SPORTS

NHL playoff watch: Red Wings-Penguins Thursday's main event

ByESPN staff ESPN logo

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Although six teams have clinched a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference half of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs bracket, there is a fierce battle being contested for those final two spots among five teams. Two of them play against each other Thursday.

The Detroit Red Wings visit the Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+), with both attempting to overtake the Washington Capitals, who play the Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+).

Prior to Thursday's games, the Capitals hold the second wild-card position, with 85 points and 29 regulation wins through 78 games; the Red Wings (84 and 27 through 78 games) and Penguins (84 and 31 through 78 games) are right on the Caps' heels, and the Philadelphia Flyers (83 and 28 through 79 games) are just behind them (although their recent 1-6-3 stretch has torpedoed their playoff chances, generally). The Flyers face the tall task of skating against the juggernaut New York Rangers on Thursday night (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+).

For all of the non-Detroit teams, another avenue to the playoffs exists by way of the No. 3 seed in the Metro Division. The New York Islanders hold that position, with 87 points and 27 regulation wins through 78 games ahead of their game against the Montreal Canadiens (7:30 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+).

As has been the case seemingly every night for the past two weeks, expect some major movement in the chaotic Eastern wild-card race tonight!

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

Thursday's schedule

Wednesday'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 Washington Capitals

M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New York Islanders

Western Conference

C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights

C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets

P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators

P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Clinching scenarios

1. The Los Angeles Kings will clinch a playoff berth with a win against the Calgary Flames in any fashion.

2. The Dallas Stars will clinch the Central Division title with a win over the Winnipeg Jets in any fashion.

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).

Washington Capitals at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.

New Jersey Devils at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.

Ottawa Senators at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.

Columbus Blue Jackets at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.

Detroit Red Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.

Montreal Canadiens at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.

Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.

San Jose Sharks at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.

Calgary Flames at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday's scoreboard

St. Louis Blues 5, Chicago Blackhawks 2

Edmonton Oilers 5, Vegas Golden Knights 1

Arizona Coyotes 4, Vancouver Canucks 3 (OT)

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

x - Boston Bruins

Points: 107

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: A1

Games left: 3

Points pace: 111

Next game: @ PIT (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Florida Panthers

Points: 104

Regulation wins: 40

Playoff position: A2

Games left: 3

Points pace: 108

Next game: vs. CBJ (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 101

Regulation wins: 33

Playoff position: A3

Games left: 4

Points pace: 106

Next game: vs. NJ (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 95

Regulation wins: 36

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 4

Points pace: 100

Next game: vs. OTT (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 84

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 4

Points pace: 88

Next game: @ PIT (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 33.2%

Tragic number: 7

e - Buffalo Sabres

Points: 79

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 3

Points pace: 82

Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: 1

e - Ottawa Senators

Points: 72

Regulation wins: 24

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 4

Points pace: 76

Next game: @ TB (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - Montreal Canadiens

Points: 72

Regulation wins: 20

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 4

Points pace: 76

Next game: @ NYI (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Metropolitan Division

x - New York Rangers

Points: 110

Regulation wins: 42

Playoff position: M1

Games left: 3

Points pace: 114

Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 107

Regulation wins: 42

Playoff position: M2

Games left: 3

Points pace: 111

Next game: @ STL (Friday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 87

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: M3

Games left: 4

Points pace: 92

Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 83.5%

Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 85

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 4

Points pace: 89

Next game: @ BUF (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 44.4%

Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 84

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 4

Points pace: 88

Next game: vs. DET (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 34.5%

Tragic number: 8

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 83

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 3

Points pace: 86

Next game: @ NYR (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 4.4%

Tragic number: 4

e - New Jersey Devils

Points: 79

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 3

Points pace: 82

Next game: @ TOR (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: 1

e - Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 64

Regulation wins: 20

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 3

Points pace: 66

Next game: @ FLA (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Central Division

x - Dallas Stars

Points: 109

Regulation wins: 39

Playoff position: C1

Games left: 3

Points pace: 113

Next game: vs. WPG (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Colorado Avalanche

Points: 104

Regulation wins: 41

Playoff position: C2

Games left: 3

Points pace: 108

Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Winnipeg Jets

Points: 102

Regulation wins: 42

Playoff position: C3

Games left: 4

Points pace: 107

Next game: @ DAL (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Nashville Predators

Points: 95

Regulation wins: 36

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 3

Points pace: 99

Next game: @ CHI (Friday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 89

Regulation wins: 30

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 3

Points pace: 92

Next game: vs. CAR (Friday)

Playoff chances: 0.5%

Tragic number: 3

e - Minnesota Wild

Points: 83

Regulation wins: 30

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 4

Points pace: 87

Next game: @ VGK (Friday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - Arizona Coyotes

Points: 73

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 3

Points pace: 76

Next game: @ EDM (Friday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51

Regulation wins: 17

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 4

Points pace: 54

Next game: vs. NSH (Friday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

x - Vancouver Canucks

Points: 105

Regulation wins: 42

Playoff position: P1

Games left: 3

Points pace: 109

Next game: @ EDM (Saturday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Edmonton Oilers

Points: 101

Regulation wins: 38

Playoff position: P2

Games left: 5

Points pace: 108

Next game: vs. ARI (Friday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 93

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: P3

Games left: 4

Points pace: 98

Next game: vs. CGY (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 92

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 4

Points pace: 97

Next game: vs. MIN (Friday)

Playoff chances: 99.6%

Tragic number: N/A

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 79

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 5

Points pace: 84

Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - Calgary Flames

Points: 75

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 5

Points pace: 80

Next game: @ LA (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 57

Regulation wins: 20

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 3

Points pace: 59

Next game: vs. CGY (Friday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 45

Regulation wins: 13

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 4

Points pace: 47

Next game: @ SEA (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.