NHL playoff projections: Canucks or Flames for the final Western wild card?

The Vancouver Canucks were the regular-season champions of the Pacific Division in 2023-24, and won their first-round playoff matchup against the Nashville Predators .

The Calgary Flames finished 17 points out of a wild-card spot last season, and during last season and the offseason, traded away Jacob Markstrom , Noah Hanifin , Elias Lindholm , Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev .

One might say that expectations were different for the two clubs before the season, which is backed up by the preseason point total over/unders from ESPN BET: the Canucks were listed at 99.5, with the Flames at 81.5 Editor's Picks NHL Awards Watch: New leaders for Hart, Norris as playoff races heat up 43m Greg Wyshynski Are the Canes and Oilers cooked? Is the Cup headed to Dallas? Grading trade deadline overreactions 1d Greg Wyshynski Trade season grades for all 32 NHL teams: Seven A's, three D's 2d Ryan Clark and Kristen Shilton Nevertheless, the two Western Canadian teams are battling for the final Western Conference wild-card spot with a little over a month left in the season.

On Wednesday night, the they'll face off in Calgary ( 9 p.m.

ET, ESPN+ ).

Heading into the game, Calgary has 70 points and 24 regulation wins in 63 games, and Vancouver has 69 and 23 through 63.

This will be the final head-to-match matchup between the clubs.

Of the Flames' remaining games beyond Wednesday, 10 out of 18 are against teams in a playoff position.

For the Canucks, it's nine out of the final 17.

Stathletes projects the Flames to finish in that coveted wild-card position, with 89.6 points.

Vancouver is projected at 88.1 points, behind Calgary and also the St.

Louis Blues and Utah Hockey Club .

Given the tight margins, every game counts, particularly one against a fellow wild-card bubble team.

There is a lot of runway left until the final day of the season April 17, and we'll help you keep track of it all on the NHL playoff watch.

As we traverse the final stretch, we'll provide details on all the playoff races -- along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft 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 Florida Panthers vs.

WC1 Ottawa Senators A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs.

A3 Tampa Bay Lightning M1 Washington Capitals vs.

WC2 Columbus Blue Jackets M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs.

M3 New Jersey Devils Western Conference C1 Winnipeg Jets vs.

WC2 C algary Flames C2 Dallas Stars vs.

C3 Colorado Avalanche P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs.

WC1 Minnesota Wild P2 Edmonton Oilers vs.

P3 Los Angeles Kings Wednesday's games Note: All times ET.

All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

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Buffalo Sabres at Detroit Red Wings , 7:30 p.m.

(TNT) Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames , 9 p.m.

Anaheim Ducks at Utah Hockey Club , 10 p.m.

(TNT) Montreal Canadiens at Seattle Kraken , 10:30 p.m.

Tuesday's scoreboard Boston Bruins 3, Florida Panthers 2 New Jersey Devils 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 3 Ottawa Senators 5, Philadelphia Flyers 2 Pittsburgh Penguins 3, Vegas Golden Knights 2 (OT) Carolina Hurricanes 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 1 Minnesota Wild 2, Colorado Avalanche 1 (SO) Winnipeg Jets 2, New York Rangers 1 Montreal Canadiens 4, Vancouver Canucks 2 Washington Capitals 7, Anaheim Ducks 4 Los Angeles Kings 4, New York Islanders 1 Nashville Predators 3, San Jose Sharks 2 Expanded standings Atlantic Division Florida Panthers Points: 83 Regulation wins: 34 Playoff position: A1 Games left: 17 Points pace: 104.7 Next game: @ TOR (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Toronto Maple Leafs Points: 81 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: A2 Games left: 18 Points pace: 103.8 Next game: vs.

FLA (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Tampa Bay Lightning Points: 78 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: A3 Games left: 18 Points pace: 99.9 Next game: @ PHI (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Ottawa Senators Points: 73 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 18 Points pace: 93.5 Next game: vs.

BOS (Thursday) Playoff chances: 95.2% Tragic number: N/A Montreal Canadiens Points: 68 Regulation wins: 22 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 18 Points pace: 87.1 Next game: @ SEA (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 9.9% Tragic number: 35 Boston Bruins Points: 68 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 16 Points pace: 84.5 Next game: @ OTT (Thursday) Playoff chances: 5.7% Tragic number: 31 Detroit Red Wings Points: 66 Regulation wins: 22 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 18 Points pace: 84.6 Next game: vs.

BUF (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 6.7% Tragic number: 33 Buffalo Sabres Points: 56 Regulation wins: 21 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 19 Points pace: 72.9 Next game: @ DET (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: 25 Metro Division Washington Capitals Points: 94 Regulation wins: 36 Playoff position: M1 Games left: 17 Points pace: 118.6 Next game: @ LA (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Carolina Hurricanes Points: 82 Regulation wins: 34 Playoff position: M2 Games left: 17 Points pace: 103.5 Next game: vs.

