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NHL playoff watch standings update: Pacific contenders clash as Kings visit Oilers

ByTim Kavanagh ESPN logo

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

The NHL's 2021-22 regular season has not ended. But if all of the remaining games were canceled, the current No. 2 vs. No. 3 seed matchup in the Pacific Division would pit the Los Angeles Kings against the Edmonton Oilers. These two clubs are in very different places -- to say nothing of the climate differential between Southern California and Alberta.

L.A.'s remaining core from the Stanley Cup championship teams -- Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, Jonathan Quick -- has helped bring along the club's promising batch of young players perhaps more quickly than some expected. GM Rob Blake did not push all of his prospect chips to the middle of the proverbial table for a short-term run, but has made wise moves to add around the margins. Meanwhile, Edmonton is led by its all-world duo -- Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl -- but management has had trouble successfully building around that pair in recent seasons. Will GM Ken Holland's additions this season -- including Evander Kane, Derick Brassard, Brett Kulak -- get them to the Stanley Cup Final?

As for the matchup tonight, each team has won one game in the season series (L.A. took the Dec. 5 game 5-1, while Edmonton returned the favor with a 5-2 victory on Feb. 15). The Kings hold a two-point edge in the standings, though the Oilers have a game in hand.

As we enter the post-deadline span of the 2021-22 regular season, it's time to check in on all the playoff races -- along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2022 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via FiveThirtyEight. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta of the NHL.

Jump ahead:br/>Current playoff matchupsbr/>Today's gamesbr/>Last night's scoresbr/>Expanded standingsbr/>Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Boston Bruins

>A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs

>M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Washington Capitals

>M2 New York Rangers vs. M3 Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Dallas Stars

>C2 Minnesota Wild vs. C3 Nashville Predators

>P1 Calgary Flames vs. WC1 St. Louis Blues

>P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Today's games

Note: All times Eastern. All out-of-market, non-TNT games available on ESPN+

Winnipeg Jets at Buffalo Sabres, 7 p.m.

>New York Rangers at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)

>Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers, 9:30 p.m.

>St. Louis Blues at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.

>San Jose Sharks at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m.

>Vegas Golden Knights at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.(TNT)

Last night's scoreboard

Watch "In The Crease" on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.

Toronto Maple Leafs 6, Boston Bruins 4

>Tampa Bay Lightning 4, Carolina Hurricanes 3 (OT)

>Florida Panthers 7, Montreal Canadiens 4

>New York Rangers 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 2

>New York Islanders 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 3

>Nashville Predators 4, Ottawa Senators 1

>Minnesota Wild 4, Philadelphia Flyers 1

>Colorado Avalanche 2, Calgary Flames 1

>Dallas Stars 3, Anaheim Ducks 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Florida Panthers

Points: 96

>Regulation wins: 34

>Playoff position: A1

>Games left: 16

>Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 90

>Regulation wins: 31

>Playoff position: A2

>Games left: 16

>Next game: vs. CHI (Friday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 89

>Regulation wins: 36

>Playoff position: A3

>Games left: 16

>Next game: vs. WPG (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

Boston Bruins

Points: 87

>Regulation wins: 33

>Playoff position: WC1

>Games left: 16

>Next game: vs. NJ (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 60

>Regulation wins: 15

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 16

>Next game: vs. NYR (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: <1%

>Tragic number: 8

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 58

>Regulation wins: 18

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 15

>Next game: vs. WPG (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: <1%

>Tragic number: 5

Ottawa Senators

Points: 52

>Regulation wins: 19

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 16

>Next game: @ DET (Friday)

>Playoff chances: <1%

>Tragic number: 1

e - Montreal Canadiens

Points: 47

>Regulation wins: 13

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 15

>Next game: @ CAR (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 96

>Regulation wins: 38

>Playoff position: M1

>Games left: 15

>Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 91

>Regulation wins: 36

>Playoff position: M2

>Games left: 15

>Next game: @ DET (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

strong>Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 90

>Regulation wins: 33

>Playoff position: M3

>Games left: 14

>Next game: @ MIN (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 84

>Regulation wins: 28

>Playoff position: WC2

>Games left: 14

>Next game: vs. MIN (Sunday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 69

>Regulation wins: 22

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 15

>Next game: @ NYI (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: <1%

>Tragic number: 15

New York Islanders

Points: 67

>Regulation wins: 27

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 17

>Next game: vs. CBJ (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: <1%

>Tragic number: 17

e - Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 53

>Regulation wins: 17

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 15

>Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

New Jersey Devils

Points: 53

>Regulation wins: 16

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 16

>Next game: @ BOS (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: <1%

>Tragic number: 2

Central Division

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 100

>Regulation wins: 39

>Playoff position: C1

>Games left: 15

>Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 86

>Regulation wins: 29

>Playoff position: C2

>Games left: 17

>Next game: vs. PIT (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 82

>Regulation wins: 32

>Playoff position: C3

>Games left: 15

>Next game: @ BUF (Friday)

>Playoff chances: 95%

>Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 81

>Regulation wins: 33

>Playoff position: WC1

>Games left: 17

>Next game: @ VAN (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 96%

>Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 77

>Regulation wins: 24

>Playoff position: WC2

>Games left: 17

>Next game: @ ANA (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: 82%

>Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 74

>Regulation wins: 26

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 15

>Next game: @ BUF (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 10%

>Tragic number: 27

Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 58

>Regulation wins: 15

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 15

>Next game: @ FLA (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: <1%

>Tragic number: 11

e - Arizona Coyotes

Points: 45

>Regulation wins: 15

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 16

>Next game: vs. SJ (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Calgary Flames

Points: 88

strong>Regulation wins: 35

>Playoff position: P1

>Games left: 16

>Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 81

>Regulation wins: 28

>Playoff position: P2

>Games left: 14

>Next game: @ EDM (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 77%

>Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 79

>Regulation wins: 31

>Playoff position: P3

>Games left: 15

>Next game: vs. LA (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 80%

>Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 76

>Regulation wins: 29

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 14

>Next game: @ SEA (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 47%

>Tragic number: 27

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 73

>Regulation wins: 26

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 14

>Next game: vs. STL (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 12%

>Tragic number: 24

San Jose Sharks

Points: 66

>Regulation wins: 20

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 17

>Next game: @ ARI (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: <1%

>Tragic number: 23

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 65

>Regulation wins: 18

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 14

>Next game: vs. DAL (Thursday)

>Playoff chances: <1%

>Tragic number: 16

Seattle Kraken

Points: 48

>Regulation wins: 18

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 16

>Next game: vs. VGK (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: <1%

>Tragic number: 3

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. As of 2021, a team may 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.