NHL playoff watch: Maple Leafs-Avalanche a Cup Final preview?

The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin in late April, culminating with the Stanley Cup Final in June.

Although the identity of the 16 playoff teams has yet to be determined, it's never too early to project dream Cup Final matchups.

Could one of those pairings be in preview mode on Wednesday night? Editor's Picks NHL insiders debate playoff bubble teams, Stanley Cup finalists, MVP picks 23h Ryan Clark, +4 More Inside the Sabres' never-ending rebuild -- and how they get back to the playoffs 5d Ryan Clark New team, new timeline? What to expect out of Ritchie, Minten, other traded NHL prospects 6d Rachel Doerrie The Colorado Avalanche -- who loaded up at the trade deadline with Brock Nelson , Ryan Lindgren and Charlie Coyle -- will visit the Toronto Maple Leafs -- a team that added "playoff style" performers in Brandon Carlo and Scott Laughton -- in one of two games on the schedule ( 7 p.m.

ET, TNT ).

To be clear, this would be a wildly divergent path for Toronto compared to recent seasons.

A trip to the Cup Final would be the Leafs' first time there since 1967, when they last won the Cup.

The Avs also won the Cup in their most recent trip to the Cup Final, though their championship was in 2022.

Our NHL insiders debated their Cup Final matchups this week , and the Avs made one ballot while the Leafs didn't make any.

As for the projections, Stathletes gives Colorado a 23.3% chance of making the Cup Final, which is highest among Western Conference teams; Toronto has 12.6% chances, which is fourth among Eastern contenders.

This specific matchup has a 2.91% chance of occurring, which is 12th most likely -- Avs vs.

Carolina Hurricanes is No.

1, at 6.32%.

There is a lot of runway left until April 17, the final day of the regular season, and we'll help you track it all with 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 Tampa Bay Lightning vs.

A3 Toronto Maple Leafs M1 Washington Capitals vs.

WC2 Montreal Canadiens M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs.

M3 New Jersey Devils Western Conference C1 Winnipeg Jets vs.

WC2 Vancouver Canucks 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).

Colorado Avalanche at Toronto Maple Leafs , 7 p.m.

(TNT) Seattle Kraken at Minnesota Wild , 9:30 p.m.

(TNT) Tuesday's scoreboard Breaking News from Emily Kaplan Download the ESPN app and enable Emily Kaplan's news alerts to receive push notifications for the latest updates first.

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Montreal Canadiens 6, Ottawa Senators 3 Calgary Flames 2, New York Rangers 1 New York Islanders 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 2 Washington Capitals 4, Detroit Red Wings 1 Dallas Stars 4, Anaheim Ducks 3 (OT) Seattle Kraken 6, Chicago Blackhawks 2 Edmonton Oilers 7, Utah Hockey Club 1 Vancouver Canucks 6, Winnipeg Jets 2 Expanded standings Atlantic Division Florida Panthers Points: 85 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: A1 Games left: 14 Points pace: 102.5 Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Tampa Bay Lightning Points: 83 Regulation wins: 34 Playoff position: A2 Games left: 15 Points pace: 101.6 Next game: @ DAL (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Toronto Maple Leafs Points: 83 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: A3 Games left: 15 Points pace: 101.6 Next game: vs.

COL (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Ottawa Senators Points: 77 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 15 Points pace: 94.2 Next game: vs.

COL (Thursday) Playoff chances: 98.8% Tragic number: N/A Montreal Canadiens Points: 73 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 15 Points pace: 89.3 Next game: @ NYI (Thursday) Playoff chances: 18.8% Tragic number: N/A Detroit Red Wings Points: 70 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 14 Points pace: 84.4 Next game: @ VGK (Saturday) Playoff chances: 11.6% Tragic number: 26 Boston Bruins Points: 69 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 13 Points pace: 82.0 Next game: @ VGK (Thursday) Playoff chances: 2.4% Tragic number: 23 Buffalo Sabres Points: 60 Regulation wins: 21 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 16 Points pace: 74.6 Next game: @ UTA (Thursday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 20 Metro Division Washington Capitals Points: 98 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: M1 Games left: 14 Points pace: 118.2 Next game: vs.

PHI (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Carolina Hurricanes Points: 86 Regulation wins: 36 Playoff position: M2 Games left: 15 Points pace: 105.3 Next game: @ SJ (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A New Jersey Devils Points: 80 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: M3 Games left: 13 Points pace: 95.1 Next game: vs.

