Suns Vogel says he has full support of owner
The Wednesday night schedule in the NHL is significantly lighter than Tuesday, with just three games compared to 13. But, there is one doozy on the docket.
The Vegas Golden Knights visit the Edmonton Oilers (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT) in a game that will have implications on the Pacific Division and the entire Western Conference playoff bracket.
For the Oilers, there is a path to winning the division. Entering Wednesday, Edmonton trails the Vancouver Canucks by five points and five regulation wins, though it has two games in hand. The Canucks are in action Wednesday night as well, against the Arizona Coyotes (10:30 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). The Oilers don't necessarily have to win out to take the division title, but there's not a ton of wiggle room. Of note, they will host the Canucks on Saturday.
The Golden Knights are nearly a lock for a playoff spot, but their first-round matchup remains in flux. Heading into Wednesday, they are in the second wild-card spot, and would face the Western division champ with the most points (currently the Dallas Stars). However, they are one point and three regulation wins behind the Los Angeles Kings for the No. 3 seed in the Pacific, while they are three points and four regulation wins behind the Nashville Predators for the first wild-card spot.
Put another way: While there is little doubt which eight Western teams are making the playoffs, there are a great many permutations regarding the first-round matchups -- and this game on Wednesday will have a notable impact on determining which of those is most likely.
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 Wednesday's schedule Tuesday's scores Expanded standings Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchupsEastern 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
Wednesday's gamesNote: 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).
Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m. Vegas Golden Knights at Edmonton Oilers, 8:30 p.m (TNT) Arizona Coyotes at Vancouver Canucks, 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday's scoreboardCarolina Hurricanes 4, Boston Bruins 1 Montreal Canadiens 9, Philadelphia Flyers 3 Washington Capitals 2, Detroit Red Wings 1 Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 2 Florida Panthers 2, Ottawa Senators 0 Toronto Maple Leafs 5, New Jersey Devils 2 New York Islanders 4, New York Rangers 2 Winnipeg Jets 4, Nashville Predators 3 (OT) Dallas Stars 3, Buffalo Sabres 2 Colorado Avalanche 5, Minnesota Wild 2 Anaheim Ducks 3, Los Angeles Kings 1 Seattle Kraken 5, Arizona Coyotes 0 Calgary Flames 3, San Jose Sharks 2 (OT)
Expanded standings Atlantic Division x - Boston BruinsPoints: 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 PanthersPoints: 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 LeafsPoints: 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 LightningPoints: 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 WingsPoints: 84 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 4 Points pace: 88 Next game: @ PIT (Thursday) Playoff chances: 60.2% Tragic number: 7
Buffalo SabresPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 3 Points pace: 82 Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: 1
e - Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 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 CanadiensPoints: 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 RangersPoints: 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 HurricanesPoints: 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 IslandersPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: M3 Games left: 4 Points pace: 92 Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday) Playoff chances: 67.6% Tragic number: N/A
Washington CapitalsPoints: 85 Regulation wins: 29 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 4 Points pace: 89 Next game: @ BUF (Thursday) Playoff chances: 22.2% Tragic number: N/A
Pittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 84 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 4 Points pace: 88 Next game: vs. DET (Thursday) Playoff chances: 31% Tragic number: 8
Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 83 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 3 Points pace: 86 Next game: @ NYR (Thursday) Playoff chances: 18.9% Tragic number: 4
New Jersey DevilsPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 3 Points pace: 82 Next game: @ TOR (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: 1
e - Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 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 StarsPoints: 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 AvalanchePoints: 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 JetsPoints: 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 PredatorsPoints: 95 Regulation wins: 36 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 3 Points pace: 99 Next game: @ CHI (Friday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A
St. Louis BluesPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 29 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 4 Points pace: 92 Next game: vs. CHI (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0.5% Tragic number: 3
e - Minnesota WildPoints: 83 Regulation wins: 30 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 4 Points pace: 87 Next game: @ VGK (Friday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: E
e - Arizona CoyotesPoints: 71 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 4 Points pace: 75 Next game: @ VAN (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 51 Regulation wins: 17 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 5 Points pace: 54 Next game: @ STL (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Pacific Division x - Vancouver CanucksPoints: 104 Regulation wins: 42 Playoff position: P1 Games left: 4 Points pace: 109 Next game: vs. ARI (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Edmonton OilersPoints: 99 Regulation wins: 37 Playoff position: P2 Games left: 6 Points pace: 107 Next game: vs. VGK (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
Los Angeles KingsPoints: 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 KnightsPoints: 92 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 5 Points pace: 98 Next game: @ EDM (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 99.6% Tragic number: N/A
e - Seattle KrakenPoints: 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 FlamesPoints: 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 DucksPoints: 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 SharksPoints: 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 pickThe 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.
1. San Jose SharksPoints: 45 Regulation wins: 13
2. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 51 Regulation wins: 17
3. Anaheim DucksPoints: 57 Regulation wins: 20
4. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 64 Regulation wins: 20
5. Arizona CoyotesPoints: 71 Regulation wins: 27
6. Montreal CanadiensPoints: 72 Regulation wins: 20
7. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 72 Regulation wins: 24
8. Calgary FlamesPoints: 75 Regulation wins: 29
9. Seattle KrakenPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 27
10. Buffalo SabresPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 31
11. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 32
12. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 83 Regulation wins: 28
13. Minnesota WildPoints: 83 Regulation wins: 30
14. Detroit Red WingsPoints: 84 Regulation wins: 27
15. Pittsburgh Penguins*Points: 84 Regulation wins: 31
16. St. Louis BluesPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 29
* The Penguins' first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.