NHL playoff watch: The key matchups on 11-game Super Saturday

The homestretch of the 2023-24 NHL season is here. Eleven tickets to the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs dance have been printed, and five remain.

Much will be gained and lost by the end of the 11-game slate on Super Saturday. Here are the key matchups to watch:

• Tampa Bay Lightning at Pittsburgh Penguins (1 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+): The Lightning have used a springtime surge to pull within two points of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the Atlantic Division’s No. 3 seed, and a win here obviously helps them in that quest. As for the Penguins, a 6-2-2 run in their past 10 games has them back in the mix for the second wild-card spot in the East — and potentially even the No. 3 spot in the Metro Division.

• Florida Panthers at Boston Bruins (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+): No. 9 on Greg Wyshynski’s ranking of current NHL rivalries, this matchup pits the top two teams in the Atlantic in a “four-point game” — the Bruins can open up a six-point lead with a win in regulation; the Panthers pull within two with a regulation W for themselves.

• Winnipeg Jets at Minnesota Wild (4 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+): While the Jets have clinched their playoff berth, the Wild remain mathematically alive heading into this game. That mathematical possibility would be razor-thin following a Wild loss here.

• Philadelphia Flyers at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+): Regardless of the results of the final several games, the Flyers will finish ahead of where many predicted. But that won’t ease the sting if they fall completely out of the playoffs. Getting the full two points against a basement-dwelling club like the Blue Jackets is vital.

• Nashville Predators at New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+): Following an 18-game points streak, the Preds looked a bit wobbly in three straight losses before pulling off a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Blues on Thursday; did they peak too soon? Meanwhile, the Isles are making a strong final push to earn the Metro’s No. 3 spot, or that second wild-card spot in the East (and a potential first-round matchup against the rival New York Rangers).

• Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+): WrestleMania is taking place Saturday and Sunday in Philadelphia, but there will be perhaps even more fisticuffs in this final Battle of Alberta showdown for 2023-24 — especially since the Oilers are playoff-bound while the Flames have already been eliminated.

• Vancouver Canucks at Los Angeles Kings (10 p.m., NHL Power Play on ESPN+): There will be some shuffling of the seeds among the Western playoff teams from here on out, but this is one possible first-round matchup combination. Despite the general placement of each team in the standings, Vancouver has had trouble with L.A. this season, with the latter club winning two of three games to this point.

As we traverse the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check in on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2024 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Saturday’s schedule
Friday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 New York Rangers vs. WC2 Philadelphia Flyers
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New York Islanders

Western Conference

C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Los Angeles Kings
C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Winnipeg Jets
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights

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Saturday’s games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).

Tampa Bay Lightning at Pittsburgh Penguins, 1 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)
Florida Panthers at Boston Bruins, 3:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)
Dallas Stars at Chicago Blackhawks, 3:30 p.m.
Winnipeg Jets at Minnesota Wild, 4 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at San Jose Sharks, 6 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
New Jersey Devils at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia Flyers at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
Nashville Predators at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames, 10 p.m.
Vancouver Canucks at Los Angeles Kings, 10 p.m.

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Friday’s scoreboard

Buffalo Sabres 4, Philadelphia Flyers 2
New York Rangers 4, Detroit Red Wings 3
Carolina Hurricanes 4, Washington Capitals 2
Edmonton Oilers 6, Colorado Avalanche 2
Arizona Coyotes 7, Vegas Golden Knights 4
Seattle Kraken 3, Anaheim Ducks 1

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Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 112
Next game: vs. FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 101
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 108
Next game: @ BOS (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 95
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 104
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 100
Next game: @ PIT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 48.5%
Tragic number: 11

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 84
Next game: @ DET (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.7%
Tragic number: 6

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 77
Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 1

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 77
Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 1

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Metropolitan Division

Points: 108
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 5
Points pace: 115
Next game: vs. MTL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 103
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 110
Next game: vs. CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 46.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ CBJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 53.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. OTT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 36.1%
Tragic number: 11

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 87
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 14.5%
Tragic number: 10

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.3%
Tragic number: 5

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 67
Next game: vs. PHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

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Central Division

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 113
Next game: @ CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 5
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. DAL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 106
Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 99
Next game: @ NYI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 91
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.6%
Tragic number: 5

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.3%
Tragic number: 4

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 75
Next game: @ SJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 54
Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

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Pacific Division

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 110
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 106
Next game: @ CGY (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 6
Points pace: 99
Next game: @ VAN (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 6
Points pace: 98
Next game: vs. VAN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.4%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. ARI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 80
Next game: vs. EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Points pace: 58
Next game: vs. STL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 42
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 46
Next game: vs. STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

p — clinched Presidents’ Trophy
y — clinched division
x — clinched playoff berth
e — eliminated from playoff contention

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Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can 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. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston University.

Points: 42
Regulation wins: 13

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 16

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 19

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 19

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 31

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 31

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 30

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 29

* The Penguins’ first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.