Playoff watch: Last stand for the Red Wings?

1 month ago 11

ESPN staffApr 4, 2025, 07:15 AM ET

At the commencement of the 2024-25 NHL season, immoderate predicted that the Detroit Red Wings -- with 1 of the proudest histories among the league's 32 clubs -- would marque their triumphant instrumentality to the postseason field.

Although they stay mathematically successful the contention with little than 2 weeks to go, their chances are getting slimmer by the day.

Friday night, they'll big the Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+), with a accidental to inch their mode person to the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers, who person been ping-ponging the last wild-card spot backmost and distant successful caller days.

As the games get underway, the Red Wings' 75 points are six down some the Canadiens, and their 26 regularisation wins are tied with Montreal.

Things lone get harder for Dylan Larkin & Co. aft the crippled against the Canes. Their remaining docket features only games against teams presently successful playoff position: the Florida Panthers twice, Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs. Perhaps the teams that person clinched a playoff berth volition instrumentality a proverbial ft disconnected the state pedal, but this is not precisely an perfect closing docket for a squad connected the extracurricular looking successful connected the playoffs.

But if the Red Wings are going to marque a run, a triumph connected Friday volition spell a agelong mode (at slightest emotionally) to rally support. Can they bash it?

With the regular play ending April 17, we'll assistance you way it each with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the last stretch, we'll supply details connected each the playoff races, on with the teams jockeying for presumption successful the 2025 NHL draught lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today's schedule
Yesterday's scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Friday's games

Note: All times ET. All games not connected TNT oregon NHL Network are available to watercourse connected ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

Carolina Hurricanes astatine Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks astatine Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu/NHLN)
Minnesota Wild astatine New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday's scoreboard

Montreal Canadiens 4, Boston Bruins 1
Ottawa Senators 2, Tampa Bay Lightning 1
Colorado Avalanche 7, Columbus Blue Jackets 3
St. Louis Blues 5, Pittsburgh Penguins 4 (OT)
Dallas Stars 5, Nashville Predators 1
Los Angeles Kings 4, Utah Hockey Club 2
Calgary Flames 4, Anaheim Ducks 1
Winnipeg Jets 4, Vegas Golden Knights 0
Edmonton Oilers 3, San Jose Sharks 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

x - Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 105.0
Next game: vs. CBJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 101.7
Next game: @ BUF (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 100.6
Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Ottawa Senators

Points: 86
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 94.0
Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 98.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 88.6
Next game: vs. PHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 42.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 83.1
Next game: vs. CAR (Friday)
Playoff chances: 2.7%
Tragic number: 11

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 77.6
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 6

Boston Bruins

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 74.4
Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 1

Metro Division

x - Washington Capitals

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 114.8
Next game: vs. CHI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 106.4
Next game: @ DET (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 93.9
Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.7%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 86.4
Next game: @ NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 26.8%
Tragic number: 13

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 85.3
Next game: @ TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 27.4%
Tragic number: 13

New York Islanders

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 82.0
Next game: vs. MIN (Friday)
Playoff chances: 2.8%
Tragic number: 10

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 77.7
Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 4

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 76.6
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 3

Central Division

x - Winnipeg Jets

Points: 108
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 116.5
Next game: @ UTA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

x - Colorado Avalanche

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 5
Points pace: 104.4
Next game: @ STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 96.9
Next game: vs. COL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 97.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 96.0
Next game: @ NYI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 94.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Utah Hockey Club

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 86.3
Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.7%
Tragic number: 4

e - Nashville Predators

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 66.9
Next game: vs. MTL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 56.9
Next game: @ WSH (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

x - Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 107.2
Next game: @ CGY (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 95
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 103.9
Next game: vs. EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 101.7
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 91.8
Next game: vs. VGK (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 5.9%
Tragic number: 10

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 88.6
Next game: vs. ANA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.8%
Tragic number: 7

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 80.9
Next game: @ ANA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 75.5
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 54.7
Next game: vs. SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Note: An "x" means that the squad has clinched a playoff berth. An "e" means that the squad has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draught lottery to find the bid of the archetypal round, truthful the squad that finishes successful past spot is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a squad tin determination up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, truthful lone 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. Full details connected the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL's Erie Otters, is No. 1 connected the draught board.