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NHL playoff standings: Avs-Canucks leads Wednesday schedule

ByTim Kavanagh ESPN logo

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Following last night's packed 10-game NHL slate, Wednesday is relatively light with just four games on the docket. However, there are some superb matchups on tap, highlighted by two Western Conference juggernauts squaring off.

In the late game, the Colorado Avalanche will visit the Vancouver Canucks (10:30 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). Each team is packed with superstars up for some end-of-season hardware, and it would not be surprising to see either of those clubs representing the West in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

Heading into tonight's matchup, the Canucks own the No. 1 seed in the Pacific Division (and the Western Conference) and are currently slated to face the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round. According to Stathletes' projections, they have a 29.0% chance to reach the conference finals, 14.5% chance to make the Cup Final and a 7.0% chance to win it all.

As for the Avalanche, they hold the No. 3 seed in the Central Division, and would take on the Winnipeg Jets if the current standings hold. Stathletes doesn't like their conference finals or Cup Final chances quite as much (28.7% and 13.5%, respectively), but gives them a 7.1% of winning the Cup.

The two teams have played twice this season: a 5-2 win for the Avs on Nov. 22, and a 3-1 win for the Avs on Feb. 20. Notably, Ryan Johansen scored Colorado's two non-empty-net goals in that most recent game, and he has since been traded to the Philadelphia Flyers (who promptly waived him). Who wins tonight's potential conference finals preview?

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:br/>Current playoff matchupsbr/>Today's schedulebr/>Last night's scoresbr/>Expanded standingsbr/>Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC2 New York Islanders

>A2 Boston Bruins vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs

>M1 New York Rangers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning

>M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers

Western Conference

C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC1 Nashville Predators

>C2 Winnipeg Jets vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche

>P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights

>P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Wednesday'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).

Los Angeles Kings at St. Louis Blues, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)

>Nashville Predators at Winnipeg Jets, 7:30 p.m.

>Washington Capitals at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m. (TNT)

>Colorado Avalanche at Vancouver Canucks, 10:30 p.m.

Tuesday's scoreboard

Buffalo Sabres 7, Detroit Red Wings 3

>Montreal Canadiens 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 0

>Ottawa Senators 2, Pittsburgh Penguins 1 (OT)

>Philadelphia Flyers 3, San Jose Sharks 2

>New York Rangers 1, Carolina Hurricanes 0

>Florida Panthers 4, Dallas Stars 3

>Minnesota Wild 4, Arizona Coyotes 1

>Chicago Blackhawks 7, Anaheim Ducks 2

>Colorado Avalanche 6, Calgary Flames 2

>Vegas Golden Knights 5, Seattle Kraken 4 (OT)

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Florida Panthers

Points: 94

>Regulation wins: 37

>Playoff position: A1

>Games left: 16

>Points pace: 117

>Next game: @ CAR (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 99.9%

>Tragic number: N/A

Boston Bruins

Points: 91

>Regulation wins: 30

>Playoff position: A2

>Games left: 15

>Points pace: 111

>Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 99.9%

>Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 82

>Regulation wins: 25

>Playoff position: A3

>Games left: 18

>Points pace: 105

>Next game: @ PHI (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 99.7%

>Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 74

>Regulation wins: 27

>Playoff position: WC1

>Games left: 17

>Points pace: 93

>Next game: vs. NYR (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 89.3%

>Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 72

>Regulation wins: 23

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 17

>Points pace: 91

>Next game: vs. ARI (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 19.2%

>Tragic number: 34

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 67

>Regulation wins: 25

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 16

>Points pace: 83

>Next game: vs. NYI (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 5.4%

>Tragic number: 27

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 60

>Regulation wins: 15

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 17

>Points pace: 76

>Next game: vs. BOS (Thursday)

>Playoff chances:0%

>Tragic number: 22

Ottawa Senators

Points: 56

>Regulation wins: 19

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 19

>Points pace: 73

>Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday)

>Playoff chances:0%

>Tragic number: 22

Metropolitan Division

New York Rangers

Points: 90

>Regulation wins: 35

>Playoff position: M1

>Games left: 17

>Points pace: 114

>Next game: @ TB (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 99.9%

>Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 84

>Regulation wins: 33

>Playoff position: M2

>Games left: 17

>Points pace: 106

>Next game: vs. FLA (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 99.9%

>Tragic number: N/A

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 76

>Regulation wins: 26

>Playoff position: M3

>Games left: 16

>Points pace: 94

>Next game: vs. TOR (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 77.1%

>Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 72

>Regulation wins: 21

>Playoff position: WC2

>Games left: 18

>Points pace: 92

>Next game: @ BUF (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 72.4%

>Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 69

>Regulation wins: 24

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 19

>Points pace: 90

>Next game: @ EDM (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 28.0%

>Tragic number: 35

New Jersey Devils

Points: 66

>Regulation wins: 26

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 17

>Points pace: 83

>Next game: @ DAL (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 5.3%

>Tragic number: 28

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 65

>Regulation wins: 23

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 18

>Points pace: 83

>Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 3.6%

>Tragic number: 29

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 54

>Regulation wins: 17

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 17

>Points pace: 68

>Next game: vs. OTT (Thursday)

>Playoff chances:0%

>Tragic number: 16

Central Division

Dallas Stars

Points: 89

>Regulation wins: 29

>Playoff position: C1

>Games left: 15

>Points pace: 109

>Next game: vs. NJ (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 99.9%

>Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 87

>Regulation wins: 36

>Playoff position: C2

>Games left: 18

>Points pace: 112

>Next game: vs. NSH (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 99.9%

>Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 87

>Regulation wins: 36

>Playoff position: C3

>Games left: 16

>Points pace: 108

>Next game: @ VAN (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 99.9%

>Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 78

>Regulation wins: 30

>Playoff position: WC1

>Games left: 16

>Points pace: 97

>Next game: @ WPG (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 85.6%

>Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 71

>Regulation wins: 25

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 16

>Points pace: 88

>Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 21.6%

>Tragic number: 26

St. Louis Blues

Points: 69

>Regulation wins: 25

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 17

>Points pace: 87

>Next game: vs. LA (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 1.2%

>Tragic number: 26

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 57

>Regulation wins: 21

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 16

>Points pace: 71

>Next game: @ NYI (Thursday)

>Playoff chances:0%

>Tragic number: 12

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 39

>Regulation wins: 12

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 17

>Points pace: 49

>Next game: vs. LA (Friday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 91

>Regulation wins: 36

>Playoff position: P1

>Games left: 16

>Points pace: 113

>Next game: vs. COL (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 99.9%

>Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 81

>Regulation wins: 31

>Playoff position: P2

>Games left: 19

>Points pace: 105

>Next game: vs. WSH (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 99.9%

>Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 77

>Regulation wins: 28

>Playoff position: P3

>Games left: 18

>Points pace: 99

>Next game: @ STL (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 90.9%

>Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 77

>Regulation wins: 27

>Playoff position: WC2

>Games left: 17

>Points pace: 97

>Next game: @ CGY (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 88.5%

>Tragic number: N/A

Seattle Kraken

Points: 68

>Regulation wins: 22

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 18

>Points pace: 87

>Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 11.2%

>Tragic number: 27

Calgary Flames

Points: 67

>Regulation wins: 26

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 17

>Points pace: 85

>Next game: vs. VGK (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 1.0%

>Tragic number: 24

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 49

>Regulation wins: 17

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 17

>Points pace: 62

>Next game: @ MIN (Thursday)

>Playoff chances:0%

>Tragic number: 6

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 39

>Regulation wins: 12

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 18

>Points pace: 50

>Next game: @ PIT (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.