NHL playoff bracket update: Philadelphia Flyers making a push for Metropolitan Division crown
Throughout much of the 2019-20 season, the Washington Capitals looked like their usual juggernaut selves, keeping the rest of their Metropolitan Division foes at an arm's length in the standings. But as we enter the final month of the campaign, the Philadelphia Flyers are making things interesting. The Flyers' stunning 5-2 victory in Washington on Wednesday night pulls them one point back of the Caps, with one fewer regulation victory. Both teams have incentive to win the division crown, as the No. 2 seed will likely face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Here's where things stand throughout the league heading into Thursday's 10-game slate, including Dallas Stars-Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers-Chicago Blackhawks streaming live on ESPN+.
Note: Playoff chances are courtesy of Money Puck, while tragic numbers are per the NHL's Damian Echevarrieta.
Jump to:br/>Eastern standings | Western standingsbr/>Race for No. 1 pick | Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
Boston Bruins
Points: 96
>Regulation wins: 37
>Playoff position: Atlantic 1
>Games left: 15 (7 home, 8 away)
>Next game: March 5: @ FLA
>Playoff chances: 100%
>Tragic number: N/A
Tampa Bay Lightning
Points: 87
>Regulation wins: 33
>Playoff position: Atlantic 2
>Games left: 16 (8 home, 8 away)
>Next game: March 5: vs. MTL
>Playoff chances: 100%
>Tragic number: N/A
Toronto Maple Leafs
Points: 78
>Regulation wins: 27
>Playoff position: Atlantic 3
>Games left: 15 (8 home, 7 away)
>Next game: March 5: @ LA
>Playoff chances: 85.9%
>Tragic number: N/A
Washington Capitals
Points: 86
>Regulation wins: 30
>Playoff position: Metro 1
>Games left: 16 (8 home, 8 away)
>Next game: March 5: @ NYR
>Playoff chances: 99.7%
>Tragic number: N/A
Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 85
>Regulation wins: 29
>Playoff position: Metro 2
>Games left: 16 (9 home, 7 away)
>Next game: March 5: vs. CAR
>Playoff chances: 99.5%
>Tragic number: N/A
Pittsburgh Penguins
Points: 82
>Regulation wins: 27
>Playoff position: Metro 3
>Games left: 17 (8 home, 9 away)
>Next game: March 5: @ BUF
>Playoff chances: 90.0%
>Tragic number: N/A
Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 79
>Regulation wins: 24
>Playoff position: Wild card 1
>Games left: 14 (5 home, 9 away)
>Next game: March 7: @ EDM
>Playoff chances: 41.0%
>Tragic number: N/A
New York Islanders
Points: 78
>Regulation wins: 24
>Playoff position: Wild card 2
>Games left: 17 (7 home, 10 away)
>Next game: March 5: @ OTT
>Playoff chances: 61.8%
>Tragic number: N/A
Carolina Hurricanes
Points: 75
>Regulation wins: 25
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 18 (8 home, 10 away)
>Next game: March 5: @ PHI
>Playoff chances: 71.4%
>Tragic number: 34
New York Rangers
Points: 74
>Regulation wins: 30
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 16 (7 home, 9 away)
>Next game: March 5: vs. WSH
>Playoff chances: 25.0%
>Tragic number: 29
Florida Panthers
Points: 73
>Regulation wins: 28
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 16 (8 home, 8 away)
>Next game: March 5: vs. BOS
>Playoff chances: 19.9%
>Tragic number: 28
Montreal Canadiens
Points: 71
>Regulation wins: 19
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 14 (5 home, 9 away)
>Next game: March 5: @ TB
>Playoff chances: 5.5%
>Tragic number: 22
Buffalo Sabres
Points: 66
>Regulation wins: 22
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 16 (8 home, 8 away)
>Next game: March 5: vs. PIT
>Playoff chances: 0.2%
>Tragic number: 21
New Jersey Devils
Points: 64
>Regulation wins: 20
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 16 (9 home, 7 away)
>Next game: March 6: vs. STL
>Playoff chances: 0.1%
>Tragic number: 19
Ottawa Senators
Points: 58
>Regulation wins: 17
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 15 (5 home, 10 away)
>Next game: March 5: vs. NYI
>Playoff chances: 0%
>Tragic number: 11
Detroit Red Wings
Points: 35
>Regulation wins: 12
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 14 (7 home, 7 away)
>Next game: March 6: vs. CHI
>Playoff chances: 0%
>Tragic number: Eliminated
Western Conference
St. Louis Blues
Points: 90
>Regulation wins: 31
>Playoff position: Central 1
>Games left: 15 (7 home, 8 away)
>Next game: March 6: @ NJ
>Playoff chances: 100%
>Tragic number: N/A
Colorado Avalanche
Points: 88
>Regulation wins: 36
>Playoff position: Central 2
>Games left: 16 (9 home, 7 away)
>Next game: March 6: @ VAN
>Playoff chances: 100%
>Tragic number: N/A
Dallas Stars
Points: 82
>Regulation wins: 26
>Playoff position: Central 3
>Games left: 16 (9 home, 7 away)
