Hockey fans often hear about the Stanley Cup hangover, where teams rock the season after the championship. But a presidential trophy hangover?
Last season, the New York Rangers finished above the regular season rankings. This season isn’t that much until the playoff day.
Editor’s Pick
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When play begins Monday, the Rangers are six points behind the Montreal Canadiens in their second wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. With only six games left, you will need to get closer to running the table and also need help from Montreal’s opponents.
Monday’s game is home against the Tampa Bay Lightning (7pm, ESPN+). Lightning has won the Bertz but is still playing hard as he has the opportunity to catch the Toronto Maple Leafs at the top spot in the Atlantic division.
After the lightning, the Rangers will host the Philadelphia Flyers, hosting three straight road games against the New York Islanders, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers. They close the season with another matchup with lightning.
As mentioned before, New York needs to raise a winning streak here to strengthen its chances. As for the Canadians, they concluded with a rather simple schedule. Home to the Detroit Red Wings, Senators of Ottawa and Maple Leafs, home to the Chicago Blackhawks and Hurricanes.
That’s the future task of the Blues Shirt. Will they come?
Once the regular season ends on April 17th, you can track it all on 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
Clinch scenario
Today’s schedule
Yesterday’s score
Expanding ranking
No. 1 pick race
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs WC1 Ottawa Senator
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs WC2 Montreal Canadian
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs WC2 Minnesota Wild
C2 Dallas Star vs C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 St. Louis Blues
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Clinch scenario
The Edmonton Oilers will win a playoff spot if they defeat Anaheim’s ducks in any way, and Calgary’s flames will be defeated by San Jose’s sharks in regulations.
The St. Louis Blues will defeat the Winnipeg Jets in the regulations and earn a playoff spot if the flames lose to the Shark in the regulations.
Monday’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).
New York Rangers Tampa Bay Lightning, 7pm
Winnipeg Jets’ St. Louis Blues, 7:30pm (NHLN)
Edmonton Oilers at Anaheim Ducks, 10:30pm
Seattle Kraken, Los Angeles Kings, 10:30pm
Calgary’s Flame of the San Jose Sharks, 10:30pm
Sunday Scoreboard
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New York Islanders 4, Washington Capitals 1
Minnesota Wild 3, Dallas Star 2 (OT)
Ottawa Senator 4, Columbus Blue Jacket 0
Detroit Red Wings 2, Florida Panthers 1
Buffalo Sabres 6, Boston Bruins 3
Chicago Blackhawks 3, Pittsburgh Penguin 1
Montreal Canadian 2, Nashville Predators 1
Vegas Golden Knights 3, Vancouver Canucks 2
Expanding ranking
Atlantic Division
Playoff Hockey Challenge
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Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A1
Left game: 6
Point Pace: 105.7
Next game: @fla (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 100%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A2
Left game: 6
Point Pace: 101.4
Next game: @nyr (Monday)
Playoff chance: 100%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Left game: 5
Point Pace: 98.0
Next game: vs. Tor (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 100%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Left game: 5
Point Pace: 95.8
Next game: @CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 85
Regulation victory: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Left game: 5
Point Pace: 90.5
Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 79.2%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 79
Regulation victory: 28
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 6
Point Pace: 85.2
Next game: @mtl (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 5.4%
Tragic number: 6
Points: 74
Regulation victory: 27
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 6
Point Pace: 79.8
Next game: Cars against Tuesday
Playoff chance: 0.1%
Tragic number: 1
Points: 71
Regulation victory: 24
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 4
Point Pace: 74.6
Next game: @NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 0%
Tragic number: e
Metro Division
Points: 107
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Left game: 5
Point Pace: 114.0
Next game: Cars against (Thursday)
Playoff chance: 100%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M2
Left game: 6
Point Pace: 103.6
Next game: @buf (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 100%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Left game: 5
Point Pace: 94.8
Next Game: vs. Bos (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 6
Point Pace: 85.2
Next game: vs TB (Monday)
Playoff chance: 8.5%
Tragic number: 6
Points: 78
Regulation victory: 27
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 6
Point Pace: 84.2
Next game: @nsh (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 2.5%
Tragic number: 5
Points: 77
Regulation victory: 24
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 6
Point Pace: 83.1
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 4.5%
Tragic number: 4
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 4
Point Pace: 77.8
Next Game: vs. Chi (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 0%
Tragic number: e
Points: 71
Regulation victory: 20
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 5
Point Pace: 75.6
Next game: @nyr (Wednesday)
Playoff chance: 0%
Tragic number: e
Central part
Points: 108
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C1
Left game: 5
Point Pace: 115.0
Next Game: vs.STL (Monday)
Playoff chance: 100%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 105
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Left game: 5
Point Pace: 111.8
Next Game: vs. van (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 100%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Left game: 4
Point Pace: 103.0
Next game: Vs.VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 100%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 93
Regulation victory: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Left game: 4
Point Pace: 97.8
Next game: @ana (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.5%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC2
Left game: 4
Point Pace: 95.7
Next game: vs. SJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chance: 86.4%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 82
Regulation victory: 27
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 5
Point Pace: 87.3
Next game: Against the Sea (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 0.2%
Tragic number: 1
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 5
Point Pace: 66.0
Next Game: Vs. NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 0%
Tragic number: e
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 5
Point Pace: 57.5
Next game: @pit (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 0%
Tragic number: e
Pacific Sector
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: P1
Left game: 5
Point Pace: 108.6
Next game: @col (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 100%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 97
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P3
Left game: 6
Point Pace: 104.7
Next Game: vs. Sea (Monday)
Playoff chance: 100%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 93
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P2
Left game: 6
Point Pace: 100.3
Next game: @ana (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: n/a
Points: 85
Regulation victory: 27
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 6
Point Pace: 91.7
Next game: @SJ (Monday)
Playoff chance: 12.6%
Tragic number: 6
Points: 83
Regulation victory: 27
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 5
Point Pace: 88.4
Next game: @dal (Tuesday)
Playoff chance: 1.4%
Tragic number: 2
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 6
Point Pace: 79.8
Next Game: vs.EDM (Monday)
Playoff chance: 0%
Tragic number: e
Points: 72
Regulation victory: 27
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 5
Point Pace: 76.7
Next game: @la (Monday)
Playoff chance: 0%
Tragic number: e
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: n/a
Left game: 6
Point Pace: 54.0
Next Game: vs. CGY (Monday)
Playoff chance: 0%
Tragic number: e
Note: “X” means that the team has won the playoff berth. “E” means that a team has been removed from playoff competition.
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 for more information about the process. Matthew Schaefer, the defender of OHL’s Erie Otters, is number one on the draft board.
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 71
Regulation victory: 20
Points: 71
Regulation victory: 24
Points: 72
Regulation victory: 27
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 74
Regulation victory: 27
Points: 77
Regulation victory: 24
Points: 78
Regulation victory: 27
Points: 79
Regulation victory: 28
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Points: 82
Regulation victory: 27
Points: 83
Regulation victory: 27
Points: 85
Regulation victory: 27