NHL Playoff Watch: Pink Wings-Penguins Thursday's primary occasion

Though six groups have received a playoff spot within the Japanese Convention half of the 2024 Stanley Cup, there’s a fierce battle in dispute for these two closing spots between 5 groups. Two of them play in opposition to one another on Thursday.

The Detroit Pink Wings go to the Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+), with each attempting to beat the Washington Capitals, who play the Buffalo Sabers (7 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+).

Earlier than Thursday's video games, the Capitals maintain the second wild-card place, with 85 factors and 29 regulation wins by 78 video games; the Pink Wings (84 and 27 by 78 video games) and Penguins (84 and 31 by 78 video games) are proper on the Caps' heels, and the Philadelphia Flyers (83 and 28 by 79 video games) are proper behind them (additionally if their current 1). -6-3 stretch has torpedoed their playoff probabilities, total). The Flyers face the tall process of skating in opposition to the grasp New York Rangers on Thursday night time (7 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+).

For all non-Detroit groups, one other path to the playoffs exists by way of the No. 3 seed within the Metro Division. The New York Islanders occupy that place, with 87 factors and 27 regulation wins by 78 video games earlier than their matchup in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens.7:30 p.m. ET, NHL Energy Play on ESPN+).

As has been the case seemingly each night time for the previous two weeks, anticipate some main motion within the chaotic Japanese wild-card race tonight!

As we head into the ultimate stretch of the common season, it's time to take a look at all of the playoff races — together with the groups enjoying for place within the 2024 NHL draft lottery.

Observe: Playoff odds are by way of Stathletes.

Skip forward:

Present playoff matchups

Thursday's agenda

Wednesday's outcomes

Prolonged classification

Race for the No. 1 choose

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

Thursday's video games

Observe: All instances are ET. All video games not on TNT or NHL Community can be found by way of NHL Energy Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (native blackout restrictions apply).

Washington Capitals at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m

New Jersey Devils at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m

Ottawa Senators at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m

Columbus Blue Jackets at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m

Philadelphia Flyers at New York Rangers, 7 p.m

Detroit Pink Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m

Montreal Canadiens at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m

Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m

San Jose Sharks at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m

Calgary Flames at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m

Wednesday's scoreboard

St. Louis Blues 5, Chicago Blackhawks 2

Edmonton Oilers 5, Vegas Golden Knights 1

Arizona Coyotes 4, Vancouver Canucks 3 (OT)

Prolonged classification

Atlantic Division

Factors: 107

The regulation covers: 35

Playoff place: A1

Remaining video games: 3

Charge of factors: 111

The following recreation: @ PIT (Saturday)

Playoff Possibilities: 100%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 104

The regulation covers: 40

Playoff place: A2

Remaining video games: 3

Charge of factors: 108

The following recreation: vs. CBJ (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 100%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 101

The regulation covers: 33

Playoff place: A3

Remaining video games: 4

Charge of factors: 106

The following recreation: vs. NJ (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 100%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 95

The regulation covers: 36

Playoff place: WC1

Remaining matches: 4

Charge of factors: 100

The following recreation: vs OTT (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 100%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 84

The regulation covers: 27

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining video games: 4

Charge of factors: 88

The following recreation: @ PIT (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 33.2%

tragic quantity: 7

Factors: 79

The regulation covers: 31

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining matches: 3

Charge of factors: 82

The following recreation: vs WSH (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 0%

tragic quantity: 1

Factors: 72

The regulation covers: 24

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining video games: 4

Charge of factors: 76

The following recreation: @ TB (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 0%

tragic quantity: E

Factors: 72

The regulation covers: 20

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining video games: 4

Charge of factors: 76

The following recreation: @ NYI (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 0%

tragic quantity: E

Metropolitan Division

Factors: 110

The regulation covers: 42

Playoff place: M1

Remaining video games: 3

Charge of factors: 114

The following recreation: vs PHI (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 100%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 107

The regulation covers: 42

Playoff place: M2

Remaining video games: 3

Charge of factors: 111

The following recreation: @ STL (Friday)

Playoff Possibilities: 100%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 87

The regulation covers: 27

Playoff place: M3

Remaining matches: 4

Charge of factors: 92

The following recreation: vs MTL (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 83.5%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 85

