NHL | NHL Playoff Standings: Who Wins The Second East Wild Card?

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NHL | NHL playoff standings: Who wins the second East wild card?

Heading into at present’s large 14-game slate, one of many main storylines we’re following is: Who will win the second wild-card spot within the Japanese Convention?

Because it stands now, the New York Islanders and Detroit Purple Wings each have 72 factors; the Isles are given the tiebreaker within the standings proper now as they’ve the next factors proportion, however when regulation wins come into play, the Purple Wings sit two forward. However due to some up-and-down play from these groups as of late, there are 4 groups inside 5 factors behind them.

The Isles have the very best probabilities of making the playoffs, per Stathletes’ projections, at 61.1%. Eight of their closing 17 video games are towards groups at the moment exterior the playoffs — together with at present’s matchup towards the Ottawa Senators (12:30 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+).
The Purple Wings, who’ve a 12.1% probability of a playoff berth, play 9 of their closing 16 towards non-playoff golf equipment, although they face the razor-hot Buffalo Sabres at present (12:30 p.m. ET, NHL Community).
Talking of the Sabres, they’ve gone 6-3-1 of their final 10 to tug inside three factors of the Isles and Wings, and have a 13.2% probability of reaching the postseason. Simply seven of their remaining 15 video games are towards groups out of playoff place, however they’ve dispatched playoff-bound groups as effectively in the course of the current heater (together with a 7-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights). Of observe, the newest Purple Wings-Sabres tilt went to Buffalo, 7-3.
The Washington Capitals are looming one level behind the Isles and Wings, and Stathletes tasks their playoff possibilities at 37.8%. They will skate in one of many night’s nightcaps, on the Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+). Washington’s schedule is hard, with simply seven out of 17 video games towards groups not in playoff place.
A kind of video games will come towards their basic rivals, the Pittsburgh Penguins, who’re at the moment 5 again of the Isles and Wings. The Penguins — who play the New York Rangers this afternoon (3 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+) — are the longest shot of the groups we’ll point out right here, with a 4.0% probability of the playoffs. And very similar to the Caps, seven of their closing 17 contests are vs. groups at the moment exterior the postseason combine.
Lastly, the New Jersey Devils — who had the best projected level totals of any of those groups heading into the season — will hope their annual journey to Arizona State College earns them two factors at present towards the Arizona Coyotes (5 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+). Together with at present’s recreation towards the Yotes, six of the Devils’ closing 16 video games are towards groups not in playoff place, and Stathletes offers them a 14.0% probability of qualifying for the postseason.

With a matchup towards one of many East’s dominant powers on faucet within the first spherical because the prize, this race is much from over. And whereas matching up towards the Florida Panthers, Boston Bruins, Rangers or Carolina Hurricanes would not sound interesting, the Panthers did creator a shocking upset of the juggernaut No. 1 seed Bruins final spring. Might certainly one of these groups do the identical?

As we traverse the ultimate stretch of the common season, it is time to test in on all of the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place within the 2024 NHL draft lottery.

Be aware: Playoff chances are high through Stathletes.

Leap forward:
Present playoff matchups
At present’s schedule
Final night time’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 decide

Present playoff matchups

Japanese Convention

A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC2 New York Islanders
A2 Boston Bruins vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 New York Rangers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers

Western Convention

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Dallas Stars
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Saturday’s video games

Be aware: All instances ET. All video games not on TNT or NHL Community can be found through NHL Energy Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (native blackout restrictions apply).

Buffalo Sabres at Detroit Purple Wings, 12:30 p.m. (NHLN)
Ottawa Senators at New York Islanders, 12:30 p.m.
New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins, 3 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)
New Jersey Devils at Arizona Coyotes, 5 p.m.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers, 6 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
Philadelphia Flyers at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.
Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
San Jose Sharks at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at Calgary Flames, 7 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.
Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers, 10 p.m.
Washington Capitals at Vancouver Canucks 10 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.