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SPORTS

NHL playoff standings: Big stakes for Flyers, Sabres Friday

ByESPN staff ESPN logo

Friday, April 5, 2024

As the chaotic final stretch of the Eastern Conference wild-card race continues, Friday's schedule includes four teams that could occupy the final spot when the Eastern schedule concludes April 17.

The Washington Capitals, fresh off a loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins, are skating against the Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). Don't feel bad for the Caps; the Canes are also on the second half of a back-to-back as they lost to the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.

Elsewhere, the Detroit Red Wings are hosting the New York Rangers (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). Given the way the winds are currently blowing, the Rangers will be the team taking on whichever club winds up in the final wild-card slot.

Finally, the Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers will take the ice (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+) in a matchup that will be devastating for the losing team's playoff chances.

Heading into Friday night's action, the Flyers (83 points, 28 regulation wins) hold the No. 3 spot in the Metro Division, the idle New York Islanders (83, 25) have the second wild card, while the Caps (82, 28), Red Wings (82, 26) and Sabres (77, 30) are chasing.

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

Clinching scenarios

Friday's schedule

Thursday'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 New York Islanders

M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers

Western Conference

C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Los Angeles Kings

C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets

P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators

P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights

Clinching scenarios

The idle Toronto Maple Leafs willclinch a playoff berth if any of the following occurs on Friday night:

The Washington Capitals lose to the Carolina Hurricanes in any fashion AND the Detroit Red Wings lose to the New York Rangers in regulation

The Philadelphia Flyers lose to the Buffalo Sabres in any fashion AND the Capitals lose to the Hurricanes in regulation

The Flyers lose to the Sabres in any fashion AND the Red Wings lose to the Rangers in regulation

The Capitals, Red Wings and Flyers ALL lose in any fashion

The idle Tampa Bay Lightning willclinch a playoff berth if the Capitals, Red Wings and Flyers all lose in regulation.

Friday'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).

Philadelphia Flyers at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.

New York Rangers at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.

Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.

Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m.

Vegas Golden Knights at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m.

Seattle Kraken at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.

Thursday's scoreboard

Tampa Bay Lightning 7, Montreal Canadiens 4

Florida Panthers 6, Ottawa Senators 0

Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Washington Capitals 1

Boston Bruins 4, Carolina Hurricanes 1

New York Islanders 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 2

Nashville Predators 6, St. Louis Blues 3

Colorado Avalanche 5, Minnesota Wild 2

Winnipeg Jets 5, Calgary Flames 2

Los Angeles Kings 2, San Jose Sharks 1

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

x - Boston Bruins

Points: 105

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: A1

Games left: 5

Points pace: 112

Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Florida Panthers

Points: 101

Regulation wins: 39

Playoff position: A2

Games left: 5

Points pace: 108

Next game: @ BOS (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 95

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: A3

Games left: 7

Points pace: 104

Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 93

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 6

Points pace: 100

Next game: @ PIT (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 82

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 90

Next game: vs. NYR (Friday)

Playoff chances: 48.5%

Tragic number: 13

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 77

Regulation wins: 30

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 6

Points pace: 83

Next game: vs. PHI (Friday)

Playoff chances: 0.7%

Tragic number: 6

Ottawa Senators

Points: 70

Regulation wins: 24

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 77

Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 1

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 70

Regulation wins: 19

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 77

Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 1

Metropolitan Division

x - New York Rangers

Points: 106

Regulation wins: 40

Playoff position: M1

Games left: 6

Points pace: 114

Next game: @ DET (Friday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 101

Regulation wins: 39

Playoff position: M2

Games left: 6

Points pace: 109

Next game: vs. WSH (Friday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 83

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: M3

Games left: 6

Points pace: 90

Next game: @ BUF (Friday)

Playoff chances: 53.5%

Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 83

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 6

Points pace: 90

Next game: vs. NSH (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 46.5%

Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 82

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 90

Next game: @ CAR (Friday)

Playoff chances: 36.1%

Tragic number: 13

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 81

Regulation wins: 30

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 6

Points pace: 87

Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 14.5%

Tragic number: 10

New Jersey Devils

Points: 76

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 6

Points pace: 82

Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 0.3%

Tragic number: 5

e - Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 62

Regulation wins: 19

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 6

Points pace: 67

Next game: vs. PHI (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Central Division

x - Dallas Stars

Points: 105

Regulation wins: 37

Playoff position: C1

Games left: 6

Points pace: 113

Next game: @ CHI (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Colorado Avalanche

Points: 102

Regulation wins: 40

Playoff position: C2

Games left: 6

Points pace: 110

Next game: @ EDM (Friday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Winnipeg Jets

Points: 98

Regulation wins: 41

Playoff position: C3

Games left: 6

Points pace: 106

Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 92

Regulation wins: 36

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 6

Points pace: 99

Next game: @ NYI (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.8%

Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 84

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 6

Points pace: 91

Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 0.6%

Tragic number: 5

Minnesota Wild

Points: 81

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 89

Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 0.3%

Tragic number: 4

e - Arizona Coyotes

Points: 67

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 73

Next game: vs. VGK (Friday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49

Regulation wins: 16

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 54

Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

x - Vancouver Canucks

Points: 102

Regulation wins: 41

Playoff position: P1

Games left: 6

Points pace: 110

Next game: @ LA (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 95

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: P2

Games left: 8

Points pace: 105

Next game: vs. COL (Friday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 92

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: P3

Games left: 7

Points pace: 101

Next game: @ ARI (Friday)

Playoff chances: 99.8%

Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 91

Regulation wins: 34

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 6

Points pace: 98

Next game: vs. VAN (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.4%

Tragic number: N/A

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 75

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 82

Next game: @ ANA (Friday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - Calgary Flames

Points: 73

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 80

Next game: vs. EDM (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 54

Regulation wins: 19

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 6

Points pace: 58

Next game: vs. SEA (Friday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 42

Regulation wins: 13

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 46

Next game: vs. STL (Saturday)

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.