Nigeria confirm Finidi George as new head coach
A certain sequence of events had to happen Monday night for four teams to remain in the running for the second Eastern wild card -- and that sequence of events occurred.
So where do things stand heading into Tuesday? It's a little complicated. But here is the path to the postseason for the Washington Capitals (89 points), Detroit Red Wings (89), Pittsburgh Penguins (88) and Philadelphia Flyers (87).
The Capitals control their own destiny. A win over the Flyers (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+) would give them 91 points, and they hold the regulation wins tiebreaker over the Red Wings, the only other club of these four that can get to 91. Detroit's path includes a win over the Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+) and a loss of some variety for the Capitals (either regulation or in overtime/shootout). The Wings lose the RW tiebreaker to any of the remaining four teams. The max total for the Penguins is 90, but if they finish tied with the Caps and Wings at that total (or at 89, with an OT/SO loss in their final game), they are in thanks to the regulation wins tiebreaker. Accordingly, they are fans of the Canadiens and Flyers (yikes) on Tuesday night. Game No. 82 for Pittsburgh is Wednesday against the New York Islanders, who have clinched the No. 3 spot in the Metro Division.The Flyers can get in, but it is complicated.
Philly must beat Washington in regulation, and the Wings and Penguins must lose their games in regulation. This gives the Flyers, Caps and Wings all 89 points, and the Penguins 88. The Wings are out due to the RW tiebreaker, and the Caps and Flyers go to a fifth tiebreaker:
Regulation wins: Tied 31-31 in this scenario Regulation wins plus OT wins: Tied 35-35 Total wins: Tied 39-39 Head-to-head points: (they did not play an even number of games: with one or more of the other tied clubs, the first game played in the city that has the extra game shall not be included) Tied 2-2 Greater goal differential: Philly is ahead -25 to -38Got all that? Tuesday night should be another wild one, with the Atlantic Division title on the line as well, and the Vancouver Canucks looking to close things out in the Pacific.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead: Current playoff matchups Clinching scenarios Tuesday's schedule Monday'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 Winnipeg Jets vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Clinching scenariosIn addition to the above on the East's final wild-card spot, some other seeds can be locked up Tuesday night.
1. The Boston Bruins will clinch the Atlantic Division title if they defeat the Ottawa Senators in any fashion, OR if they lose in overtime or shootout to the Senators AND the Florida Panthers lose to the Toronto Maple Leafs in any fashion.
2. The Panthers will clinch the Atlantic Division title if they defeat the Maple Leafs in any fashion AND the Bruins lose to the Senators in any fashion. The Panthers also take the Atlantic if they lose in OT/SO to the Maple Leafs AND the Bruins lose in regulation.
3. The idle Dallas Stars will clinch the West's No. 1 seed if the Vancouver Canucks lose to the Calgary Flames in any fashion.
4. The Winnipeg Jets will clinch the No. 2 seed in the Central if they win, or lose in OT/SO to the Seattle Kraken.
5. The Vancouver Canucks will clinch the Pacific Division title if they win, or lose in OT/SO to the Flames.
6. The idle Nashville Predators will clinch the West's No. 1 wild-card spot if the Vegas Golden Knights lose to the Chicago Blackhawks in any fashion.
Tuesday'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).
