NHL playoff watch: Knights-Oilers is Wednesday’s key game

The Wednesday night time schedule within the NHL is considerably lighter than Tuesday’s, with simply three video games in comparison with 13. However, there’s one doozy on the docket.

The Vegas Golden Knights go to the Edmonton Oilers (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT) in a recreation that can have implications on the Pacific Division and your entire Western Convention playoff bracket.

For the Oilers, there’s a path to successful the division. Coming into Wednesday, Edmonton trails the Vancouver Canucks by 5 factors and 5 regulation wins, although it has two video games in hand. The Canucks are in motion Wednesday night time as effectively, towards the Arizona Coyotes (10:30 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+). The Oilers do not essentially need to win out to take the division title, however there’s not a ton of wiggle room. Of notice, they may host the Canucks on Saturday.

The Golden Knights are practically a lock for a playoff spot, however their first-round matchup stays in flux. Heading into Wednesday, they’re within the second wild-card spot, and would face the Western Division champ with essentially the most factors (presently the Dallas Stars). Nonetheless, they’re one level and three regulation wins behind the Los Angeles Kings for the No. 3 seed within the Pacific, whereas they’re three factors and 4 regulation wins behind the Nashville Predators for the primary wild-card spot.

Put one other means: Whereas there’s little doubt which eight Western groups are making the playoffs, there are an important many permutations concerning the first-round matchups — and this recreation Wednesday can have a notable affect on figuring out which of these is more than likely.

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

Observe: Playoff likelihood is through Stathletes.

Leap forward:
Present playoff matchups
Clinching eventualities
Wednesday’s schedule
Tuesday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 decide

Present playoff matchups

Japanese Convention

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 New York Islanders

Western Convention

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

Clinching eventualities

1. The Vegas Golden Knights will clinch a playoff berth in the event that they defeat the Edmonton Oilers in regulation AND the St. Louis Blues lose to the Chicago Blackhawks in any vogue. They’ll additionally clinch a berth in the event that they defeat the Oilers in additional time or a shootout AND the Blues lose to the Blackhawks in regulation.

2. The idle Los Angeles Kings will clinch a playoff berth if the Blues lose to the Blackhawks in regulation.

Wednesday’s video games

Observe: 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).

Chicago Blackhawks at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Edmonton Oilers, 8:30 p.m (TNT)
Arizona Coyotes at Vancouver Canucks, 10:30 p.m.

Tuesday’s scoreboard

Carolina Hurricanes 4, Boston Bruins 1
Montreal Canadiens 9, Philadelphia Flyers 3
Washington Capitals 2, Detroit Pink Wings 1
Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 2
Florida Panthers 2, Ottawa Senators 0
Toronto Maple Leafs 5, New Jersey Devils 2
New York Islanders 4, New York Rangers 2
Winnipeg Jets 4, Nashville Predators 3 (OT)
Dallas Stars 3, Buffalo Sabres 2
Colorado Avalanche 5, Minnesota Wild 2
Anaheim Geese 3, Los Angeles Kings 1
Seattle Kraken 5, Arizona Coyotes 0
Calgary Flames 3, San Jose Sharks 2 (OT)

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Factors: 107
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff place: A1
Video games left: 3
Factors tempo: 111
Subsequent recreation: @ PIT (Saturday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 104
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff place: A2
Video games left: 3
Factors tempo: 108
Subsequent recreation: vs. CBJ (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 101
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff place: A3
Video games left: 4
Factors tempo: 106
Subsequent recreation: vs. NJ (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 95
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff place: WC1
Video games left: 4
Factors tempo: 100
Subsequent recreation: vs. OTT (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Factors tempo: 88
Subsequent recreation: @ PIT (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 33.2%
Tragic quantity: 7

Factors: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 3
Factors tempo: 82
Subsequent recreation: vs. WSH (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 1

