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SPORTS

NHL playoff standings: Rangers-Bruins the top game of the night

ByTim Kavanagh ESPN logo

Thursday, March 21, 2024

As with most Thursdays on the NHL schedule, the lineup of matchups is pretty stellar. It includes an interconference showdown of two of the hottest teams in the league as the Nashville Predators visit the Florida Panthers (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu). There is also a game that will have big ramifications on the Eastern Conference wild-card race as the New York Islanders take on the Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+).

But the highest-profile matchup on the docket is the New York Rangers' visit to TD Garden to play the Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). The two teams currently lead their respective divisions, and the Bruins hold the top spot in the entire league.

The Rangers have won both games in the season series to this point, 7-4 at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 25 and 2-1 in OT in Boston on Dec. 16. We'll see a more playoff-ready version of each team in this contest, but what are the chances this is the matchup in the Eastern Conference finals?

Using Stathletes projections, the East bracket will line up as follows: A1 Bruins vs. WC2 Washington Capitals; A2 Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs; M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning; M2 Rangers vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers.

The Bruins lost their one game against the Caps this season, with two more upcoming; but let's assume they can get by Alex Ovechkin & Co. The Rangers have fared better against the Flyers, winning both games so far with two left on the slate.

Looking ahead to Round 2, the Bruins swept the Maple Leafs this season and have two wins in two tries against Florida (with two more remaining). As for the Rangers, they've gone 2-1 against both the Canes (pre-Evgeny Kuznetsov and Jake Guentzel) and Lightning.

Matchups matter en route to the Stanley Cup Final, but there is certainly a strong chance that Thursday's showdown will be repeated as a best-of-7 in May.

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

Today's schedule

Last night's scores

Expanded standings

Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Detroit Red Wings

A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs

M1 New York Rangers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning

M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC1 Nashville Predators

C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Dallas Stars

P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights

P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Thursday'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).

New York Rangers at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.

St. Louis Blues at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.

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

Winnipeg Jets at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia Flyers at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.

Nashville Predators at Florida Panthers, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)

Buffalo Sabres at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m.

Montreal Canadiens at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.

Chicago Blackhawks at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.

Seattle Kraken at Vegas Golden Knights, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Tampa Bay Lightning at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday's scoreboard

Toronto Maple Leafs 7, Washington Capitals 3

Dallas Stars 5, Arizona Coyotes 2

Los Angeles Kings 6, Minnesota Wild 0

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins

Points: 97

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: A1

Games left: 12

Points pace: 114

Next game: vs. NYR (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 94

Regulation wins: 37

Playoff position: A2

Games left: 14

Points pace: 113

Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 87

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: A3

Games left: 14

Points pace: 105

Next game: vs. EDM (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 80

Regulation wins: 30

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 14

Points pace: 97

Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 98.5%

Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 76

Regulation wins: 24

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 13

Points pace: 90

Next game: vs. NYI (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 27.7%

Tragic number: N/A

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 71

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 12

Points pace: 83

Next game: @ EDM (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 5.1%

Tragic number: 19

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 62

Regulation wins: 15

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 75

Next game: @ VAN (Thursday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 14

Ottawa Senators

Points: 60

Regulation wins: 19

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 73

Next game: vs. STL (Thursday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 13

Metropolitan Division

New York Rangers

Points: 94

Regulation wins: 37

Playoff position: M1

Games left: 13

Points pace: 112

Next game: @ BOS (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 92

Regulation wins: 36

Playoff position: M2

Games left: 13

Points pace: 109

Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 78

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: M3

Games left: 13

Points pace: 93

Next game: @ CAR (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 70.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 75

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 90

Next game: vs. CAR (Friday)

Playoff chances: 58.6%

Tragic number: 27

New York Islanders

Points: 73

Regulation wins: 21

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 88

Next game: @ DET (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 26.4%

Tragic number: 25

New Jersey Devils

Points: 70

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 13

Points pace: 83

Next game: vs. WPG (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 10.4%

Tragic number: 20

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 69

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 83

Next game: @ DAL (Friday)

Playoff chances: 2.4%

Tragic number: 21

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 58

Regulation wins: 18

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 13

Points pace: 69

Next game: @ COL (Friday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 8

Central Division

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 93

Regulation wins: 39

Playoff position: C1

Games left: 14

Points pace: 112

Next game: @ NJ (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 93

Regulation wins: 37

Playoff position: C2

Games left: 13

Points pace: 111

Next game: s. CBJ (Friday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 93

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: C3

Games left: 12

Points pace: 110

Next game: vs. PIT (Friday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 84

Regulation wins: 33

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 13

Points pace: 100

Next game: @ FLA (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 98.1%

Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 76

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 12

Points pace: 89

Next game: vs. STL (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 23.4%

Tragic number: 21

St. Louis Blues

Points: 75

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 13

Points pace: 89

Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 3.7%

Tragic number: 22

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 61

Regulation wins: 23

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 13

Points pace: 73

Next game: vs. SEA (Friday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 8

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 43

Regulation wins: 14

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 13

Points pace: 51

Next game: @ ANA (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 94

Regulation wins: 37

Playoff position: P1

Games left: 13

Points pace: 112

Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 86

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: P2

Games left: 16

Points pace: 107

Next game: vs. BUF (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 83

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: P3

Games left: 13

Points pace: 99

Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 90.5%

Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 79

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 14

Points pace: 95

Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 79.7%

Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 71

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 86

Next game: @ VAN (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 4.0%

Tragic number: 20

Seattle Kraken

Points: 68

Regulation wins: 22

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 83

Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0.6%

Tragic number: 19

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 49

Regulation wins: 17

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 13

Points pace: 58

Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 39

Regulation wins: 12

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 47

Next game: vs. TB (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.