DET (Friday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A New Jersey Devils Points: 76 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: M3 Games left: 16 Points pace: 94.4 Next game: vs.

EDM (Thursday) Playoff chances: 94% Tragic number: N/A Columbus Blue Jackets Points: 70 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 18 Points pace: 89.7 Next game: vs.

VGK (Thursday) Playoff chances: 41.6% Tragic number: N/A New York Rangers Points: 68 Regulation wins: 29 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 17 Points pace: 85.8 Next game: @ MIN (Thursday) Playoff chances: 29.9% Tragic number: 33 New York Islanders Points: 65 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 18 Points pace: 83.3 Next game: vs.

EDM (Friday) Playoff chances: 14.5% Tragic number: 32 Philadelphia Flyers Points: 62 Regulation wins: 17 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 16 Points pace: 77.0 Next game: vs.

TB (Thursday) Playoff chances: 2.3% Tragic number: 25 Pittsburgh Penguins Points: 62 Regulation wins: 17 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 15 Points pace: 75.9 Next game: vs.

STL (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0.3% Tragic number: 23 Central Division Winnipeg Jets Points: 94 Regulation wins: 37 Playoff position: C1 Games left: 16 Points pace: 116.8 Next game: vs.

DAL (Friday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Dallas Stars Points: 86 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: C2 Games left: 18 Points pace: 110.2 Next game: @ WPG (Friday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Colorado Avalanche Points: 81 Regulation wins: 34 Playoff position: C3 Games left: 16 Points pace: 100.6 Next game: @ CGY (Friday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Minnesota Wild Points: 78 Regulation wins: 29 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 17 Points pace: 98.4 Next game: vs.

NYR (Thursday) Playoff chances: 91% Tragic number: N/A St.

Louis Blues Points: 69 Regulation wins: 22 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 17 Points pace: 87.1 Next game: @ PIT (Thursday) Playoff chances: 29.8% Tragic number: 34 Utah Hockey Club Points: 67 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 18 Points pace: 85.8 Next game: vs.

ANA (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 25.9% Tragic number: 34 Nashville Predators Points: 57 Regulation wins: 21 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 18 Points pace: 73.0 Next game: @ ANA (Friday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: 24 Chicago Blackhawks Points: 49 Regulation wins: 17 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 17 Points pace: 61.8 Next game: @ SJ (Thursday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 14 Pacific Division Vegas Golden Knights Points: 83 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: P1 Games left: 18 Points pace: 106.3 Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Edmonton Oilers Points: 78 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: P2 Games left: 18 Points pace: 99.9 Next game: @ NJ (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.6% Tragic number: N/A Los Angeles Kings Points: 77 Regulation wins: 30 Playoff position: P3 Games left: 19 Points pace: 100.2 Next game: vs.

WSH (Thursday) Playoff chances: 97.2% Tragic number: N/A Calgary Flames Points: 70 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 19 Points pace: 91.1 Next game: vs.

VAN (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 35.9% Tragic number: N/A Vancouver Canucks Points: 69 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 18 Points pace: 88.4 Next game: @ CGY (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 20.3% Tragic number: 36 Anaheim Ducks Points: 63 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 18 Points pace: 80.7 Next game: @ UTA (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0.3% Tragic number: 30 Seattle Kraken Points: 58 Regulation wins: 22 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 17 Points pace: 73.2 Next game: vs.

MTL (Wednesday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 23 San Jose Sharks Points: 43 Regulation wins: 12 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 16 Points pace: 53.4 Next game: vs.

CHI (Thursday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 6 Race for the No.

1 pick Top stories of the week from Get exclusive access to thousands of premium articles a year from top writers.

Kram: 22 reasons to fear the Thunder NHL trade overreactions: Canes cooked? Way-Too-Early ranking: January transfers More ESPN+ content 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 No.

1 pick.

Full details on the process are here .

Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL's Erie Otters, is No.

1 on the draft board .

1.

San Jose Sharks Points: 43 Regulation wins: 12 2.

Chicago Blackhawks Points: 49 Regulation wins: 17 3.

Buffalo Sabres Points: 56 Regulation wins: 21 4.

Nashville Predators Points: 57 Regulation wins: 21 5.

Seattle Kraken Points: 58 Regulation wins: 22 6.

Pittsburgh Penguins Points: 62 Regulation wins: 17 7.

Philadelphia Flyers Points: 62 Regulation wins: 17 8.

Anaheim Ducks Points: 63 Regulation wins: 20 9.

New York Islanders Points: 65 Regulation wins: 23 10.

Detroit Red Wings Points: 66 Regulation wins: 22 11.

Utah Hockey Club Points: 67 Regulation wins: 20 12.

Montreal Canadiens Points: 68 Regulation wins: 21 13.

Boston Bruins Points: 68 Regulation wins: 23 14.

New York Rangers Points: 68 Regulation wins: 29 15.

St.

Louis Blues Points: 69 Regulation wins: 22 16.

Vancouver Canucks Points: 69 Regulation wins: 23.

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