The regulation covers: 29

Playoff place: WC2

Remaining video games: 4

Charge of factors: 89

The following recreation: @ BUF (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 44.4%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 84

The regulation covers: 31

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining matches: 4

Charge of factors: 88

The following recreation: vs DET (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 34.5%

tragic quantity: 8

Factors: 83

The regulation covers: 28

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining matches: 3

Charge of factors: 86

The following recreation: @ NYR (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 4.4%

tragic quantity: 4

Factors: 79

The regulation covers: 32

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining matches: 3

Charge of factors: 82

The following recreation: @ TOR (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 0%

tragic quantity: 1

Factors: 64

The regulation covers: 20

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining video games: 3

Charge of factors: 66

The following recreation: @ FLA (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 0%

tragic quantity: E

Central Division

Factors: 109

The regulation covers: 39

Playoff place: C1

Remaining matches: 3

Charge of factors: 113

The following recreation: vs WPG (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 100%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 104

The regulation covers: 41

Playoff place: C2

Remaining matches: 3

Charge of factors: 108

The following recreation: vs WPG (Saturday)

Playoff Possibilities: 100%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 102

The regulation covers: 42

Playoff place: C3

Remaining video games: 4

Charge of factors: 107

The following recreation: @DAL (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 100%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 95

The regulation covers: 36

Playoff place: WC1

Remaining matches: 3

Charge of factors: 99

The following recreation: @ WHO (Friday)

Playoff Possibilities: 100%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 89

The regulation covers: 30

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining video games: 3

Charge of factors: 92

The following recreation: vs CAR (Friday)

Playoff Possibilities: 0.5%

tragic quantity: 3

Factors: 83

The regulation covers: 30

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining video games: 4

Charge of factors: 87

The following recreation: @ VGK (Friday)

Playoff Possibilities: 0%

tragic quantity: E

Factors: 73

The regulation covers: 27

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining video games: 3

Charge of factors: 76

The following recreation: @ EDM (Friday)

Playoff Possibilities: 0%

tragic quantity: E

Factors: 51

The regulation covers: 17

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining matches: 4

Charge of factors: 54

The following recreation: vs NSH (Friday)

Playoff Possibilities: 0%

tragic quantity: E

Pacific Division

Factors: 105

The regulation covers: 42

Playoff place: P1

Remaining video games: 3

Charge of factors: 109

The following recreation: @ EDM (Saturday)

Playoff Possibilities: 100%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 101

The regulation covers: 38

Playoff place: P2

Remaining video games: 5

Charge of factors: 108

The following recreation: vs ARI (Friday)

Playoff Possibilities: 100%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 93

The regulation covers: 35

Playoff place: P3

Remaining matches: 4

Charge of factors: 98

The following recreation: vs CGY (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 99.9%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 92

The regulation covers: 32

Playoff place: WC2

Remaining video games: 4

Charge of factors: 97

The following recreation: vs. MIN (Friday)

Playoff Possibilities: 99.6%

tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 79

The regulation covers: 27

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining video games: 5

Charge of factors: 84

The following recreation: vs SJ (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 0%

tragic quantity: E

Factors: 75

The regulation covers: 29

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining video games: 5

Charge of factors: 80

The following recreation: @ LA (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 0%

tragic quantity: E

Factors: 57

The regulation covers: 20

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining video games: 3

Charge of factors: 59

The following recreation: vs CGY (Friday)

Playoff Possibilities: 0%

tragic quantity: E

Factors: 45

The regulation covers: 13

Playoff place: N/A

Remaining video games: 4

Charge of factors: 47

The following recreation: @ SEA (Thursday)

Playoff Possibilities: 0%

tragic quantity: E

p – received the Presidents Trophy

y – division caught

x — clinched the playoff spot

e – eradicated from playoff rivalry

Race for the No. 1 choose

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 just isn’t assured the No. 1 choice. Beginning in 2021, a workforce can transfer up a most of 10 spots if he wins the lottery, so solely 11 groups are eligible for the draw for choose No. 1. All the main points in regards to the course of may be discovered right here. Sitting No. 1 on the summer time mission for this summer time is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston College.