
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 7.5%
New Jersey Devils
Points: 68
>Regulation wins: 22
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 6.5%
Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 70
>Regulation wins: 22
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 6%
Montreal Canadiens
Points: 71
>Regulation wins: 19
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 5%
Arizona Coyotes
Points: 74
>Regulation wins: 26
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 3.5%
Winnipeg Jets
Points: 76
>Regulation wins: 28
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 3%
Nashville Predators
Points: 76
>Regulation wins: 27
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 2.5%
Florida Panthers
Points: 76
>Regulation wins: 29
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 2%
New York Rangers
Points: 76
>Regulation wins: 30
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 1.5%
New York Islanders
Note: Pick belongs to Ottawa (top-3 protected).
Points: 79
>Regulation wins: 24
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 1%
Current playoff matchups
(A1) Bruins vs. (WC2) Hurricanes
>(A2) Lightning vs. (A3) Maple Leafs
>(M1) Capitals vs. (WC1) Blue Jackets
>(M2) Flyers vs. (M3) Penguins
>(P1) Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Wild
>(C2) Avalanche vs. (C3) Stars
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