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SPORTS

NHL playoff standings: What's at stake for Devils, Islanders on Sunday

ByTim Kavanagh ESPN logo

Sunday, March 24, 2024

After an 11-game Saturday, the NHL schedule makers have gifted us with a 10-game Sunday as the end of the 2023-24 regular season on April 18 closes in.

Perhaps the most impactful game on the playoff races will take place at UBS Arena, as the New York Islanders host the New Jersey Devils (5 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+).

While it's not quite a "loser leaves town" match, both teams need as many points as they can get as their playoff hopes appear to be dwindling.

The Devils had a fantastic 2022-23 season that included a first-round-series victory over the rival New York Rangers. Unfortunately, they've taken a couple steps back this season -- which included injuries to star players, lackluster goaltending, and firing head coach Lindy Ruff -- and as play begins on Sunday, they have a 19.3% chance of making the postseason, per Stathletes. Currently, they are six points back of the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild card (though they do have a four-game edge in regulation wins). After today's matchup with the Isles, they play six of their final 10 games against teams currently in playoff position, and close out their season against the Isles.

New York was also a playoff team last season, losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games. Heading into this matchup, the Isles are three points and three regulation wins in back of the Wings, and their chances of making the playoffs sit at 12.1%. The Isles will play six of their final 11 games against teams currently in playoff spots, but they do have a game apiece left against three draft lottery darlings: theColumbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens.

For either team to qualify, the Red Wings (who currently occupy the wild-card spot in question) and the Washington Capitals, who are hosting the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday (12:30 p.m. ET, NHL Network), will have to lose some games.

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. WC2 Detroit Red Wings

A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs

M1 New York Rangers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning

M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers

Western Conference

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC1 Nashville Predators

C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets

P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights

P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Sunday's games

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).

Winnipeg Jets at Washington Capitals, 12:30 p.m. (NHLN)

Pittsburgh Penguins at Colorado Avalanche, 2 p.m. (TNT)

New Jersey Devils at New York Islanders, 5 p.m.

Edmonton Oilers at Ottawa Senators, 6 p.m.

Florida Panthers at Philadelphia Flyers, 6 p.m.

Toronto Maple Leafs at Carolina Hurricanes, 6 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)

Dallas Stars at Arizona Coyotes, 8 p.m.

Tampa Bay Lightning at Anaheim Ducks, 8:30 p.m.

Buffalo Sabres at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.

Montreal Canadiens at Seattle Kraken, 9 p.m.

Saturday's scoreboard

New York Islanders 6, Winnipeg Jets 3

Philadelphia Flyers 3, Boston Bruins 2

St. Louis Blues 5, Minnesota Wild 4 (OT)

Nashville Predators 1, Detroit Red Wings 0

Toronto Maple Leafs 6, Edmonton Oilers 3

Ottawa Senators 5, New Jersey Devils 2

New York Rangers 4, Florida Panthers 3 (SO)

Vancouver Canucks 4, Calgary Flames 2

Vegas Golden Knights 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 2

Los Angeles Kings 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 3 (OT)

Chicago Blackhawks 5, San Jose Sharks 4 (OT)

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins

Points: 97

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: A1

Games left: 10

Points pace: 111

Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 95

Regulation wins: 37

Playoff position: A2

Games left: 12

Points pace: 1111

Next game: @ PHI (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 89

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: A3

Games left: 13

Points pace: 106

Next game: @ CAR (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 83

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 12

Points pace: 97

Next game: @ ANA (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 98.7%

Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 78

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 11

Points pace: 90

Next game: @ WSH (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 24.1%

Tragic number: N/A

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 71

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 11

Points pace: 82

Next game: @ CGY (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 0.8%

Tragic number: 15

Ottawa Senators

Points: 62

Regulation wins: 20

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 13

Points pace: 74

Next game: vs. EDM (Sunday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 10

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 62

Regulation wins: 15

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 13

Points pace: 74

Next game: @ SEA (Sunday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 10

Metropolitan Division

New York Rangers

Points: 98

Regulation wins: 38

Playoff position: M1

Games left: 11

Points pace: 113

Next game: vs. PHI (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 95

Regulation wins: 36

Playoff position: M2

Games left: 11

Points pace: 110

Next game: vs. TOR (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 81

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: M3

Games left: 11

Points pace: 94

Next game: vs. FLA (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 88.4%

Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 77

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 13

Points pace: 92

Next game: vs. WPG (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 57.0%

Tragic number: 25

New York Islanders

Points: 75

Regulation wins: 22

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 12

Points pace: 88

Next game: vs. NJ (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 24.2%

Tragic number: 21

New Jersey Devils

Points: 72

Regulation wins: 29

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 11

Points pace: 83

Next game: @ NYI (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 6.0%

Tragic number: 16

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 69

Regulation wins: 25

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 13

Points pace: 82

Next game: @ COL (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 0.8%

Tragic number: 17

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 58

Regulation wins: 18

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 11

Points pace: 67

Next game: @ ARI (Tuesday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 2

Central Division

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 95

Regulation wins: 38

Playoff position: C1

Games left: 12

Points pace: 111

Next game: vs. PIT (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 95

Regulation wins: 32

Playoff position: C2

Games left: 11

Points pace: 110

Next game: @ ARI (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 93

Regulation wins: 39

Playoff position: C3

Games left: 12

Points pace: 109

Next game: @ WSH (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 88

Regulation wins: 35

Playoff position: WC1

Games left: 11

Points pace: 102

Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 99.6%

Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 79

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 11

Points pace: 91

Next game: vs. VGK (Monday)

Playoff chances: 6.0%

Tragic number: 18

Minnesota Wild

Points: 77

Regulation wins: 27

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 11

Points pace: 89

Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)

Playoff chances: 2.6%

Tragic number: 16

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 63

Regulation wins: 23

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 12

Points pace: 74

Next game: vs. DAL (Sunday)

Playoff chances:0%

Tragic number: 4

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 45

Regulation wins: 14

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 11

Points pace: 52

Next game: vs. CGY (Tuesday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 98

Regulation wins: 39

Playoff position: P1

Games left: 11

Points pace: 113

Next game: vs. LA (Monday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 88

Regulation wins: 33

Playoff position: P2

Games left: 14

Points pace: 106

Next game: @ OTT (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 99.9%

Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 85

Regulation wins: 31

Playoff position: P3

Games left: 12

Points pace: 100

Next game: @ VAN (Monday)

Playoff chances: 98.5%

Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 83

Regulation wins: 30

Playoff position: WC2

Games left: 12

Points pace: 97

Next game: @ STL (Monday)

Playoff chances: 92.5%

Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 71

Regulation wins: 28

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 13

Points pace: 84

Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 0.7%

Tragic number: 14

Seattle Kraken

Points: 69

Regulation wins: 22

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 13

Points pace: 82

Next game: vs. MTL (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 0.1%

Tragic number: 12

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 51

Regulation wins: 18

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 12

Points pace: 60

Next game: vs. TB (Sunday)

Playoff chances: 0%

Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 40

Regulation wins: 12

Playoff position: N/A

Games left: 12

Points pace: 47

Next game: vs. DAL (Tuesday)

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.