NHL playoff standings: Hurricanes’ path to the No. 1 seed

Whereas six groups stay in rivalry for the Japanese Convention’s ultimate wild-card spot within the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, there’s some pleasure taking place on the different finish of the playoff-bound spectrum.

Particularly, can the Carolina Hurricanes go on sufficient of a run of their ultimate 15 video games to earn the No. 1 spot within the Metro forward of the New York Rangers — and even the highest place within the convention, above the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins?

The Canes made trades with divisional rivals in buying winger Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov, and the early returns have been encouraging: Kuznetsov had a purpose and Guentzel had an help in Carolina’s 4-0 trouncing of the Panthers on Thursday. Regulation wins towards groups they’re chasing are fairly useful in incomes that No. 1 place.

Sadly, when contemplating that notion, the Canes have two video games left towards the Bruins this season (April 4 in Raleigh, April 9 in Boston), however none towards New York or Florida. However they do have 5 video games left towards golf equipment which are near the basement, starting with Sunday’s conflict with the Ottawa Senators (6 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+). They will additionally skate towards the Montreal Canadiens (March 30), Columbus Blue Jackets twice (April 7 and 16) and Chicago Blackhawks as soon as (April 14).

As of Sunday, Carolina is 4 factors and two regulation wins behind the Rangers within the Metro; the Canes are seven factors behind the Bruins (however three forward in regulation wins), and 6 factors and three regulation wins behind the Panthers.

Whereas that looks like a number of floor to make up, this can be a workforce that simply added two top-six difference-makers, and just lately welcomed No. 1 goalie Frederik Andersen again to the ice as effectively. If there is a workforce that might pull off such a heater to shut out the season, this certain appears to be like prefer it.

As we traverse the ultimate stretch of the common season, it is time to verify in on all of the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place within the 2024 NHL draft lottery.

Word: Playoff likelihood is by way of Stathletes.

Leap forward:
Present playoff matchups
At the moment’s schedule
Final night time’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 decide

Present playoff matchups

Japanese Convention

A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Detroit Pink 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 Convention

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

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Sunday’s video games

Word: All occasions ET. All video games not on TNT or NHL Community can be found by way of NHL Energy Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (native blackout restrictions apply).

New York Islanders at New York Rangers, 1 p.m. (TNT)
New Jersey Devils at Vegas Golden Knights, 3:30 p.m. (TNT)
Carolina Hurricanes at Ottawa Senators, 6 p.m.
Detroit Pink Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins, 6 p.m.
Winnipeg Jets at Columbus Blue Jackets, 6 p.m.
San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks, 6 p.m.
Anaheim Geese at St. Louis Blues, 7 p.m.

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Saturday’s scoreboard

Detroit Pink Wings 4, Buffalo Sabres 1
Ottawa Senators 4, New York Islanders 3 (OT)
New York Rangers 7, Pittsburgh Penguins 4
Arizona Coyotes 4, New Jersey Devils 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Florida Panthers 3
Boston Bruins 6, Philadelphia Flyers 5
Carolina Hurricanes 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 4 (SO)
Columbus Blue Jackets 4, San Jose Sharks 2
Calgary Flames 5, Montreal Canadiens 2
St. Louis Blues 3, Minnesota Wild 2 (SO)
Dallas Stars 4, Los Angeles Kings 1
Colorado Avalanche 3, Edmonton Oilers 2 (OT)
Washington Capitals 2, Vancouver Canucks 1
Nashville Predators 4, Seattle Kraken 1

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Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Factors: 95
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: A1
Video games left: 13
Factors tempo: 113
Subsequent sport: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 94
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff place: A2
Video games left: 14
Factors tempo: 113
Subsequent sport: vs. NSH (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 85
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: A3
Video games left: 16
Factors tempo: 106
Subsequent sport: @ PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 78
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff place: WC1
Video games left: 15
Factors tempo: 96
Subsequent sport: @ VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: 92.7%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 74
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: WC2
Video games left: 15
Factors tempo: 91
Subsequent sport: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: 12.1%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 14
Factors tempo: 83
Subsequent sport: @ SEA (Monday)
Playoff possibilities: 13.2%
Tragic quantity: 23

