NHL playoff watch: Can the Islanders sneak into the playoffs?

As play began on the day after the NHL trade deadline, the New York Islanders were four points behind the Ottawa Senators , who were in possession of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

There were also four teams between the Isles and Sens.

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1, plus pickups for the fantasy playoffs 5d Sean Allen and Victoria Matiash Fast-forward to Wednesday, and the gap between the Islanders and another playoff berth is just one point.

Can they pull this off? The first team standing in their way is the Vancouver Canucks , who visit UBS Arena on Wednesday night ( 7:30 p.m.

ET, ESPN+ ).

The Canucks are fighting for their own playoff berth, trying to catch a resurgent St.

Louis Blues team that has caught fire since the deadline.

So this game will be no gimme for the hosts.

From then on, things get more difficult: The next five games are against playoff-bound teams -- the Tampa Bay Lightning (twice!), Carolina Hurricanes , Minnesota Wild and Washington Capitals .

They get a one-game respite against the Nashville Predators , then close out with Metro Division foes -- the New York Rangers , Philadelphia Flyers , New Jersey Devils , Capitals again and Columbus Blue Jackets -- who will be in no mood to do the Isles any favors.

The road will be tough, but many have counted this team out before at their own peril.

The Stathletes projections give the Isles a 24.3% chance of proving the doubters wrong again.

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 Toronto Maple Leafs vs.

WC1 Ottawa Senators A2 Florida Panthers 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 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).

Vancouver Canucks at New York Islanders , 7:30 p.m.

New Jersey Devils at Chicago Blackhawks , 7:30 p.m.

(TNT) Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers , 10 p.m.

(TNT) Boston Bruins at Anaheim Ducks , 10 p.m.

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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Buffalo Sabres 3, Ottawa Senators 2 Toronto Maple Leafs 7, Philadelphia Flyers 2 Tampa Bay Lightning 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 1 Nashville Predators 3, Carolina Hurricanes 1 St.

Louis Blues 6, Montreal Canadiens 1 Vegas Golden Knights 5, Minnesota Wild 1 Winnipeg Jets 3, Washington Capitals 2 (OT) Colorado Avalanche 5, Detroit Red Wings 2 Calgary Flames 4, Seattle Kraken 3 (OT) Los Angeles Kings 3, New York Rangers 1 Expanded standings Atlantic Division Toronto Maple Leafs Points: 89 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: A1 Games left: 11 Points pace: 102.8 Next game: @ SJ (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Florida Panthers Points: 89 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: A2 Games left: 11 Points pace: 102.8 Next game: vs.

UTA (Friday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Tampa Bay Lightning Points: 87 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: A3 Games left: 11 Points pace: 100.5 Next game: vs.

UTA (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Ottawa Senators Points: 79 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 12 Points pace: 92.5 Next game: @ DET (Thursday) Playoff chances: 98.1% Tragic number: N/A Montreal Canadiens Points: 75 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 12 Points pace: 87.9 Next game: @ PHI (Thursday) Playoff chances: 47.7% Tragic number: N/A Detroit Red Wings Points: 72 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 83.2 Next game: vs.

OTT (Thursday) Playoff chances: 5.2% Tragic number: 20 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: 64 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 12 Points pace: 75.0 Next game: vs.

MTL (Thursday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 14 Metro Division x - Washington Capitals Points: 103 Regulation wins: 40 Playoff position: M1 Games left: 11 Points pace: 119.0 Next game: @ MIN (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Carolina Hurricanes Points: 90 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: M2 Games left: 11 Points pace: 103.9 Next game: vs.

MTL (Friday) 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: 24.5% Tragic number: 24 New York Rangers Points: 74 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 84.3 Next game: @ ANA (Friday) Playoff chances: 16.5% Tragic number: 20 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: 13.1% Tragic number: 23 Pittsburgh Penguins Points: 69 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 77.5 Next game: @ BUF (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: 13 Philadelphia Flyers Points: 65 Regulation wins: 17 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 9 Points pace: 73.0 Next game: vs.

MTL (Thursday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 9 Central Division x - Winnipeg Jets Points: 102 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: C1 Games left: 10 Points pace: 116.2 Next game: vs.

NJ (Friday) 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: 91 Regulation wins: 37 Playoff position: C3 Games left: 10 Points pace: 103.6 Next game: vs.

LA (Thursday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Minnesota Wild Points: 85 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 10 Points pace: 96.8 Next game: vs.

WSH (Thursday) Playoff chances: 96.8% Tragic number: N/A St.

Louis Blues Points: 83 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 9 Points pace: 93.2 Next game: @ NSH (Thursday) Playoff chances: 77.6% 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: 6.2% Tragic number: 15 Nashville Predators Points: 62 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 71.6 Next game: vs.

STL (Thursday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 2 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: 94 Regulation wins: 40 Playoff position: P1 Games left: 11 Points pace: 108.6 Next game: @ CHI (Friday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Los Angeles Kings Points: 89 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: P3 Games left: 12 Points pace: 104.3 Next game: @ COL (Thursday) 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 Calgary Flames Points: 79 Regulation wins: 26 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 12 Points pace: 92.5 Next game: vs.

DAL (Thursday) Playoff chances: 11.8% Tragic number: 21 Vancouver Canucks Points: 78 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 90.1 Next game: @ NYI (Wednesday) Playoff chances: 8.2% Tragic number: 18 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: 10 Seattle Kraken Points: 66 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 10 Points pace: 75.2 Next game: vs.

EDM (Thursday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 4 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.

NHL Bubble Watch: Wild-card chaos NBA draft Top 100: March Madness update 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: 62 Regulation wins: 23 4.

Buffalo Sabres Points: 64 Regulation wins: 23 5.

Philadelphia Flyers Points: 65 Regulation wins: 17 6.

Seattle Kraken Points: 66 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.

Vancouver Canucks Points: 78 Regulation wins: 25 16.

Calgary Flames Points: 79 Regulation wins: 26.

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