Factors: 72
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Factors tempo: 76
Subsequent recreation: @ TB (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 72
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Factors tempo: 76
Subsequent recreation: @ NYI (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Metropolitan Division

Factors: 110
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff place: M1
Video games left: 3
Factors tempo: 114
Subsequent recreation: vs. PHI (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 107
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff place: M2
Video games left: 3
Factors tempo: 111
Subsequent recreation: @ STL (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 87
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: M3
Video games left: 4
Factors tempo: 92
Subsequent recreation: vs. MTL (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 83.5%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 85
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff place: WC2
Video games left: 4
Factors tempo: 89
Subsequent recreation: @ BUF (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 44.4%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 84
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Factors tempo: 88
Subsequent recreation: vs. DET (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 34.5%
Tragic quantity: 8

Factors: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 3
Factors tempo: 86
Subsequent recreation: @ NYR (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 4.4%
Tragic quantity: 4

Factors: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 3
Factors tempo: 82
Subsequent recreation: @ TOR (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 1

Factors: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 3
Factors tempo: 66
Subsequent recreation: @ FLA (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Central Division

Factors: 109
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff place: C1
Video games left: 3
Factors tempo: 113
Subsequent recreation: vs. WPG (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 104
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff place: C2
Video games left: 3
Factors tempo: 108
Subsequent recreation: vs. WPG (Saturday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 102
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff place: C3
Video games left: 4
Factors tempo: 107
Subsequent recreation: @ DAL (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 95
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff place: WC1
Video games left: 3
Factors tempo: 99
Subsequent recreation: @ CHI (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Factors tempo: 92
Subsequent recreation: vs. CHI (Wednesday)
Playoff possibilities: 0.5%
Tragic quantity: 3

Factors: 83
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Factors tempo: 87
Subsequent recreation: @ VGK (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Factors tempo: 75
Subsequent recreation: @ VAN (Wednesday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Factors tempo: 54
Subsequent recreation: @ STL (Wednesday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Pacific Division

Factors: 104
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff place: P1
Video games left: 4
Factors tempo: 109
Subsequent recreation: vs. ARI (Wednesday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 99
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff place: P2
Video games left: 6
Factors tempo: 107
Subsequent recreation: vs. VGK (Wednesday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 93
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff place: P3
Video games left: 4
Factors tempo: 98
Subsequent recreation: vs. CGY (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 92
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff place: WC2
Video games left: 5
Factors tempo: 98
Subsequent recreation: @ EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff possibilities: 99.6%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Factors tempo: 84
Subsequent recreation: vs. SJ (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Factors tempo: 80
Subsequent recreation: @ LA (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 57
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 3
Factors tempo: 59
Subsequent recreation: vs. CGY (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 45
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Factors tempo: 47
Subsequent recreation: @ SEA (Thursday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

p — clinched Presidents’ Trophy
y — clinched division
x — clinched playoff berth
e — eradicated from playoff rivalry

Race for the No. 1 decide

The NHL makes use of a draft lottery to find out the order of the primary spherical, so the workforce that finishes in final place will not be assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a workforce can transfer up a most of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so solely 11 groups are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 decide. Full particulars on the method might be discovered right here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer time is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston College.

Factors: 45
Regulation wins: 13

Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 17

Factors: 57
Regulation wins: 20

Factors: 64
Regulation wins: 20

Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 27

Factors: 72
Regulation wins: 20

Factors: 72
Regulation wins: 24

Factors: 75
Regulation wins: 29

Factors: 79
Regulation wins: 27

Factors: 79
Regulation wins: 31

Factors: 79
Regulation wins: 32

Factors: 83
Regulation wins: 28

Factors: 83
Regulation wins: 30

Factors: 84
Regulation wins: 27

Factors: 84
Regulation wins: 31

Factors: 87
Regulation wins: 29

* The Penguins’ first-round decide was traded to the Sharks as a part of the Erik Karlsson commerce. Nonetheless, it’s top-10 protected.