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SPORTS

NHL playoff standings: Canucks-Ducks the top game on Sunday

ByESPN staff ESPN logo

Sunday, March 31, 2024

It's a slower than usual Sunday on the NHL schedule, with just one game on the docket. But, there are implications from the outcome of the clash between the Anaheim Ducks and Vancouver Canucks (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT).

For the Canucks, it's an opportunity to make up ground in the Western Conference and Presidents' Trophy races. Vancouver was a little wobbly in February (going 5-6-2), recovered for most of March with a 7-3-1 record, but their most recent two games account for two of those losses.

Sitting atop the Pacific Division by a four-point margin, the Canucks are currently five points behind the Dallas Stars for the West's No. 1 seed, but have three additional regulation wins. As for the NHL's overall points race, the Canucks are six points behind the New York Rangers, and tied in regulation wins.

As for the Ducks, they're on the opposite end of the league standings, currently in the No. 3 spot in the draft lottery order. With 52 points, they are three points and two regulation wins ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks, while they are 10 points and five regulation wins ahead of the San Jose Sharks. The team in the No. 4 spot, the Columbus Blue Jackets, sits at 60 points and an equal number of regulation wins to the Ducks.

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

Sunday's schedule

Saturday's scores

Expanded standings

Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning

A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs

M1 New York Rangers vs. WC2 Philadelphia Flyers

M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Washington Capitals

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

Sunday's game

Note: 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).

Anaheim Ducks at Vancouver Canucks, 3:30 p.m. (TNT)

Saturday's scoreboard

Florida Panthers 3, Detroit Red Wings 2 (SO)

Vegas Golden Knights 2, Minnesota Wild 1 (OT)

Edmonton Oilers 6, Anaheim Ducks 1

Colorado Avalanche 7, Nashville Predators 4

New York Rangers 8, Arizona Coyotes 5

Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Buffalo Sabres 0

Carolina Hurricanes 3, Montreal Canadiens 0

Tampa Bay Lightning 4, New York Islanders 1

Chicago Blackhawks 5, Philadelphia Flyers 1

Boston Bruins 3, Washington Capitals 2 (SO)

Columbus Blue Jackets 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (SO)

Ottawa Senators 3, Winnipeg Jets 2

San Jose Sharks 4, St. Louis Blues 0

Calgary Flames 4, Los Angeles Kings 2

Dallas Stars 3, Seattle Kraken 0

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

x - Boston Bruins

Points: 101

Regulation wins: 33

Playoff position: A1

Games left: 7

Points pace: 110

Next game: @ NSH (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Florida Panthers

Points: 99

Regulation wins: 38

Playoff position: A2

Games left: 8

Points pace: 110

Next game: @ TOR (Monday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 93

Regulation wins: 30

Playoff position: A3

Games left: 9

Points pace: 105

Next game: vs. FLA (Monday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 89

Regulation wins: 33

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 9

Points pace: 100

Next game: vs. DET (Monday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 80

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 889

Next game: @ TB (Monday)

Playoff chances: 22.8%

Tragic number: 14

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 75

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 7

Points pace: 82

Next game: vs. WSH (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 0.8%

Tragic number: 7

Ottawa Senators

Points: 70

Regulation wins: 24

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 79

Next game: @ MIN (Tuesday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 6

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 68

Regulation wins: 18

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 76

Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 4

Metropolitan Division

x - New York Rangers

Points: 104

Regulation wins: 39

Playoff position: M1

Games left: 8

Points pace: 115

Next game: vs. PIT (Monday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 101

Regulation wins: 39

Playoff position: M2

Games left: 7

Points pace: 110

Next game: vs. BOS (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 82

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: M3

Games left: 9

Points pace: 92

Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 59.8%

Tragic number: N/A

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 82

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 7

Points pace: 90

Next game: vs. NYI (Monday)

Playoff chances: 80.7%

Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 77

Regulation wins: 23

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 87

Next game: @ PHI (Monday)

Playoff chances: 27.2%

Tragic number: 13

New Jersey Devils

Points: 76

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 84

Next game: vs. PIT (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 6.4%

Tragic number: 10

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 75

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 84

Next game: @ NYR (Monday)

Playoff chances: 2.5%

Tragic number: 11

e - Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 60

Regulation wins: 18

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 67

Next game: vs. COL (Monday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Central Division

x - Dallas Stars

Points: 103

Regulation wins: 36

Playoff position: C1

Games left: 7

Points pace: 113

Next game: vs. EDM (Wednesday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

x - Colorado Avalanche

Points: 100

Regulation wins: 39

Playoff position: C2

Games left: 8

Points pace: 111

Next game: @ CBJ (Monday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 94

Regulation wins: 39

Playoff position: C3

Games left: 8

Points pace: 104

Next game: vs. LA (Monday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 90

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 8

Points pace: 100

Next game: vs. BOS (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.2%

Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 82

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 91

Next game: vs. EDM (Monday)

Playoff chances: 5.1%

Tragic number: 11

Minnesota Wild

Points: 79

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 89

Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 2.1%

Tragic number: 10

e - Arizona Coyotes

Points: 67

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 74

Next game: vs. VAN (Wednesday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49

Regulation wins: 16

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 54

Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

x - Vancouver Canucks

Points: 98

Regulation wins: 39

Playoff position: P1

Games left: 9

Points pace: 110

Next game: vs. ANA (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 100%

Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 94

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: P2

Games left: 10

Points pace: 107

Next game: @ STL (Monday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 90

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: P3

Games left: 8

Points pace: 100

Next game: vs. VAN (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 95.5%

Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 87

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 9

Points pace: 98

Next game: @ WPG (Monday)

Playoff chances: 98.1%

Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 73

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 82

Next game: vs. ANA (Tuesday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 4

Seattle Kraken

Points: 73

Regulation wins: 24

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 82

Next game: @ SJ (Monday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 4

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 52

Regulation wins: 18

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 8

Points pace: 58

Next game: @ VAN (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 42

Regulation wins: 13

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 9

Points pace: 47

Next game: vs. SEA (Monday)

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 pick

The 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.