Stanley Cup playoff watch: How the standings can shift with Monday's six games
Written by I Dig Sports
For those who want to know the identities of the 16 Stanley Cup playoff teams, this was quite a productive weekend. As the games begin Monday, 14 of 16 clubs have punched their tickets, though a variety of seeds remain in contention.
With the end of the regular season approaching on Thursday, here's what's at stake in the six games taking place Monday:
Chicago Blackhawks at Montreal Canadiens
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
The Columbus Blue Jackets' win on Sunday kept them in the playoff race for at least one more day; a win by the Canadiens in this one will clinch a berth (and eliminate the Blue Jackets). On the other side, the Blackhawks are locked in to the No. 2 spot in the draft lottery order.
Dallas Stars at Detroit Red Wings
7 p.m. (NHL Network)
The Stars can no longer catch the Jets or be caught by the Avalanche, so they will begin their first-round playoff series against the Avs at home. The Red Wings enter the evening 11th in the draft lottery order, tied in points with the Rangers, three points behind the Ducks (and the Penguins, but they have only one game left) and one point ahead of the Islanders.
New York Rangers at Florida Panthers
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
As noted above, the Rangers are right in the mix for a top-10 draft pick, but they could finish as low in the order as 13th if they win out. On the other side, the Panthers cannot catch the Maple Leafs for first in the Atlantic Division, but they can potentially move ahead of the Lightning into second in the final week. They are four points ahead of the Senators, but hold a three-regulation win advantage with just two games left for both clubs, so Ottawa cannot catch them.
Utah Hockey Club at Nashville Predators
8 p.m. (ESPN+)
These two teams enter the evening 14th and 3rd, respectively, in the draft lottery order. Nashville is locked in at No. 3, but the Hockey Club (with 87 points) can potentially move up a spot to No. 13 (currently the Blue Jackets, 85 points), or down to No. 15 (currently the Canucks, 88 points).
Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers
10 p.m. (ESPN+, NHL Network)
Here's your No. 2 vs. No. 3 series in the Pacific Division, but it remains to be seen which team gets home-ice advantage. The Kings enter the evening in the second spot, with 101 points and 41 regulation wins (and a game in hand). The Oilers have 99 points and 35 RW, so this is essentially a must-win for them (and in regulation, too).
San Jose Sharks at Vancouver Canucks
10 p.m. (ESPN+)
In the nightcap, it's two lottery-bound teams, though at the two ends of the table. The Sharks have clinched the No. 1 spot in the lottery, while the Canucks are 15th heading into this matchup. The Canucks can potentially switch spots with the Hockey Club at No. 14, and could also flip with the Calgary Flames at No. 16.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today's schedule
Yesterday's scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Monday's games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Chicago Blackhawks at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Dallas Stars at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m. (NHL Network)
New York Rangers at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.
Utah Hockey Club at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m.
San Jose Sharks at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.
Sunday's scoreboard
Ottawa Senators 4, Philadelphia Flyers 3 (OT)
New York Islanders 1, New Jersey Devils 0
Boston Bruins 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 1
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Carolina Hurricanes 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 7, Buffalo Sabres 4
Columbus Blue Jackets 4, Washington Capitals 1
Edmonton Oilers 4, Winnipeg Jets 1
Calgary Flames 5, San Jose Sharks 2
Colorado Avalanche 4, Anaheim Ducks 2
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
x - Toronto Maple Leafs
Points: 104
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 106.6
Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Tampa Bay Lightning
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 102.5
Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Florida Panthers
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 100.5
Next game: vs. NYR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Ottawa Senators
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 96.4
Next game: vs. CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Montreal Canadiens
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 90.2
Next game: vs. CHI (Monday)
Playoff chances: 94.4%
Tragic number: N/A
e - Detroit Red Wings
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 84.1
Next game: vs. DAL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Buffalo Sabres
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 78.9
Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Boston Bruins
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 75.9
Next game: vs. NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Metro Division
z - Washington Capitals
Points: 109
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 111.7
Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Carolina Hurricanes
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 101.5
Next game: @ MTL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - New Jersey Devils
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 91.2
Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 87.1
Next game: @ PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 5.6%
Tragic number: 2
e - New York Islanders
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 84.1
Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - New York Rangers
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 83.0
Next game: @ FLA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 79.0
Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 77.9
Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
p - Winnipeg Jets
Points: 114
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 115.4
Next game: vs. ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Dallas Stars
Points: 106
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 108.7
Next game: @ DET (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Colorado Avalanche
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 0
Points pace: 102
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Minnesota Wild
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 96.2
Next game: vs. ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 98.3%
Tragic number: N/A
St. Louis Blues
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 95.2
Next game: vs. UTA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 90.6%
Tragic number: N/A
e - Utah Hockey Club
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 89.2
Next game: @ NSH (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Nashville Predators
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 67.7
Next game: vs. UTA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 58.4
Next game: @ MTL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
y - Vegas Golden Knights
Points: 107
Regulation wins: 45
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 109.7
Next game: @ CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Los Angeles Kings
Points: 101
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 3
Points pace: 104.8
Next game: @ EDM (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
x - Edmonton Oilers
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 101.5
Next game: vs. LA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Calgary Flames
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 94.3
Next game: s. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 11.1%
Tragic number: 3
e - Vancouver Canucks
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 90.2
Next game: vs. SJ (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Anaheim Ducks
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 80.0
Next game: @ MIN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - Seattle Kraken
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 76.9
Next game: vs. LA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
e - San Jose Sharks
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 52.3
Next game: @ VAN (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Note: A "p" means that the team has clinched the Presidents' Trophy as the top team in the regular season. A "z" means that the team has clinched the top record in the conference. A "y" means that the team has clinched the division title. An "x" means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An "e" means that the team has been 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 No. 1 pick. More details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL's Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.
1. San Jose Sharks
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 14
2. Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
3. Nashville Predators
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
4. Boston Bruins
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
5. Seattle Kraken
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
6. Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 21
7. Buffalo Sabres
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
8. Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23
9. Anaheim Ducks
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24
10. New York Rangers
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
11. Detroit Red Wings
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
12. New York Islanders
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
13. Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 28
14. Utah Hockey Club
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
15. Vancouver Canucks
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 28
16. Calgary Flames
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 30