Who are the toughest first-round opponents for the Capitals, Jets?

The Washington Capitals have officially punched their ticket to the postseason dance already, and the Winnipeg Jets are well on their way to doing so as well (a win over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday would have done it, but that was not in the cards apparently).

Those two teams meet on Tuesday night ( 8 p.m.

ET, ESPN+ ), and could meet again if they make the Stanley Cup Final.

As of now, each is poised to face the second wild-card team in their respective conference -- might they prefer one of the bubble teams over the others? Editor's Picks NHL Bubble Watch: Which teams emerge from wild-card race chaos? 59m Greg Wyshynski How rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf saved the Calgary Flames' season 4d Greg Wyshynski NHL Power Rankings: Capitals reign at No.

1, plus pickups for the fantasy playoffs 4d Sean Allen and Victoria Matiash In Winnipeg's case, the team currently in the second wild-card spot is the St.

Louis Blues .

The Jets have gone 2-1 against the Blues this season, with one of the wins coming via shootout, and they'll face off again on Apr.

7.

If the Calgary Flames slide into that spot for an old-school Smythe Division showdown, the Jets also went 2-1 against them this season (though the last game was back on Jan.

26).

The Utah Hockey Club could make a push into that spot, and -- you guessed it -- the Jets have gone 2-1 against the NHL's newest team.

The final team with a legit shot at the West's last spot is the Vancouver Canucks , against whom the Jets have gone 1-1, with their final matchup this Saturday.

The Caps' first-round opponent of the moment is the Montreal Canadiens ; Washington won two of three against Montreal, with the loss coming in OT.

If the New York Rangers slide in as the opponent, the Caps will hope to avenge their sweep in last year's playoffs, and appear likely to do so based on regular-season results; they won each of the three matchups against the Blueshirts.

Washington won its only matchup against the New York Islanders this season, with two games remaining.

The Capitals have also had success against the Columbus Blue Jackets (two wins in two games thus far, with two remaining in April) and Detroit Red Wings (two wins this month after a loss on Dec.

29).

So although the path will get more difficult as the playoff tournament wears on, it appears that both the Caps and Jets are in good shape -- on paper, at least -- heading into the opening round.

There is less than a month 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 Toronto Maple Leafs vs.

A3 Tampa Bay Lightning 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 Tuesday'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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Ottawa Senators at Buffalo Sabres , 7 p.m.

Philadelphia Flyers at Toronto Maple Leafs , 7 p.m.

Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning , 7 p.m.

Nashville Predators at Carolina Hurricanes , 7 p.m.

Montreal Canadiens at St.

Louis Blues , 8 p.m.

Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild , 8 p.m.

Washington Capitals at Winnipeg Jets , 8 p.m.

Detroit Red Wings at Colorado Avalanche , 9 p.m.

Seattle Kraken at Calgary Flames , 9 p.m.

New York Rangers at Los Angeles Kings , 10:30 p.m.

Monday's scoreboard Vancouver Canucks 4, New Jersey Devils 3 (SO) Columbus Blue Jackets 4, New York Islanders 3 (SO) Dallas Stars 3, Minnesota Wild 0 Detroit Red Wings 5, Utah Hockey Club 1 Expanded standings Atlantic Division Florida Panthers Points: 89 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: A1 Games left: 11 Points pace: 102.8 Next game: vs.

UTA (Friday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Toronto Maple Leafs Points: 87 Regulation wins: 34 Playoff position: A2 Games left: 12 Points pace: 101.9 Next game: vs.

PHI (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Tampa Bay Lightning Points: 85 Regulation wins: 34 Playoff position: A3 Games left: 12 Points pace: 99.6 Next game: vs.

PIT (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Ottawa Senators Points: 79 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 13 Points pace: 93.9 Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 98.2% Tragic number: N/A Montreal Canadiens Points: 75 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 13 Points pace: 89.1 Next game: @ STL (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 48.8% Tragic number: N/A Detroit Red Wings Points: 72 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 12 Points pace: 84.3 Next game: @ COL (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 3.0% Tragic number: 22 Boston Bruins Points: 69 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 78.6 Next game: @ ANA (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: 15 Buffalo Sabres Points: 62 Regulation wins: 22 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 13 Points pace: 73.7 Next game: vs.

OTT (Tuesday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 14 Metro Division x - Washington Capitals Points: 102 Regulation wins: 40 Playoff position: M1 Games left: 12 Points pace: 119.5 Next game: @ WPG (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Carolina Hurricanes Points: 90 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: M2 Games left: 12 Points pace: 105.4 Next game: vs.