Factors: 61
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 15
Factors tempo: 75
Subsequent sport: @ EDM (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 17

Factors: 60
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 17
Factors tempo: 76
Subsequent sport: @ BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 20

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Metropolitan Division

Factors: 92
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff place: M1
Video games left: 15
Factors tempo: 113
Subsequent sport: vs. NYI (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 88
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff place: M2
Video games left: 15
Factors tempo: 108
Subsequent sport: @ OTT (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: M3
Video games left: 14
Factors tempo: 92
Subsequent sport: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: 65.2%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 73
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 16
Factors tempo: 91
Subsequent sport: @ CGY (Monday)
Playoff possibilities: 37.8%
Tragic quantity: 31

Factors: 73
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 16
Factors tempo: 91
Subsequent sport: @ NYR (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 61.1%
Tragic quantity: 31

Factors: 68
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 15
Factors tempo: 83
Subsequent sport: @ VGK (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 14%
Tragic quantity: 24

Factors: 67
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 16
Factors tempo: 83
Subsequent sport: vs. DET (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 4%
Tragic quantity: 25

Factors: 57
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 15
Factors tempo: 70
Subsequent sport: vs. WPG (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 13

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Central Division

Factors: 91
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff place: C1
Video games left: 14
Factors tempo: 110
Subsequent sport: @ STL (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 91
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff place: C2
Video games left: 13
Factors tempo: 108
Subsequent sport: vs. ARI (Wednesday)
Playoff possibilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 89
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff place: C3
Video games left: 16
Factors tempo: 111
Subsequent sport: @ CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 82
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff place: WC1
Video games left: 14
Factors tempo: 99
Subsequent sport: vs. SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: 95%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 74
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 14
Factors tempo: 89
Subsequent sport: @ ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: 25.8%
Tragic quantity: 26

Factors: 73
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 15
Factors tempo: 89
Subsequent sport: vs. ANA (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 2.6%
Tragic quantity: 26

Factors: 61
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 14
Factors tempo: 74
Subsequent sport: @ DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff possibilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 12

Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 15
Factors tempo: 50
Subsequent sport: vs. SJ (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

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Pacific Division

Factors: 92
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff place: P1
Video games left: 14
Factors tempo: 111
Subsequent sport: vs. BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 84
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff place: P2
Video games left: 17
Factors tempo: 106
Subsequent sport: vs. MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 79
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff place: P3
Video games left: 15
Factors tempo: 97
Subsequent sport: vs. CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff possibilities: 85.4%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: WC2
Video games left: 16
Factors tempo: 96
Subsequent sport: vs. NJ (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 84.4%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 15
Factors tempo: 87
Subsequent sport: vs. WSH (Monday)
Playoff possibilities: 2.8%
Tragic quantity: 24

Factors: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 16
Factors tempo: 85
Subsequent sport: vs. BUF (Monday)
Playoff possibilities: 4.1%
Tragic quantity: 25

Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 15
Factors tempo: 60
Subsequent sport: @ STL (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 2

Factors: 39
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 16
Factors tempo: 49
Subsequent sport: @ CHI (Sunday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

P — Clinched Presidents’ Trophy; Y — Clinched division; X — Clinched playoff berth; E — Eradicated from playoff rivalry

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Race for the No. 1 decide

The NHL makes use of a draft lottery to find out the order of the primary spherical, so the workforce that finishes in final place is just not assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a workforce can transfer up a most of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so solely 11 groups are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 decide. Full particulars on the method might be discovered right here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer season is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston College.

Factors: 39
Regulation wins: 12

Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 13

Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 17

Factors: 57
Regulation wins: 18

Factors: 60
Regulation wins: 19

Factors: 61
Regulation wins: 15

Factors: 61
Regulation wins: 23

Factors: 67
Regulation wins: 24

Factors: 68
Regulation wins: 22

Factors: 68
Regulation wins: 27

Factors: 69
Regulation wins: 26

Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 28

Factors: 73
Regulation wins: 21

Factors: 73
Regulation wins: 26

Factors: 73
Regulation wins: 26

Factors: 74
Regulation wins: 26

* The Penguins’ first-round decide was traded to the Sharks as a part of the Erik Karlsson commerce. Nonetheless, it’s top-10 protected.