After a strong start to the season where they held an impressive 18-4-4 record and led the NHL standings as of December 6th, the Minnesota Wild have seen a shift in their fortunes. Currently, as we approach the playoffs, their grip on a Western Conference wild-card spot is becoming increasingly fragile.

The question now looms large: Are the Wild facing a genuine threat to their playoff aspirations?

With 85 points and 32 regulation wins accumulated over 72 games, Minnesota is just slightly ahead of the St. Louis Blues, who are close behind with 83 points and 28 regulation wins in 73 games. Adding to the pressure, the Vancouver Canucks (80 points, 26 regulation wins in 72 games) and the Calgary Flames (79 points, 26 regulation wins in 70 games) are also fiercely competing for a playoff berth.

The Wild`s upcoming schedule presents a significant challenge. They are set to face the Washington Capitals, currently leading the league, at home on Thursday. This is followed by a home-and-home series against the New Jersey Devils. Their road journey continues with games against the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders, before returning home to play the Dallas Stars.

Crucially, games against the Flames (April 11th) and Canucks (April 12th) stand out on their remaining schedule. These are critical “four-point games,” where a regulation win carries amplified importance due to the direct impact on a competitor`s standing. If the playoff race remains tight as these games approach, the tension for Minnesota fans will undoubtedly intensify.

Despite the mounting pressure on the Wild, analytics site Stathletes remains optimistic about their postseason chances, projecting a 91.4% likelihood of them making the playoffs.

With less than a month remaining until the regular season concludes on April 17th, the NHL playoff picture is coming into sharp focus. We will continue to provide updates and analysis on the playoff races and the teams vying for a favorable position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery as the season progresses.

Page Contents

Current Playoff Matchups

Eastern Conference

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators
Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens
Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues
Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild
Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers

Thursday`s Games

Note: All times ET. Games on ESPN+ may have local blackout restrictions.

Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
Ottawa Senators at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.
Utah Hockey Club at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
Washington Capitals at Minnesota Wild, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu/Disney+)
St. Louis Blues at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Dallas Stars at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Colorado Avalanche, 10 p.m. (ESPN)
Edmonton Oilers at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday`s Scoreboard

Vancouver Canucks 5, New York Islanders 2
New Jersey Devils 5, Chicago Blackhawks 3
Dallas Stars 4, Edmonton Oilers 3
Anaheim Ducks 6, Boston Bruins 2

Expanded Standings

Atlantic Division

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 102.8
Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 102.8
Next game: vs. UTA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 11
Points pace: 100.5
Next game: vs. UTA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Ottawa Senators

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 92.5
Next game: @ DET (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 98.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 87.9
Next game: @ PHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 47.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 83.2
Next game: vs. OTT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 5.2%
Tragic number: 20

Boston Bruins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 77.5
Next game: @ DET (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 13

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 75.0
Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 14

Metro Division

x – Washington Capitals

Points: 103
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 119.0
Next game: @ MIN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 103.9
Next game: vs. MTL (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 9
Points pace: 93.2
Next game: @ WPG (Friday)
Playoff chances: 94.6%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 85.5
Next game: @ TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 24.5%
Tragic number: 22

New York Rangers

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 84.3
Next game: @ ANA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 16.5%
Tragic number: 20

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 85.5
Next game: vs. VAN (Friday)
Playoff chances: 13.1%
Tragic number: 23

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 77.5
Next game: @ BUF (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 13

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 73.0
Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 9

Central Division

x – Winnipeg Jets

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 116.2
Next game: vs. NJ (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 10
Points pace: 103.6
Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 96.8
Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 96.8%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 93.2
Next game: @ NSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 77.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Utah Hockey Club

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 86.6
Next game: @ TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 6.2%
Tragic number: 15

Nashville Predators

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 71.6
Next game: vs. STL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 2

e – Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 58.1
Next game:
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 108.6
Next game: @ CHI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 104.3
Next game: @ COL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 100.5
Next game: @ SEA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 91.1
Next game: @ CBJ (Friday)
Playoff chances: 8.2%
Tragic number: 18

Calgary Flames

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 92.5
Next game: vs. DAL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 11.8%
Tragic number: 21

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 80.9
Next game: vs. NYR (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 10

Seattle Kraken

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 75.2
Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 4

e – San Jose Sharks

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 55.1
Next game: vs. TOR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Note: 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. Full 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: 47
Regulation wins: 14

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18

3. Nashville Predators

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23

4. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 23

5. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 17

6. Seattle Kraken

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 24

7. Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20

8. Boston Bruins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23

9. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 23

10. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25

11. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23

12. New York Rangers

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 31

13. New York Islanders

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25

14. Utah Hockey Club

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24

15. Calgary Flames

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 26

16. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26

Are the Minnesota Wild’s Playoff Hopes in Jeopardy?