After the trade deadline, the New York Islanders found themselves in a challenging position, trailing the Ottawa Senators by four points for the last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, with several teams in between.
However, the situation has changed significantly. By Wednesday, the Islanders had narrowed the gap to just one point, making a playoff spot within reach. The immediate challenge is a home game against the Vancouver Canucks, also vying for a playoff position and trying to overtake the St. Louis Blues, who have been strong recently. This game is crucial for the Islanders.
Looking ahead, the Islanders face a tough schedule with their next five games against teams likely heading to the playoffs: Tampa Bay Lightning (twice), Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, and Washington Capitals. Following this stretch, they have a game against the Nashville Predators before finishing the season with divisional rivals: New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals again, and Columbus Blue Jackets. These Metro Division teams will be highly competitive and unlikely to give the Islanders an easy path.
Despite the difficult road ahead, history suggests it`s unwise to underestimate the Islanders. Projections from Stathletes indicate they have a 24.3% chance to defy expectations and make the playoffs.
With the regular season concluding on April 17th, the NHL playoff race is intensifying. We are tracking the playoff scenarios and the teams` positions in the 2025 NHL draft lottery as the season progresses.
Current Playoff Matchups
Eastern Conference
- A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
- A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
- 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
Wednesday`s Games
Note: All times are Eastern Time. Games may be subject to blackout restrictions.
- Vancouver Canucks at New York Islanders, 7:30 PM
- New Jersey Devils at Chicago Blackhawks, 7:30 PM
- Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers, 10:00 PM
- Boston Bruins at Anaheim Ducks, 10:00 PM
Tuesday`s Scoreboard
- Buffalo Sabres 3, Ottawa Senators 2
- Toronto Maple Leafs 7, Philadelphia Flyers 2
- Tampa Bay Lightning 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 1
- Nashville Predators 3, Carolina Hurricanes 1
- St. Louis Blues 6, Montreal Canadiens 1
- Vegas Golden Knights 5, Minnesota Wild 1
- Winnipeg Jets 3, Washington Capitals 2 (OT)
- Colorado Avalanche 5, Detroit Red Wings 2
- Calgary Flames 4, Seattle Kraken 3 (OT)
- Los Angeles Kings 3, New York Rangers 1
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%
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%
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%
Ottawa Senators
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 92.5
Next game: @ DET (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 97.9%
Montreal Canadiens
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 87.9
Next game: @ PHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 38.6%
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: 3.4%
Boston Bruins
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 78.6
Next game: @ ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0.2%
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%
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: 99.9%
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%
New Jersey Devils
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 10
Points pace: 92.3
Next game: @ CHI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 96.4%
New York Islanders
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 86.7
Next game: vs. VAN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 30.9%
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: 16.4%
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: 16.2%
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%
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%
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: 99.9%
Dallas Stars
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 110.1
Next game: @ EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
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%
Minnesota Wild
Points: 85
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 10
Points pace: 96.8
Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 91.4%
St. Louis Blues
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 9
Points pace: 93.2
Next game: @ NSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 81.5%
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: 4.1%
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%
e – Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 58.9
Next game: vs. NJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
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%
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%
Edmonton Oilers
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 101.9
Next game: vs. DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.0%
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: 18.1%
Vancouver Canucks
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 90.1
Next game: @ NYI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 5.9%
Anaheim Ducks
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 79.7
Next game: vs. BOS (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
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%
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%
Note: `x` – clinched playoff berth, `e` – eliminated from playoff contention.
Race for the No. 1 Pick
The NHL draft lottery determines the first round order, so the last-place team isn`t guaranteed the top pick. Since 2021, teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the lottery, limiting No. 1 pick eligibility to 11 teams. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL`s Erie Otters, is currently projected as the No. 1 draft prospect.
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. Anaheim Ducks
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
8. Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 20
9. Boston Bruins
Points: 69
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. Vancouver Canucks
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25
16. Calgary Flames
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 26
