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There have been fantastic nights on the NHL schedule recently, some might argue maybe even too much action for hockey fans to track in a given evening.
Friday is not one of those nights.
There is just one game on the schedule, as the New Jersey Devils visit the Buffalo Sabres (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network). This is a game that looked to have considerably more at stake when the schedule came out in the summer, but there are some notable implications for the outcome.
The Devils are five points behind the Washington Capitals for the East's second wild-card spot, and six points behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the No. 3 seed in the Metro Division. Notably, New Jersey has more regulation wins than both clubs, so pulling even in the standings is all that's required to get into the playoffs.
Buffalo's playoff hopes rest on eclipsing a batch of teams and getting the wild card, as the No. 3-seeded Atlantic club, the Toronto Maple Leafs, are 18 points ahead.
Of course, this matchup also impacts the draft lottery standings, with the Sabres currently 10th and the Devils 12th in that register. The NHL's four worst teams don't appear to be in range for either club, but getting as high as the No. 5 position (currently held by the Arizona Coyotes) is in play mathematically.
As we traverse the final stretch of the regular season, it's time to check in on all the playoff races -- along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2024 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead: Current playoff matchups Friday's schedule Thursday's scores Expanded standings Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchupsEastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs M1 New York Rangers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Los Angeles Kings C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights
Friday's gameNote: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
New Jersey Devils at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m. (NHLN)
Thursday's scoreboardToronto Maple Leafs 5, Washington Capitals 1 Montreal Canadiens 4, Philadelphia Flyers 1 Ottawa Senators 2, Chicago Blackhawks 0 New York Islanders 3, Florida Panthers 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 2 Carolina Hurricanes 4, Detroit Red Wings 0 St. Louis Blues 5, Calgary Flames 3 Minnesota Wild 3, San Jose Sharks 1 Vegas Golden Knights 4, Winnipeg Jets 1 New York Rangers 3, Colorado Avalanche 2 (SO) Edmonton Oilers 4, Los Angeles Kings 1 Dallas Stars 3, Vancouver Canucks 1 Arizona Coyotes 8, Nashville Predators 4 Seattle Kraken 4, Anaheim Ducks 2
Expanded standings Atlantic Division x - Boston BruinsPoints: 99 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: A1 Games left: 8 Points pace: 110 Next game: @ WSH (Saturday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Florida PanthersPoints: 97 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: A2 Games left: 9 Points pace: 109 Next game: vs. DET (Saturday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
Toronto Maple LeafsPoints: 91 Regulation wins: 29 Playoff position: A3 Games left: 10 Points pace: 104 Next game: @ BUF (Saturday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A
Tampa Bay LightningPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 10 Points pace: 99 Next game: vs. NYI (Saturday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A
Detroit Red WingsPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 89 Next game: @ FLA (Saturday) Playoff chances: 20.6% Tragic number: 16
Buffalo SabresPoints: 73 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 82 Next game: vs. NJ (Friday) Playoff chances: 0.3% Tragic number: 10
Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 68 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 77 Next game: @ WPG (Saturday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 7
Montreal CanadiensPoints: 68 Regulation wins: 18 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 77 Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 7
Metropolitan Division x - New York RangersPoints: 102 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: M1 Games left: 9 Points pace: 115 Next game: @ ARI (Saturday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Carolina HurricanesPoints: 99 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: M2 Games left: 8 Points pace: 110 Next game: @ MTL (Saturday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 82 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: M3 Games left: 8 Points pace: 91 Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday) Playoff chances: 78.2% Tragic number: N/A
Washington CapitalsPoints: 81 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 10 Points pace: 92 Next game: vs. BOS (Saturday) Playoff chances: 57.0% Tragic number: N/A
New York IslandersPoints: 77 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 88 Next game: @ TB (Saturday) Playoff chances: 24.5% Tragic number: 16
New Jersey DevilsPoints: 76 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 85 Next game: @ BUF (Friday) Playoff chances: 16.9% Tragic number: 13
Pittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 74 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 84 Next game: @ CBJ (Saturday) Playoff chances: 2.5% Tragic number: 13
e - Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 58 Regulation wins: 18 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 65 Next game: vs. PIT (Saturday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Central Division x - Dallas StarsPoints: 101 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: C1 Games left: 8 Points pace: 112 Next game: @ SEA (Saturday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
Colorado AvalanchePoints: 98 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: C2 Games left: 9 Points pace: 110 Next game: vs. NSH (Saturday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A
Winnipeg JetsPoints: 94 Regulation wins: 39 Playoff position: C3 Games left: 9 Points pace: 106 Next game: vs. OTT (Saturday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A
Nashville PredatorsPoints: 90 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 9 Points pace: 101 Next game: @ COL (Saturday) Playoff chances: 99.1% Tragic number: N/A
St. Louis BluesPoints: 82 Regulation wins: 29 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 92 Next game: vs. SJ (Saturday) Playoff chances: 5.1% Tragic number: 14
Minnesota WildPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 90 Next game: vs. VGK (Saturday) Playoff chances: 2.0% Tragic number: 13
e - Arizona CoyotesPoints: 67 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 75 Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 47 Regulation wins: 15 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 53 Next game: @ PHI (Saturday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Pacific Division Vancouver CanucksPoints: 98 Regulation wins: 39 Playoff position: P1 Games left: 9 Points pace: 110 Next game: vs. ANA (Sunday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A
Edmonton OilersPoints: 92 Regulation wins: 34 Playoff position: P2 Games left: 11 Points pace: 106 Next game: vs. ANA (Saturday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A
Vegas Golden KnightsPoints: 88 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: P3 Games left: 9 Points pace: 99 Next game: @ MIN (Saturday) Playoff chances: 95.8% Tragic number: N/A
Los Angeles KingsPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 10 Points pace: 99 Next game: @ CGY (Saturday) Playoff chances: 98.0% Tragic number: N/A
Seattle KrakenPoints: 73 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 83 Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 7
Calgary FlamesPoints: 71 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 81 Next game: vs. LA (Saturday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 7
e - Anaheim DucksPoints: 52 Regulation wins: 18 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 58 Next game: @ EDM (Saturday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - San Jose SharksPoints: 40 Regulation wins: 12 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 46 Next game: @ STL (Saturday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
p -- clinched Presidents' Trophy y -- clinched division x -- clinched playoff berth e -- eliminated from playoff contention
Race for the No. 1 pickThe 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 draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston University.
1. San Jose SharksPoints: 40 Regulation wins: 12
2. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 47 Regulation wins: 15
3. Anaheim DucksPoints: 52 Regulation wins: 18
4. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 58 Regulation wins: 18
5. Arizona CoyotesPoints: 67 Regulation wins: 25
6. Montreal CanadiensPoints: 68 Regulation wins: 18
7. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 68 Regulation wins: 23
8. Calgary FlamesPoints: 71 Regulation wins: 28
9. Seattle KrakenPoints: 73 Regulation wins: 24
10. Buffalo SabresPoints: 73 Regulation wins: 28
11. Pittsburgh Penguins*Points: 74 Regulation wins: 27
12. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 76 Regulation wins: 31
13. New York IslandersPoints: 77 Regulation wins: 23
14. Detroit Red WingsPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 25
15. Minnesota WildPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 28
16. St. Louis BluesPoints: 82 Regulation wins: 29
* The Penguins' first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.