NHL playoff watch: Ranking the top Stanley Cup contenders

After the 14 games of Showdown Saturday, a slightly smaller batch of teams is back at it Sunday.

One of those seven matchups features two recent Stanley Cup winners -- the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Vegas Golden Knights ( 8 p.m.

ET, ESPN+ ) -- so what better time to stack up the top Cup contenders? Editor's Picks How rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf saved the Calgary Flames' season 2d Greg Wyshynski NHL Power Rankings: Capitals reign at No.

1, plus pickups for the fantasy playoffs 2d Sean Allen and Victoria Matiash NHL insiders debate playoff bubble teams, Stanley Cup finalists, MVP picks 5d Ryan Clark, +4 More Per Stathletes, the Golden Knights lead Western Conference teams at 12.4%.

Close behind are the Colorado Avalanche (12.3%), who next play Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings .

The Winnipeg Jets (5.8%, hosting the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday) and Edmonton Oilers (5.4%, off until Wednesday) round out the top quartet.

Despite "winning" the trade deadline by acquiring Mikko Rantanen , the Stars are seventh among West teams at 3.1%, trailing the Los Angeles Kings (3.9%) and St.

Louis Blues (3.5%).

The Lightning are second among Eastern teams (12.6%), behind the Carolina Hurricanes (15.3%), who continue their Western road trip against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday ( 8 p.m.

ET, ESPN+ ).

Next up among Eastern contenders are the Washington Capitals (9.5%), who square off against the Jets on Tuesday.

The Toronto Maple Leafs (5.5%, believe it or not), and the Florida Panthers (5.0%) round out the top five.

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 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 Edmonton Oilers vs.

P3 Los Angeles Kings Sunday'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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Philadelphia Flyers at Chicago Blackhawks , 3 p.m.

(NHLN) Buffalo Sabres at Winnipeg Jets , 3 p.m.

Pittsburgh Penguins at Florida Panthers , 6 p.m.

Nashville Predators at St.

Louis Blues , 6 p.m.

Tampa Bay Lightning at Vegas Golden Knights , 8 p.m.

Carolina Hurricanes at Anaheim Ducks , 8 p.m.

Boston Bruins at Los Angeles Kings , 9 p.m.

Saturday's scoreboard New York Rangers 5, Vancouver Canucks 3 Dallas Stars 3 Philadelphia Flyers 2 (OT) Minnesota Wild 4, Buffalo Sabres 1 St.

Louis Blues 4, Chicago Blackhawks 1 Calgary Flames 4, New York Islanders 3 (OT) Los Angeles Kings 7, Carolina Hurricanes 2 Washington Capitals 6, Florida Panthers 3 Utah Hockey Club 6, Tampa Bay Lightning 4 Colorado Avalanche 5, Montreal Canadiens 4 (SO) Ottawa Senators 3, New Jersey Devils 2 Nashville Predators 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 2 Vegas Golden Knights 6, Detroit Red Wings 3 Edmonton Oilers 5, Seattle Kraken 4 San Jose Sharks 3, Boston Bruins 1 Expanded standings Atlantic Division Florida Panthers Points: 87 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: A1 Games left: 12 Points pace: 101.9 Next game: vs.

PIT (Sunday) 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: 13 Points pace: 101.0 Next game: @ VGK (Sunday) 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: 96.2% 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: 45.7% Tragic number: N/A Detroit Red Wings Points: 70 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 13 Points pace: 83.2 Next game: @ UTA (Monday) Playoff chances: 6% Tragic number: 22 Boston Bruins Points: 69 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 79.7 Next game: @ LA (Sunday) Playoff chances: 1.4% Tragic number: 17 Buffalo Sabres Points: 60 Regulation wins: 21 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 14 Points pace: 72.4 Next game: @ WPG (Sunday) 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: 88 Regulation wins: 37 Playoff position: M2 Games left: 13 Points pace: 104.6 Next game: @ ANA (Sunday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A New Jersey Devils Points: 80 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: M3 Games left: 11 Points pace: 92.4 Next game: vs.

VAN (Monday) Playoff chances: 95.8% Tragic number: N/A 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: 18.9% Tragic number: 22 New York Islanders Points: 73 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 13 Points pace: 86.8 Next game: vs.

CBJ (Monday) Playoff chances: 26% Tragic number: 25 Columbus Blue Jackets Points: 71 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 13 Points pace: 84.4 Next game: @ NYI (Monday) Playoff chances: 9.8% Tragic number: 23 Pittsburgh Penguins Points: 68 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 78.5 Next game: @ FLA (Sunday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: 16 Philadelphia Flyers Points: 65 Regulation wins: 17 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 11 Points pace: 75.1 Next game: @ CHI (Sunday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: 13 Central Division Winnipeg Jets Points: 100 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: C1 Games left: 12 Points pace: 117.1 Next game: vs.

BUF (Sunday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A Dallas Stars Points: 92 Regulation wins: 35 Playoff position: C2 Games left: 13 Points pace: 109.3 Next game: vs.

MIN (Monday) 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: 12 Points pace: 99.6 Next game: @ DAL (Monday) Playoff chances: 93.5% Tragic number: N/A St.

Louis Blues Points: 79 Regulation wins: 26 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 11 Points pace: 91.2 Next game: vs.

NSH (Sunday) Playoff chances: 56.9% Tragic number: N/A Utah Hockey Club Points: 75 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 12 Points pace: 87.9 Next game: s.

DET (Monday) Playoff chances: 12.2% Tragic number: 21 Nashville Predators Points: 60 Regulation wins: 22 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 13 Points pace: 71.3 Next game: @ STL (Sunday) Playoff chances: ~0% Tragic number: 8 e - Chicago Blackhawks Points: 49 Regulation wins: 17 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 12 Points pace: 57.4 Next game: vs.

PHI (Sunday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E Pacific Division Vegas Golden Knights Points: 90 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: P1 Games left: 13 Points pace: 107.0 Next game: vs.

TB (Sunday) 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: 99.6% Tragic number: N/A Los Angeles Kings Points: 85 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: P3 Games left: 14 Points pace: 102.5 Next game: vs.

BOS (Sunday) Playoff chances: 99.6% Tragic number: N/A 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: 16.8% Tragic number: 25 Vancouver Canucks Points: 76 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 12 Points pace: 89.0 Next game: @ NJ (Monday) Playoff chances: 21.4% Tragic number: 22 Anaheim Ducks Points: 68 Regulation wins: 22 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 13 Points pace: 80.8 Next game: vs.

CAR (Sunday) Playoff chances: 0.1% Tragic number: 16 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: 9 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.

Top 50 NBA prospects in NCAA tourney Who are the MLB aces in new places? Ranking the top remaining NFL free agents 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: 49 Regulation wins: 17 3.

Buffalo Sabres Points: 60 Regulation wins: 21 4.

Nashville Predators Points: 60 Regulation wins: 22 5.

Philadelphia Flyers Points: 65 Regulation wins: 17 6.

Seattle Kraken Points: 65 Regulation wins: 24 7.

Pittsburgh Penguins Points: 68 Regulation wins: 20 8.

Anaheim Ducks Points: 68 Regulation wins: 22 9.

Boston Bruins Points: 69 Regulation wins: 23 10.

Detroit Red Wings Points: 70 Regulation wins: 24 11.

Columbus Blue Jackets Points: 71 Regulation wins: 23 12.

New York Islanders Points: 73 Regulation wins: 25 13.

New York Rangers Points: 74 Regulation wins: 31 14.

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

Vancouver Canucks Points: 76 Regulation wins: 25 16.

Calgary Flames Points: 77 Regulation wins: 26.

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