NSH (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A New Jersey Devils Points: 81 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: M3 Games left: 10 Points pace: 92.3 Next game: @ CHI (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 94.6% Tragic number: N/A New York Islanders Points: 74 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 12 Points pace: 86.7 Next game: vs.

VAN (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 28.0% Tragic number: 24 New York Rangers Points: 74 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 85.5 Next game: @ LA (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 17.9% Tragic number: 22 Columbus Blue Jackets Points: 73 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 12 Points pace: 85.5 Next game: vs.

VAN (Friday) Playoff chances: 9.4% Tragic number: 23 Pittsburgh Penguins Points: 69 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 78.6 Next game: @ TB (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: 15 Philadelphia Flyers Points: 65 Regulation wins: 17 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 74.0 Next game: vs.

OTT (Tuesday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 11 Central Division Winnipeg Jets Points: 100 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: C1 Games left: 11 Points pace: 115.5 Next game: vs.

WSH (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Dallas Stars Points: 94 Regulation wins: 36 Playoff position: C2 Games left: 12 Points pace: 110.1 Next game: @ EDM (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Colorado Avalanche Points: 89 Regulation wins: 36 Playoff position: C3 Games left: 11 Points pace: 102.8 Next game: vs.

DET (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Minnesota Wild Points: 85 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 11 Points pace: 98.2 Next game: vs.

VGK (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 96.8% Tragic number: N/A St.

Louis Blues Points: 81 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 10 Points pace: 92.3 Next game: vs.

MTL (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 71.1% Tragic number: N/A Utah Hockey Club Points: 75 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 86.6 Next game: @ TB (Thursday) Playoff chances: 13.3% Tragic number: 17 Nashville Predators Points: 60 Regulation wins: 22 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 12 Points pace: 70.3 Next game: @ CAR (Tuesday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 4 e - Chicago Blackhawks Points: 51 Regulation wins: 18 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 58.9 Next game: vs.

NJ (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E Pacific Division Vegas Golden Knights Points: 92 Regulation wins: 39 Playoff position: P1 Games left: 12 Points pace: 107.8 Next game: @ MIN (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Los Angeles Kings Points: 87 Regulation wins: 34 Playoff position: P3 Games left: 13 Points pace: 103.4 Next game: vs.

NYR (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Edmonton Oilers Points: 87 Regulation wins: 30 Playoff position: P2 Games left: 12 Points pace: 101.9 Next game: vs.

DAL (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 99.5% Tragic number: N/A Vancouver Canucks Points: 78 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 90.1 Next game: @ NYI (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 8.9% Tragic number: 20 Calgary Flames Points: 77 Regulation wins: 26 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 13 Points pace: 91.5 Next game: vs.

SEA (Tuesday) Playoff chances: 10.6% Tragic number: 23 Anaheim Ducks Points: 68 Regulation wins: 22 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 12 Points pace: 79.7 Next game: vs.

BOS (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: 12 Seattle Kraken Points: 65 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 75.1 Next game: @ CGY (Tuesday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 7 e - San Jose Sharks Points: 47 Regulation wins: 14 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 12 Points pace: 55.1 Next game: vs.

TOR (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E Note: An "x" means that the team has clinched a playoff berth.

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.

12 surprising outcomes from MLB sims Reranking last 16 teams in men's tourney Barnwell on NFL draft: Who should trade? 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: 47 Regulation wins: 14 2.

Chicago Blackhawks Points: 51 Regulation wins: 18 3.

Nashville Predators Points: 60 Regulation wins: 22 4.

Buffalo Sabres Points: 62 Regulation wins: 22 5.

Philadelphia Flyers Points: 65 Regulation wins: 17 6.

Seattle Kraken Points: 65 Regulation wins: 24 7.

Anaheim Ducks Points: 68 Regulation wins: 22 8.

Pittsburgh Penguins Points: 69 Regulation wins: 20 9.

Boston Bruins Points: 69 Regulation wins: 23 10.

Detroit Red Wings Points: 72 Regulation wins: 25 11.

Columbus Blue Jackets Points: 73 Regulation wins: 23 12.

New York Rangers Points: 74 Regulation wins: 31 13.

New York Islanders Points: 74 Regulation wins: 25 14.

Utah Hockey Club Points: 75 Regulation wins: 24 15.

Calgary Flames Points: 77 Regulation wins: 26 16.

Vancouver Canucks Points: 78 Regulation wins: 25.

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