CGY (Thursday) Playoff chances: 96.6% Tragic number: N/A New York Rangers Points: 72 Regulation wins: 30 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 13 Points pace: 85.6 Next game: vs.

TOR (Thursday) Playoff chances: 45.3% Tragic number: 26 New York Islanders Points: 70 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 15 Points pace: 85.7 Next game: vs.

MTL (Thursday) Playoff chances: 15.1% Tragic number: 28 Columbus Blue Jackets Points: 70 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 15 Points pace: 85.7 Next game: vs.

FLA (Thursday) Playoff chances: 10.8% Tragic number: 28 Pittsburgh Penguins Points: 66 Regulation wins: 19 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 12 Points pace: 77.3 Next game: vs.

CBJ (Friday) Playoff chances: 0.6% Tragic number: 18 Philadelphia Flyers Points: 64 Regulation wins: 17 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 13 Points pace: 76.1 Next game: @ WSH (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: 18 Central Division Winnipeg Jets Points: 98 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: C1 Games left: 13 Points pace: 116.5 Next game: @ EDM (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Dallas Stars Points: 89 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: C2 Games left: 15 Points pace: 108.9 Next game: vs.

TB (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Colorado Avalanche Points: 85 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: C3 Games left: 14 Points pace: 102.5 Next game: @ TOR (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Minnesota Wild Points: 81 Regulation wins: 30 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 14 Points pace: 97.7 Next game: vs.

SEA (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 94.4% Tragic number: N/A St.

Louis Blues Points: 75 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 13 Points pace: 89.1 Next game: vs.

VAN (Thursday) Playoff chances: 46.2% Tragic number: 27 Utah Hockey Club Points: 71 Regulation wins: 22 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 14 Points pace: 85.6 Next game: vs.

BUF (Thursday) Playoff chances: 24.8% Tragic number: 25 Nashville Predators Points: 58 Regulation wins: 21 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 15 Points pace: 71.0 Next game: vs.

ANA (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: 14 Chicago Blackhawks Points: 49 Regulation wins: 17 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 14 Points pace: 59.1 Next game: vs.

LA (Thursday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 3 Pacific Division Vegas Golden Knights Points: 86 Regulation wins: 36 Playoff position: P1 Games left: 15 Points pace: 105.3 Next game: vs.

BOS (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Edmonton Oilers Points: 84 Regulation wins: 29 Playoff position: P2 Games left: 14 Points pace: 101.3 Next game: vs.

WPG (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.8% Tragic number: N/A Los Angeles Kings Points: 81 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: P3 Games left: 16 Points pace: 100.6 Next game: @ CHI (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.7% Tragic number: N/A Vancouver Canucks Points: 75 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 14 Points pace: 90.4 Next game: @ STL (Thursday) Playoff chances: 22.1% Tragic number: N/A Calgary Flames Points: 73 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 15 Points pace: 89.3 Next game: @ NJ (Thursday) Playoff chances: 13% Tragic number: 29 Anaheim Ducks Points: 66 Regulation wins: 21 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 14 Points pace: 79.6 Next game: @ NSH (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: 20 Seattle Kraken Points: 65 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 13 Points pace: 77.2 Next game: @ MIN (Wednesday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 17 e - San Jose Sharks Points: 45 Regulation wins: 13 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 14 Points pace: 54.3 Next game: vs.

CAR (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E Note: An "e" means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.

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.

Men's tourney: Bilas picks every game Women's tourney: Creme picks every game NFL free agency overreactions: Chiefs, 49ers 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: 45 Regulation wins: 13 2.

Chicago Blackhawks Points: 49 Regulation wins: 17 3.

Nashville Predators Points: 58 Regulation wins: 21 4.

Buffalo Sabres Points: 60 Regulation wins: 21 5.

Philadelphia Flyers Points: 64 Regulation wins: 17 6.

Seattle Kraken Points: 65 Regulation wins: 24 7.

Pittsburgh Penguins Points: 66 Regulation wins: 19 8.

Anaheim Ducks Points: 66 Regulation wins: 21 9.

Boston Bruins Points: 69 Regulation wins: 23 10.

Columbus Blue Jackets Points: 70 Regulation wins: 23 11.

Detroit Red Wings Points: 70 Regulation wins: 24 12.

New York Islanders Points: 70 Regulation wins: 25 13.

Utah Hockey Club Points: 71 Regulation wins: 22 14.

New York Rangers Points: 72 Regulation wins: 30 15.

Calgary Flames Points: 73 Regulation wins: 25 16.

St.

Louis Blues Points: 75 Regulation wins: 25.

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