NHL Playoff Race Intensifies: Key Games and Standings Update for Tuesday

Following Alex Ovechkin`s historic goal, the focus shifts to the NHL playoff races. Tuesday features ten games that will impact playoff spots and draft lottery positions.

Key Games on Tuesday

The Hurricanes are likely locked into the second seed in their division. The Sabres` recent good form has lowered their draft lottery position.

The Red Wings need a win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive against the Canadiens, who are ahead of them in the standings.

This game could be a first-round playoff preview. The Leafs lead the Atlantic Division, while the Panthers are currently in a wild-card spot.

The Bruins are out of playoff contention and near the top of the draft lottery. The Devils are likely to finish third in their division.

The Senators are on a hot streak and closing in on a playoff spot. The Blue Jackets are a long shot for the playoffs and need a win.

The Blackhawks are aiming for the top draft lottery spot. The Penguins are out of playoff contention and have a high draft pick.

The Islanders are still fighting for a playoff spot. The Predators are likely to get a top-3 draft lottery pick.

The Canucks` playoff hopes are fading. The Stars are competing for the top seed in their division.

Two of the newest NHL teams face off. Seattle is in the draft lottery mix, while Utah`s playoff chances are very slim.

This late game is a highlight of Tuesday`s schedule, potentially a Western Conference Finals preview. The Golden Knights are leading their division, and the Avalanche are likely third in theirs.

The regular season ends on April 17th. This article tracks the playoff races and the draft lottery.

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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 Minnesota Wild
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 St. Louis Blues
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

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Clinching Scenarios

New Jersey Devils: Clinch playoff spot with a win or OT/shootout loss vs. Boston Bruins.

Ottawa Senators: Clinch playoff berth if:

• Defeat Columbus Blue Jackets in any fashion, OR
• Lose to Blue Jackets in OT/shootout AND Detroit Red Wings-Montreal Canadiens game is not a Red Wings regulation win, OR
• Red Wings lose to Canadiens in any fashion.

Washington Capitals: Clinch Metropolitan Division title if Carolina Hurricanes lose to Buffalo Sabres in regulation.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Clinch home-ice advantage in the first round with a regulation win vs. Florida Panthers.

Carolina Hurricanes: Clinch home-ice advantage in the first round if they win vs. Sabres AND Devils lose to Bruins in any fashion. Also clinch if Hurricanes lose in OT/shootout and Devils lose in regulation.

Dallas Stars: Clinch home-ice advantage in the first round if:

• Defeat Vancouver Canucks in any fashion, OR
• Lose to Canucks in OT/shootout AND Colorado Avalanche lose to Vegas Golden Knights, OR
• Avalanche lose to Golden Knights in regulation.

Vegas Golden Knights: Clinch home-ice advantage in the first round with a win or OT/shootout loss vs. Avalanche.

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Tuesday`s Games

All times Eastern. Games stream on ESPN+ unless noted.

• Carolina Hurricanes at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.
• Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
• Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
• Boston Bruins at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
• Ottawa Senators at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
• Chicago Blackhawks at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.
• New York Islanders at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
• Vancouver Canucks at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.
• Seattle Kraken at Utah Hockey Club, 9 p.m.
• Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)

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Monday`s Scoreboard

Tampa Bay Lightning 5, New York Rangers 1
Winnipeg Jets 3, St. Louis Blues 1
Anaheim Ducks 3, Edmonton Oilers 2
Seattle Kraken 2, Los Angeles Kings 1
Calgary Flames 3, San Jose Sharks 2

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Expanded Standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 105.7
Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 102.2
Next game: vs. TOR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 98.0
Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 99.9
Next game: @ CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 90.5
Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 89.2%

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 85.2
Next game: @ MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 5.4%

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 79.8
Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 74.6
Next game: @ NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%

Metro Division

Points: 107
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 114.0
Next game: vs. CAR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 103.6
Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 94.8
Next game: vs. BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 84.1
Next game: vs. PHI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 1.9%

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 84.2
Next game: @ NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 3.0%

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 83.1
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.5%

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 77.8
Next game: vs. CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 75.6
Next game: @ NYR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%

Central Division

Points: 110
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 115.6
Next game: @ DAL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 111.8
Next game: vs. VAN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 4
Points pace: 103.0
Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 96.5
Next game: @ EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 97.3%

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 95.7
Next game: vs. SJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 92.1%

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 87.3
Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 66.0
Next game: vs. NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 57.5
Next game: @ PIT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%

Pacific Division

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 108.6
Next game: @ COL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 103.3
Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 99.0
Next game: vs. STL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 92.7
Next game: @ ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 10.9%

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 88.4
Next game: @ DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 80.9
Next game: vs. CGY (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 77.8
Next game: @ UTA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 53.2
Next game: @ MIN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%

Note: `x` – clinched playoff berth, `e` – eliminated from playoff contention.

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Race for the No. 1 Pick

The NHL Draft Lottery determines the first-round order. A team can move up maximum 10 spots in the lottery. Matthew Schaefer is projected as the No. 1 pick.

1. San Jose Sharks

   Points: 50, Regulation wins: 14

2. Chicago Blackhawks

   Points: 54, Regulation wins: 19

3. Nashville Predators

   Points: 62, Regulation wins: 23

4. Boston Bruins

   Points: 71, Regulation wins: 24

5. Philadelphia Flyers

   Points: 71, Regulation wins: 20

6. Buffalo Sabres

   Points: 74, Regulation wins: 27

7. Pittsburgh Penguins

   Points: 74, Regulation wins: 21

8. Seattle Kraken

   Points: 74, Regulation wins: 28

9. Anaheim Ducks

   Points: 76, Regulation wins: 24

10. Columbus Blue Jackets

    Points: 77, Regulation wins: 24

11. New York Islanders

    Points: 78, Regulation wins: 27

12. New York Rangers

    Points: 79, Regulation wins: 32

13. Detroit Red Wings

    Points: 79, Regulation wins: 28

14. Utah Hockey Club

    Points: 82, Regulation wins: 27

15. Vancouver Canucks

    Points: 83, Regulation wins: 27

16. Calgary Flames

    Points: 87, Regulation wins: 28