SPORTS

NHL playoff standings: Will the Capitals get the wild card?

ByTim Kavanagh ESPN logo

Monday, March 18, 2024

Typically when one thinks of a playoff contender, one would imagine that this team would have a strong goal differential. Certainly not minus-30.

But, the Washington Capitals have continued to be one of the NHL's most enigmatic clubs this season, and despite being on the wrong side of that lopsided statistic, they remain very much in the mix for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Heading into tonight's game against the Calgary Flames (8:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network), the Caps are one point behind the Detroit Red Wings, with a two-game regulation win advantageand two games in hand. They are tied with the New York Islanders in standings points, but they have a five-game regulation win advantage and have a game in hand.

Beyond the matchup against Calgary, the club heads back to D.C. for a challenging gauntlet that might tell us ultimately where they are headed: They'll host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday, then the Red Wings on Tuesday, March 26. Of their remaining 16 games, 11 are against teams currently in playoff position, and they also have two against the Buffalo Sabres, who are after the wild card as well.

So the odds seem to be stacked against them. But perhaps they'll continue to abide by the "never tell me the odds" credo and pull this off.

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

Monday'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).

Washington Capitals at Calgary Flames, 8:30 p.m. (NHLN)

Buffalo Sabres at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.

Sunday's scoreboard

New York Rangers 5, New York Islanders 2

Vegas Golden Knights 3, New Jersey Devils 1

Carolina Hurricanes 7, Ottawa Senators 2

Pittsburgh Penguins 6, Detroit Red Wings 3

Winnipeg Jets 6, Columbus Blue Jackets 1

Chicago Blackhawks 5, San Jose Sharks 2

St. Louis Blues 4, Anaheim Ducks 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins

Points: 95

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: A1

Games left: 13

Points pace: 113

Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)

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: 85

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: A3

Games left: 16

Points pace: 105

Next game: @ PHI (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 78

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 15

Points pace: 96

Next game: @ VGK (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 97.6%

Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 74

Regulation wins: 24

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 14

Points pace: 89

Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 20.3%

Tragic number: N/A

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 69

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 83

Next game: @ SEA (Monday)

Playoff chances: 4.8%

Tragic number: 23

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 61

Regulation wins: 15

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 75

Next game: @ EDM (Tuesday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 17

Ottawa Senators

Points: 60

Regulation wins: 19

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 16

Points pace: 75

Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 18

Metropolitan Division

New York Rangers

Points: 94

Regulation wins: 37

Playoff position: M1

Games left: 14

Points pace: 113

Next game: vs. WPG (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 90

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: M2

Games left: 14

Points pace: 109

Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 76

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: M3

Games left: 14

Points pace: 92

Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 55.7%

Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 73

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 16

Points pace: 91

Next game: @ CGY (Monday)

Playoff chances: 57.3%

Tragic number: 31

New York Islanders

Points: 73

Regulation wins: 21

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 89

Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 51.2%

Tragic number: 29

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 69

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 85

Next game: @ NJ (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 6.9%

Tragic number: 25

New Jersey Devils

Points: 68

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 82

Next game: vs. PIT (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 6.2%

Tragic number: 22

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 57

Regulation wins: 18

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 69

Next game: @ DET (Tuesday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 11

Central Division

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 91

Regulation wins: 38

Playoff position: C1

Games left: 15

Points pace: 111

Next game: @ NYR (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 91

Regulation wins: 36

Playoff position: C2

Games left: 14

Points pace: 110

Next game: @ STL (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 91

Regulation wins: 30

Playoff position: C3

Games left: 13

Points pace: 108

Next game: vs. ARI (Wednesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 82

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 14

Points pace: 99

Next game: vs. SJ (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 96.1%

Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 75

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 90

Next game: vs. COL (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 5.4%

Tragic number: 24

Minnesota Wild

Points: 74

Regulation wins: 26

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 89

Next game: @ ANA (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 13.6%

Tragic number: 23

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 61

Regulation wins: 23

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 74

Next game: @ DAL (Wednesday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 10

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 43

Regulation wins: 14

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 51.8529411764706

Next game: @ LA (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 92

Regulation wins: 36

Playoff position: P1

Games left: 14

Points pace: 111

Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 84

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: P2

Games left: 17

Points pace: 106

Next game: vs. MTL (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 79

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: P3

Games left: 15

Points pace: 97

Next game: vs. CHI (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 89.0%

Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 79

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 15

Points pace: 97

Next game: vs. TB (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 89.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 71

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 87

Next game: vs. WSH (Monday)

Playoff chances: 4.8%

Tragic number: 22

Seattle Kraken

Points: 68

Regulation wins: 22

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 16

Points pace: 85

Next game: vs. BUF (Monday)

Playoff chances: 1.2%

Tragic number: 21

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 49

Regulation wins: 17

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 14

Points pace: 59

Next game: vs. MIN (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 39

Regulation wins: 12

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 15

Points pace: 48

Next game: @ NSH (Tuesday)

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.