Ottawa Senators at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m. Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m. Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m. Carolina Hurricanes at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m. Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN) Seattle Kraken at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m. Chicago Blackhawks at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu) Calgary Flames at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
Monday's scoreboardDetroit Red Wings 5, Montreal Canadiens 4 (OT) Buffalo Sabres 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 2 New York Islanders 4, New Jersey Devils 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Nashville Predators 2 Washington Capitals 2, Boston Bruins 0 New York Rangers 4, Ottawa Senators 0 Edmonton Oilers 9, San Jose Sharks 2 Minnesota Wild 3, Los Angeles Kings 1
Expanded standings Atlantic Division x - Boston BruinsPoints: 109 Regulation wins: 36 Playoff position: A1 Games left: 1 Points pace: 110 Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Florida PanthersPoints: 108 Regulation wins: 41 Playoff position: A2 Games left: 1 Points pace: 109 Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Toronto Maple LeafsPoints: 102 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: A3 Games left: 2 Points pace: 105 Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Tampa Bay LightningPoints: 96 Regulation wins: 36 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 1 Points pace: 97 Next game: vs. TOR (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
Detroit Red WingsPoints: 89 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 90 Next game: @ MTL (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 68.2% Tragic number: 2
e - Buffalo SabresPoints: 84 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Points pace: 84 Next game: N/A Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 76 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 77 Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Montreal CanadiensPoints: 75 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 76 Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Metropolitan Division p - New York RangersPoints: 114 Regulation wins: 43 Playoff position: M1 Games left: 0 Points pace: 114 Next game: N/A Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Carolina HurricanesPoints: 111 Regulation wins: 44 Playoff position: M2 Games left: 1 Points pace: 112 Next game: @ CBJ (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - New York IslandersPoints: 92 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: M3 Games left: 1 Points pace: 93 Next game: vs. PIT (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
Washington CapitalsPoints: 89 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 1 Points pace: 90 Next game: @ PHI (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 24.4% Tragic number: N/A
Pittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 88 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 89 Next game: @ NYI (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 7.4% Tragic number: 1
Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 30 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 88 Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 1
e - New Jersey DevilsPoints: 81 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Points pace: 81 Next game: N/A Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 64 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 65 Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Central Division y - Dallas StarsPoints: 111 Regulation wins: 40 Playoff position: C1 Games left: 1 Points pace: 112 Next game: vs. STL (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Winnipeg JetsPoints: 106 Regulation wins: 44 Playoff position: C2 Games left: 2 Points pace: 109 Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Colorado AvalanchePoints: 105 Regulation wins: 41 Playoff position: C3 Games left: 1 Points pace: 106 Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Nashville PredatorsPoints: 99 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 0 Points pace: 99 Next game: N/A Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
e - St. Louis BluesPoints: 91 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 92 Next game: @ DAL (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Minnesota WildPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 88 Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Arizona CoyotesPoints: 75 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 76 Next game: vs. EDM (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 51 Regulation wins: 17 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 2 Points pace: 52 Next game: @ VGK (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Pacific Division x - Vancouver CanucksPoints: 107 Regulation wins: 43 Playoff position: P1 Games left: 2 Points pace: 110 Next game: vs. CGY (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Edmonton OilersPoints: 104 Regulation wins: 39 Playoff position: P2 Games left: 2 Points pace: 107 Next game: @ ARI (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Los Angeles KingsPoints: 97 Regulation wins: 37 Playoff position: P3 Games left: 1 Points pace: 98 Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Vegas Golden KnightsPoints: 96 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 2 Points pace: 98 Next game: vs. CHI (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
e - Calgary FlamesPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 2 Points pace: 81 Next game: @ VAN (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Seattle KrakenPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 2 Points pace: 81 Next game: @ WPG (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Anaheim DucksPoints: 57 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 58 Next game: @ VGK (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - San Jose SharksPoints: 47 Regulation wins: 14 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 48 Next game: @ CGY (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: 47 Regulation wins: 14
2. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 51 Regulation wins: 17
3. Anaheim DucksPoints: 57 Regulation wins: 20
4. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 64 Regulation wins: 20
5. Montreal CanadiensPoints: 75 Regulation wins: 20
6. Arizona CoyotesPoints: 75 Regulation wins: 27
7. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 76 Regulation wins: 24
8. Seattle KrakenPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 27
9. Calgary FlamesPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 31
10. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 81 Regulation wins: 33
11. Buffalo SabresPoints: 84 Regulation wins: 33
12. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 30
13. Minnesota WildPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 32
14. Pittsburgh Penguins*Points: 88 Regulation wins: 32
15. Detroit Red WingsPoints: 89 Regulation wins: 27
16. St. Louis BluesPoints: 91 Regulation wins: 31
* The Penguins' first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.