>Next game: March 5: @ NSH
>Playoff chances: 99.1%
>Tragic number: N/A
Vegas Golden Knights
Points: 82
>Regulation wins: 29
>Playoff position: Pacific 1
>Games left: 14 (4 home, 10 away)
>Next game: March 6: @ WPG
>Playoff chances: 98.6%
>Tragic number: N/A
Edmonton Oilers
Points: 80
>Regulation wins: 30
>Playoff position: Pacific 2
>Games left: 15 (10 home, 5 away)
>Next game: March 5: @ CHI
>Playoff chances: 96.0%
>Tragic number: N/A
Calgary Flames
Points: 77
>Regulation wins: 24
>Playoff position: Pacific 3
>Games left: 14 (10 home, 4 away)
>Next game: March 6: vs. ARI
>Playoff chances: 83.4%
>Tragic number: N/A
Vancouver Canucks
Points: 74
>Regulation wins: 26
>Playoff position: Wild card 1
>Games left: 16 (9 home, 7 away)
>Next game: March 6: vs. COL
>Playoff chances: 51.6%
>Tragic number: N/A
Winnipeg Jets
Points: 74
>Regulation wins: 27
>Playoff position: Wild card 2
>Games left: 14 (6 home, 8 away)
>Next game: March 6: vs. VGS
>Playoff chances: 24.4%
>Tragic number: N/A
Arizona Coyotes
Points: 74
>Regulation wins: 26
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 14 (8 home, 6 away)
>Next game: March 6: @ CGY
>Playoff chances: 40.8%
>Tragic number: 29
Minnesota Wild
Points: 73
>Regulation wins: 29
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 16 (6 home, 10 away)
>Next game: March 5: @ SJ
>Playoff chances: 67.1%
>Tragic number: 32
Nashville Predators
Points: 72
>Regulation wins: 25
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 16 (7 home, 9 away)
strong>Next game: March 5: vs. DAL
>Playoff chances: 28.1%
>Tragic number: 31
Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 68
>Regulation wins: 21
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 16 (10 home, 6 away)
>Next game: March 5: vs. EDM
>Playoff chances: 10.5%
>Tragic number: 27
San Jose Sharks
Points: 62
>Regulation wins: 22
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 16 (8 home, 8 away)
>Next game: March 5: vs. MIN
>Playoff chances: 0.3%
>Tragic number: 21
Anaheim Ducks
Points: 62
>Regulation wins: 18
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 15 (9 home, 6 away)
>Next game: March 6: vs. TOR
>Playoff chances: 0%
>Tragic number: 19
Los Angeles Kings
Points: 56
>Regulation wins: 18
>Playoff position: N/A
>Games left: 16 (11 home, 5 away)
>Next game: March 5: vs. TOR
>Playoff chances: 0%
>Tragic number: 15
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order at the top of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. However, whoever does win the draft lottery has a chance to select Alexis Lafreniere.
Find out more about Lafreniere here, read up on the rest of the top draft prospects here, and check out all of our 2020 NHL draft coverage.
Detroit Red Wings
Points: 35
>Regulation wins: 12
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 18.5%
Los Angeles Kings
Points: 56
>Regulation wins: 18
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 13.5%
Ottawa Senators
Points: 58
>Regulation wins: 17
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 11.5%
Anaheim Ducks
Points: 62
>Regulation wins: 18
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 9.5%
San Jose Sharks
Note: Pick belongs to Ottawa
Points: 62
>Regulation wins: 22
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 8.5%
New Jersey Devils
Points: 64
>Regulation wins: 20
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 7.5%
Buffalo Sabres
Points: 66
>Regulation wins: 22
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 6.5%
Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 68
>Regulation wins: 21
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 6%
Montreal Canadiens
Points: 71
>Regulation wins: 19
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 5%
Nashville Predators
Points: 72
>Regulation wins: 25
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 3.5%
Florida Panthers
Points: 73
>Regulation wins: 28
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 3%
Minnesota Wild
Points: 73
>Regulation wins: 29
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 2.5%
Arizona Coyotes
Points: 74
>Regulation wins: 26
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 2%
New York Rangers
Points: 74
>Regulation wins: 30
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 1.5%
Carolina Hurricanes
Points: 75
>Regulation wins: 25
>Chance of No. 1 pick: 1%
Current playoff matchups
(A1) Bruins vs. (WC2) Islanders
>(A2) Lightning vs. (A3) Maple Leafs
>(M1) Capitals vs. (WC1) Blue Jackets
>(M2) Flyers vs. (M3) Penguins
>(P1) Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Canucks
>(C2) Avalanche vs. (C3) Stars
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