by On Wednesday, we pondered whether the Buffalo Sabers or Washington Capitals — who met that night — could earn a playoff berth. Before that game, the Sabres’ playoff chances were 16%, per FiveThirtyEight.
The Caps would win tonight’s game via shootout, and the Sabers would go on to lose Friday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2. Their playoff chances are now at 7%.
If there’s a path for Buffalo to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2010-11, it starts with Sunday’s game against the Boston Bruins (1 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). So far this season, the Bruins have won two straight games (3-1 on Nov. 12 and 7-1 on March 2), while the Sabers won 4-3 in OT on New Year’s Eve. A win against the Bruins could be a tough task based on what we saw against Philly on Friday.
Beyond Sunday, six of the Sabres’ last 13 games will be against teams in playoff position. They will also face their fellow wild-card contenders – the Florida Panthers, Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators – once at a time.
So this is not an impossible task, but it is certainly a tough one. The good news: The Sabers will play a game on the final day of the season against the basement Columbus Blue Jackets, so they’ll be in a good spot if they happen to need just two more points to push them into the postseason.
As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check out all the playoff races — along with the teams vying for position in the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery.
Note: Playoff odds are via FiveThirtyEight.
Skip ahead:
Current playoff games
Today’s matches
Yesterday’s scores
Extended location
Race for the No. 1 pick
Current playoff games
Eastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Pittsburgh Penguins
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 New York Islanders
M2 New Jersey Devils vs. M3 New York Rangers
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC1 Seattle Kraken
C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Sunday’s matches
Note: All times are Eastern. All games not on ESPN, TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included with an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
Boston Bruins at Buffalo Sabres, at 1 p.m
Washington Capitals at Minnesota Wild, 2 p.m. (NHLN)
Columbus Blue Jackets at Vegas Golden Knights, 6 p.m. 4 p.m
Nashville Predators at New York Rangers, 7 p.m
Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues, 7 p.m. 19.00
New Jersey Devils at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. (NHLN)
Vancouver Canucks at Anaheim Ducks, 6 p.m. 8 p.m
Saturday’s scoreboard
Watch “In the Crease” on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.
Colorado Avalanche 5, Detroit Red Wings 1
Boston Bruins 5, Minnesota Wild 2
Winnipeg Jets 3, Nashville Predators 2 (OT)
Edmonton Oilers 6, Seattle Kraken 4
Carolina Hurricanes 5, Philadelphia Flyers 4 (OT)
Florida Panthers 4, New Jersey Devils 2
Toronto Maple Leafs 5, Ottawa Senators 4 (SO)
Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Montreal Canadiens 3
New York Rangers 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 0
Dallas Stars 6, Calgary Flames 5 (OT)
Vancouver Canucks 3, Los Angeles Kings 2 (SO)
Arizona Coyotes 4, Chicago Blackhawks 2
New York Islanders 4, San Jose Sharks 1
Extended location
Atlantic Division
Point: 109
Regulation wins: 45
Playoff position: A1
Play again: 14
Scoring pace: 131
Next match: @ BUF (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: 100%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 93
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A2
Play again: 1. 3
Scoring pace: 111
Next match: @ NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 90
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A3
Play again: 12
Scoring pace: 105
Next match: vs. NJ (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 77
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 1. 3
Scoring pace: 92
Next match: @ IT (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 63%
Tragic number: 25
Point: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 14
Scoring pace: 87
Next match: vs. BIM (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: 7%
Tragic number: 22
Point: 71
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 1. 3
Scoring pace: 84
Next match: @ PIT (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 1%
Tragic number: 19
Point: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 14
Scoring pace: 83
Next match: vs. FLA (Monday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Tragic number: 19
Point: 60
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 12
Scoring pace: 70
Next match: vs. TB (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Tragic number: 6
Metropolitan division
Point: 98
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: M1
Play again: 14
Scoring pace: 118
Next match: @ NYR (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 95
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: M2
Play again: 1. 3
Scoring pace: 113
Next match: @ TB (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 90
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: M3
Play again: 1. 3
Scoring pace: 107
Next match: vs. NSH (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 80
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Play again: 11
Scoring pace: 92
Next match: p. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 63%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC2
Play again: 1. 3
Scoring pace: 93
Next match: vs. OTT (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 60%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 12
Scoring pace: 86
Next match: @ MY (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: 5%
Tragic number: 19
Point: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 1. 3
Scoring pace: 74
Next match: vs. FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Tragic number: 10
Point: 49
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 14
Scoring pace: 59
Next match: @ VGK (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Point: 89
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: C1
Play again: 12
Scoring pace: 104
Next match: vs. SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 86
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: C2
Play again: 14
Scoring pace: 104
Next match: vs. CHI (Monday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 86
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: C3
Play again: 1. 3
Scoring pace: 102
Next match: vs. WSH (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: 98%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Play again: 12
Scoring pace: 95
Next match: @ STL (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: 71%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 76
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 15
Scoring pace: 93
Next match: @ NYR (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: 22%
Tragic number: 25
Point: 65
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 14
Scoring pace: 78
Next match: vs. WPG (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Tragic number: 12
Point: 65
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 12
Scoring pace: 76
Next match: @ WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Tragic number: 7
Point: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 1. 3
Scoring pace: 64
Next match: @ COL (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Point: 90
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: P1
Play again: 1. 3
Scoring pace: 107
Next match: vs. CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 90
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P2
Play again: 12
Scoring pace: 105
Next match: vs. CGY (Monday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 86
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P3
Play again: 12
Scoring pace: 101
Next match: vs. SJ (Monday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 83
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC1
Play again: 1. 3
Scoring pace: 99
Next match: @ DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff Chances: 89%
Tragic number: NOW
Point: 77
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 12
Scoring pace: 90
Next match: @ LA (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 21%
Tragic number: 20
Point: 65
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 14
Scoring pace: 78
Next match: @ ANA (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Tragic number: 12
Point: 56
Regulation wins: 1. 3
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 1. 3
Scoring pace: 67
Next match: vs. VAN (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: <1%
Tragic number: 1
Point: 52
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: NOW
Play again: 12
Scoring pace: 61
Next match: @ EDM (Monday)
Playoff Chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
X — Consolidated playoff spot; E — Eliminated from the playoffs
Race for choice number 1
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes last is not guaranteed the No. 1 pick. Starting in 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 team is eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details of the process can be found here. Sitting at No. 1 in this summer’s draft is Connor Bedard, who has been hailed as a generational talent.
Point: 49
Regulation wins: 15
Point: 52
Regulation wins: 14
Point: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Point: 56
Regulation wins: 1. 3
Point: 60
Regulation wins: 18
Point: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Point: 65
Regulation wins: 18
Point: 65
Regulation wins: 20
Point: 65
Regulation wins: 22
Point: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Point: 71
Regulation wins: 26
Point: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Point: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Point: 76
Regulation wins: 25
Point: 77
Regulation wins: 25
Point: 77
Regulation wins: 30
Notes on traded picks affecting the top 16:
