NHL Playoff Standings: Blue Jackets’ Path to Playoffs

Sports news » NHL Playoff Standings: Blue Jackets’ Path to Playoffs

8 months ago 206

After a busy Thursday with 14 games and ahead of another 14 games on Saturday, Friday’s NHL schedule features only one matchup: Columbus at Pittsburgh (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network).

The Pittsburgh Penguins have a mixed record of 5 wins, 4 losses, and 1 overtime loss in their last 10 games. However, their playoff hopes appear slim as they look towards the next season.

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For the Columbus Blue Jackets, this game could mark the beginning of their journey back into a playoff spot. On March 8th, just after the trade deadline, they were leading the Eastern Conference wild-card race.

Currently, the Blue Jackets are three points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the final wild-card spot, with the New York Rangers and New York Islanders in between. Looking at their upcoming schedule, Columbus will face the Islanders twice and the Ottawa Senators (currently in the first wild-card spot) three times. Five of their other eight games are against teams currently in playoff positions.

Statistics project Columbus to have the ninth-toughest remaining schedule in the NHL, while the Islanders are fourth, the Rangers are 11th, and the Canadiens are 18th.

However, Columbus has consistently exceeded expectations throughout the season, despite initial projections of 69.5 points. Therefore, it’s premature to rule out the Blue Jackets playoff chances until mathematically impossible.

With significant time left until the regular season ends on April 17th, we’ll keep you updated on the NHL playoff race. We will provide details on the playoff battles and the teams competing for a better position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery as we approach the final stretch of the season.

Note: Playoff chances are based on statistical projections.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Yesterday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current Playoff Matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs 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 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Friday’s Game

Note: All times ET. Games on NHL Network are available to stream.

Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m. (NHLN)

Thursday’s Scoreboard

Colorado Avalanche 5, Ottawa Senators 1
Calgary Flames 5, New Jersey Devils 3
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, New York Rangers 3
Washington Capitals 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2
Florida Panthers 1, Columbus Blue Jackets 0 (OT)
New York Islanders 4, Montreal Canadiens 3 (OT)
St. Louis Blues 4, Vancouver Canucks 3 (OT)
Anaheim Ducks 4, Nashville Predators 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Dallas Stars 2 (SO)
Los Angeles Kings 3, Chicago Blackhawks 1
Winnipeg Jets 4, Edmonton Oilers 3 (OT)
Utah Hockey Club 5, Buffalo Sabres 2
Vegas Golden Knights 5, Boston Bruins 1
Carolina Hurricanes 3, San Jose Sharks 1

Expanded Standings

Atlantic Division

Florida Panthers

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 103.4
Next game: @ WSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 103.4
Next game: @ NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 14
Points pace: 102.5
Next game: @ UTA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Ottawa Senators

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 92.9
Next game: @ NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 97.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 89.2
Next game: vs. COL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 36.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 84.4
Next game: @ VGK (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 5.3%
Tragic number: 25

Boston Bruins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 80.8
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 2.5%
Tragic number: 20

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 73.4
Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 17

Metro Division

x – Washington Capitals

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 118.8
Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 106.1
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 93.7
Next game: vs. OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 96.8%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 86.8
Next game: vs. CGY (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 22.8%
Tragic number: 27

New York Rangers

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 84.3
Next game: vs. VAN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 25.7%
Tragic number: 23

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 85.6
Next game: @ PIT (Friday)
Playoff chances: 13.1%
Tragic number: 26

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 77.3
Next game: vs. CBJ (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 17

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 75.0
Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 15

Central Division

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 117.1
Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 101.9
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 98.6
Next game: vs. BUF (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 95.7%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 90.2
Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 56%
Tragic number: N/A

Utah Hockey Club

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 86.8
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 7.7%
Tragic number: 23

Nashville Predators

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 69.9
Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 10

e – Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 58.2
Next game: @ STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 106.1
Next game: vs. DET (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 101.0
Next game: vs. SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 15
Points pace: 101.6
Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 90.3
Next game: @ NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 25.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 90.4
Next game: @ NYI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 16.1%
Tragic number: 27

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 80.8
Next game: vs. CAR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 18

Seattle Kraken

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 76.1
Next game: @ EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 13

San Jose Sharks

Points: 45
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 53.5
Next game: vs. BOS (Saturday)
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 first round order, meaning 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 the bottom 11 teams. Full details on the process are available. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL’s Erie Otters, is currently ranked as the top prospect for the draft.