The Vancouver Canucks were the regular season champions in the Pacific division from 2023-24, winning a first-round playoff matchup with the Nashville Predators. The Calgary Flames scored 17 points from wildcard spots last season, trading Jacob Markstrom, Noah Hanifin, Elias Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev during the last season and offseason.
You might say that the expectations were different between the two clubs before the season. This is backed up by a total over/under of preseason points from ESPN BET. Canucks is listed at 99.5 and flame is at 81.5
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Nevertheless, the two Western Canadian teams are playing in the wild card spots of the final Western Conference just a month past the season. On Wednesday night they will face off in Calgary (9pm, ESPN+). Heading into the game, Calgary has 70 points and 24 regulations wins in 63 games, while Vancouver has 69 and 23-63. This is a final head-to-head match between the clubs.
Beyond Wednesday of the remaining games for the Flames, 10 out of 18 are opposed to teams in playoff positions. For the Canucks, that’s nine out of the last 17.
Stathletes predicts they will finish the flame at that coveted wildcard position at 89.6 points. Vancouver is forecast at 88.1 points, behind Calgary, the St. Louis Blues and the Utah Hockey Club.
Given the tight margins, every game is important, especially against your fellow wildcard bubble teams.
There will be plenty of runways until the final day of the April 17th season. We’ll help you track everything with the NHL Playoff Watch. As you cross the final stretch, we will provide details of all the playoff races along with teams jogging for a position in the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery.
Note: The potential for the playoffs is via Sta Threat.
Jump destination:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Yesterday’s score
Expanding ranking
No. 1 pick race
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 Columbus Blue Jacket
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs WC2 Calgary Frame
C2 Dallas Star vs C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Wednesday’s Game
Note: All Times et. All games that are not on a TNT or NHL network can be streamed on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
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Buffalo Sabres of the Detroit Red Wings, 7:30pm (TNT)
Calgary Flames’ Vancouver Canucks, 9pm
Anaheim Ducks at Utah Hockey Club, 10pm (TNT)
Montreal Canadian in Seattle Craken, 10:30pm
Tuesday Scoreboard
Boston Bruins 3, Florida Panthers 2
New Jersey Devils 5, Columbus Blue Jacket 3
Ottawa Senator 5, Philadelphia Flyers 2
Pittsburgh Penguin 3, Vegas Golden Knights 2 (OT)
Carolina Hurricane 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 1
Minnesota Wild 2, Colorado Avalanche 1 (So)
Winnipeg Jets 2, New York Rangers 1
Montreal Canadiens 4, Vancouver Canucks 2
Washington Capitals 7, Anaheim Duck 4
Los Angeles Kings 4, New York Islanders 1
Nashville Predator 3, San Jose Sharks 2
Expanding ranking
Atlantic Division
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A1
Left game: 17
Point Pace: 104.7
Next game: @tor (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 81
Regulation victory: 31
Playoff position: A2
Left game: 18
Point Pace: 103.8
Next Game: vs. FLA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: A3
Left game: 18
Point Pace: 99.9
Next game: @ phi (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 73
Regulation victory: 25
Playoff position: WC1
Left game: 18
Point Pace: 93.5
Next Game: vs. Bos (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 95.2%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 68
Regulation victory: 22
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 18
Point Pace: 87.1
Next game: @Sea (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 9.9%
Tragic number: 35
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 16
Point Pace: 84.5
Next game: @ott (Thursday)
Playoff chance: 5.7%
Tragic number: 31
Points: 66
Regulation victory: 22
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 18
Point Pace: 84.6
Next Game: vs. Buf (Wednesday)
Playoff chance: 6.7%
Tragic number: 33
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 19
Point Pace: 72.9
Next game: @det (Wednesday)
Playoff chance: 0.1%
Tragic number: 25
Metro Division
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M1
Left game: 17
Point Pace: 118.6
Next game: @la (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: M2
Left game: 17
Point Pace: 103.5
Next game: vs. det (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 76
Regulation victory: 31
Playoff position: M3
Left game: 16
Point Pace: 94.4
Next Game: vs.EDM (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 94%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: WC2
Left game: 18
Point Pace: 89.7
Next game: Vs.VGK (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 41.6%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 17
Point Pace: 85.8
Next game: @min (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 29.9%
Tragic number: 33
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 18
Point Pace: 83.3
Next Game: vs.EDM (Friday)
Playoff chances: 14.5%
Tragic number: 32
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 16
Point Pace: 77.0
Next game: vs TB (Thursday)
Playoff chance: 2.3%
Tragic number: 25
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 15
Point Pace: 75.9
Next Game: vs. STL (Thursday)
Playoff chance: 0.3%
Tragic number: 23
Central part
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C1
Left game: 16
Point Pace: 116.8
Next Game: vs. Dal (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: C2
Left game: 18
Point Pace: 110.2
Next game: @wpg (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: C3
Left game: 16
Point Pace: 100.6
Next game: @CGY (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC1
Left game: 17
Point Pace: 98.4
Next Game: vs. Nyr (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 91%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 69
Regulation victory: 22
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 17
Point Pace: 87.1
Next game: @pit (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 29.8%
Tragic number: 34
Points: 67
Regulation victory: 20
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 18
Point Pace: 85.8
Next game: vs. ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 25.9%
Tragic number: 34
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 18
Point Pace: 73.0
Next game: @ana (Friday)
Playoff chance: 0.1%
Tragic number: 24
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 17
Point Pace: 61.8
Next game: @SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chance: ~0%
Tragic number: 14
Pacific Sector
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P1
Left game: 18
Point Pace: 106.3
Next game: @CBJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 78
Regulation victory: 27
Playoff position: P2
Left game: 18
Point Pace: 99.9
Next game: @NJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P3
Left game: 19
Point Pace: 100.2
Next Game: vs. WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 97.2%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 70
Regulation victory: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Left game: 19
Point Pace: 91.1
Next Game: vs. van (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 35.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 18
Point Pace: 88.4
Next game: @CGY (Wednesday)
Playoff chance: 20.3%
Tragic number: 36
Points: 63
Regulation victory: 20
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 18
Point Pace: 80.7
Next game: @uta (Wednesday)
Playoff chance: 0.3%
Tragic number: 30
Points: 58
Regulation victory: 22
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 17
Point Pace: 73.2
Next Game: vs.MTL (Wednesday)
Playoff chance: ~0%
Tragic number: 23
Points: 43
Regulation victory: 12
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 16
Point Pace: 53.4
Next Game: vs. Chi (Thursday)
Playoff chance: ~0%
Tragic number: 6
No. 1 pick race
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The NHL uses draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so teams finishing at the last place are not guaranteed to choose No. 1. As of 2021, teams can raise up to 10 spots if they win the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the first place pick. Click here to learn more about the process. Matthew Schaefer, the defender of OHL’s Erie Otters, is number one on the draft board.
Points: 43
Regulation victory: 12
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 58
Regulation victory: 22
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 63
Regulation victory: 20
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 66
Regulation victory: 22
Points: 67
Regulation victory: 20
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 69
Regulation victory: 22
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
