NHL playoff standings: Capitals in a must-win game?
A 12 months in the past, the Washington Capitals had been on their technique to ending with the perfect document in the Eastern Conference and a first-round matchup towards the Montreal Canadienswhich they received 4-1. Alex Ovechkin additionally completed off his historic chase of Wayne Gretzky’s profession goal-scoring document.
Ovechkin has added 31 targets to his ledger this season, however the Capitals’ playoff standing is nowhere close to as safe because it was on the tail finish of the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
As the video games start Wednesday, the Caps are 5 factors behind the Ottawa Senators for the second wild-card spot and two regulation wins behind. They are additionally 5 factors behind the Philadelphia Flyers for the No. 3 seed in the Metro Division, with eight extra regulation wins than the Flyers.
Unfortunately, there are three different groups between Washington and Ottawa (the Red Wings, Islanders and Blue Jackets) and two between the Capitals and Philly (New York and Columbus). So there’s a path to the postseason for the Caps, however they may want some assist.
The subsequent step in the method is Wednesday’s recreation towards the Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m., ESPN+). This isn’t technically a must-win recreation, however there’s not a lot wiggle room left. After Toronto, the Caps go to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday (3 p.m. ET, ABC), then host the Pens in Washington, DC, on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, TNT). Washington’s ultimate recreation of the season is Tuesday on the Blue Jackets (7 p.m., ESPN).
The projections usually are not shopping for a miraculous run right here for the Capitals, with Stathletes giving them simply a 4.0% probability of creating the playoffs. But that is not zero, and Washington will definitely be battling to the bitter finish.
Every group has six or fewer video games remaining earlier than the common season concludes April 16, and we’ll make it easier to preserve monitor of all of it right here on the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the ultimate stretch, we’ll present particulars on all of the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff likelihood is through Stathletes.
Jump forward:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Last night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
A2 Buffalo Sabers vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Ottawa Senators
M2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers
Western Conference
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Nashville Predators
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Edmonton Oilers vs. WC1 Utah Mammoth
P2 Anaheim Ducks vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights
Today’s video games
Note: All instances ET. All video games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (native blackout restrictions apply).
Buffalo Sabers at New York Rangers7 pm (TNT)
Washington Capitals at Toronto Maple Leafs7:30 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks10 pm (TNT)
Last night time’s scoreboard
Montreal Canadiens 4, Florida Panthers 3 (SO)
Ottawa Senators 6, Tampa Bay Lightning 2
Columbus Blue Jackets 4, Detroit Red Wings 3 (SO)
Philadelphia Flyers 5, New Jersey Devils 1
Carolina Hurricanes 6, Boston Bruins 5 (OT)
Colorado Avalanche 3, St. Louis Blues 1
Dallas Stars 4, Calgary Flames 3 (OT)
Minnesota Wild 5, Seattle Kraken 2
Utah Mammoth 6, Edmonton Oilers 5 (OT)
Vegas Golden Knights 2, Vancouver Canucks 1
Nashville Predators 5, Anaheim Ducks 0
Expanded standings
Note: An “x” with a group’s identify means the membership has clinched a playoff spot; a “y” implies that they’ve clinched the division; a “z” signifies that they’ve clinched the perfect document in the convention. An “e” implies that the membership has been mathematically eradicated. Teams clinch a playoff spot when their magic quantity reaches zero and are mathematically eradicated when their tragic quantity reaches zero.
Atlantic Division
Metro Division
Central Division
Pacific Division
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 group that finishes in final place isn’t assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a group 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 choose. Full details on the process can be found here. Atop draft boards for this summer season is Gavin McKenna, a ahead for Penn State.
*Note: The Maple Leafs’ choose belongs to the Bruins, until it lands in the highest 5.
