Tim KavanaughESPN.com8 minutes of reading
What Connor Bedard wants NHL fans to know about him
Connor Bedard sits down with Emily Kaplan and talks about how he wants to be seen by NHL fans.
As the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins prepare for Saturday night’s game (8 ET, ABC and ESPN+), both are in great shape to make the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2023. According to FiveThirtyEight, the Rangers have a better than 99% chance of making the postseason, while the Penguins have a 73% chance. But what happens when they get there? And can they meet again for another epic clash like last year?
The Rangers are on the road for a first round game against their Hudson River rival New Jersey Devils. The Devils won the first tilt between the teams 5-3 on November 28. They each won a 4-3 overtime decision since then and they will play again on March 30.
Money Puck gives the Rangers a 26.1% chance to reach the second round of the playoffs (where they would potentially meet the Penguins again), a 15.8% chance to reach the conference finals, a 2.0% chance to reach the Stanley Cup and a 0.7% chance to win it all.
As for the Penguins, they look set to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round. The Pens lost two games cleanly to the Canes and two other games in OT; however, they were all during the “we’ve got Andrey Svechnikov on the roster” era of Canes 2022-23 hockey. A lineup without Svechnikov would theoretically be less powerful.
Despite Svechnikov’s absence, Money Puck doesn’t like the Pens’ chances of winning the series, but offers a slightly rosier picture than the Rangers if they make it through the Metro Division: it’s a 25.2% chance of a trip to the second round, 10.6 % chance to reach the Conference Finals, 4.4% chance to reach the Stanley Cup Finals, and 1.9% chance to win the Cup.
As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check out all the playoff races — along with the teams vying for a position in the 2023 NHL Draft lottery.
Note: Playoff odds are via FiveThirtyEight.
Next:
Current playoff matches
Today’s games
Last night’s results
Advanced ranking
Race for the #1 pick
Current playoff matches
Eastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 New York Islanders
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Pittsburgh Penguins
M2 New Jersey Devils vs. M3 New York Rangers
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs WC1 Seattle Kraken
C2 Minnesota Wild vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Saturday’s games
Note: All times are Eastern. All non-ESPN, TNT or NHL Network games are available through NHL Power Play, which is included with an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
Colorado Avalanche at Detroit Red Wings, 1 p.m. (NHLN)
Boston Bruins at Minnesota Wild, 2 p.m
Winnipeg Jets at Nashville Predators, 2 p.m
Edmonton Oilers at Seattle Kraken, 4 p.m
Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers, 5 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
New Jersey Devils at Florida Panthers, 6 p.m
Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m
Montreal Canadiens at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers, 8:00 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)
Dallas Stars at Calgary Flames, 10 p.m
Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings, 10 p.m
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Arizona Coyotes, 10:30 p.m
New York Islanders at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m. (NHLN)
Scoreboard for Friday
Watch “In the Crease” on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.
Philadelphia Flyers 5, Buffalo Sabers 2
Toronto Maple Leafs 5, Carolina Hurricanes 2
St. Louis Blues 5, Washington Capitals 2
Anaheim Ducks 7, Columbus Blue Jackets 4
Advanced ranking
Atlantic Division
Points: 107
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff position: A1
Remaining games: 15
Dot rate: 131
Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A2
Remaining games: 14
Dot rate: 110
Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: A3
Remaining Games: 13
Dot rate: 105
Next game: vs. MTL (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining Games: 14
Dot rate: 90
Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: 55%
Tragic number: 25
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining games: 14
Dot rate: 87
Next game: vs BOS (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: 8%
Tragic number: 22
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining Games: 14
Dot rate: 84
Next game: vs TOR (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: 2%
Tragic number: 20
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining Games: 15
Dot rate: 85
Next game: vs. COL (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: 2%
Tragic number: 21
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining Games: 13
Dot rate: 71
Next game: @ TB (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: 1%
Tragic number: 8
Capital Division
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: M1
Remaining Games: 15
Dot rate: 118
Next game: @ PHI (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: M2
Remaining Games: 14
Dot rate: 115
Next game: @ FLA (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: M3
Remaining Games: 14
Dot rate: 106
Next game: vs. PIT (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC1
Remaining games: 14
Dot rate: 94
Next game: @ NYR (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: 73%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC2
Remaining games: 12
Dot rate: 91
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: 50%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining games: 12
Dot rate: 86
Next game: @ MIN (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: 6%
Tragic number: 19
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining games: 14
Dot rate: 74
Next game: vs BOS (Sunday)
Playoff Chances:
Tragic number: 11
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining Games: 15
Dot rate: 60
Next game: @ VGK (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: 0%
Tragic number: e
Central Division
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: C1
Remaining Games: 13
Dot rate: 103
Next game: @ CGY (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: C2
Remaining Games: 14
Dot rate: 104
Next game: vs. BOS (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: 99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: C3
Remaining games: 15
Dot rate: 103
Next game: @ IT (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Remaining games: 13
Dot rate: 94
Next game: @ NSH (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: 58%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining Games: 16
Dot rate: 93
Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: 27%
Tragic number: 28
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining Games: 14
Dot rate: 78
Next game: vs WPG (Sunday)
Playoff Chances:
Tragic number: 14
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining Games: 13
Dot rate: 75
Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday)
Playoff Chances:
Tragic number: 10
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining games: 14
Dot rate: 65
Next game: @ ARI (Saturday)
Playoff Chances:
Tragic number: 3
Pacific Division
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P1
Remaining Games: 13
Dot rate: 107
Next game: vs. CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P2
Remaining Games: 13
Dot rate: 106
Next game: vs VAN (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: P3
Remaining Games: 13
Dot rate: 100
Next game: @ SEA (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: 98%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC1
Remaining Games: 14
Dot rate: 100
Next game: vs. EDM (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: 93%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining Games: 13
Dot rate: 90
Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: 26%
Tragic number: 23
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining games: 15
Dot rate: 77
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff Chances:
Tragic number: 14
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining Games: 13
Dot rate: 67
Next game: vs VAN (Sunday)
Playoff Chances:
Tragic number: 3
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Remaining Games: 13
Dot rate: 62
Next game: vs. NYI (Saturday)
Playoff Chances: 0%
Tragic number: e
Race for the #1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes last is not guaranteed the #1 pick. Starting in 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if they win the lottery, so only 11 teams can enter the lottery for the No. 1 pick. Full details of the process can be found here. Sitting No. 1 on this summer’s draft board is Connor Bedard, who is being lauded as a generational talent.
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 65
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 25
Notes on traded picks affecting the top 16: