NHL playoff bracket update: Bruins open up nine-point Atlantic lead

8:58 AM ET

In recent seasons, every game between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning has seemed bigger than most others, as the two have been perennial powerhouses in the Eastern Conference. Tuesday night’s matchup was no exception, and the Bruins’ 2-1 win opened up their lead in the Atlantic Division to nine points over the Lightning. First place in the Atlantic is important, as it includes a first-round matchup in the Stanley Cup playoffs against a wild card, as opposed to the dangerous Toronto Maple Leafs.

Here’s where things stand throughout the league heading into Wednesday’s four-game slate, including Arizona Coyotes–Vancouver Canucks streaming live on ESPN+.

Note: Playoff chances are courtesy of Money Puck, while tragic numbers are per the NHL’s Damian Echevarrieta.

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Eastern standings | Western standings
Race for No. 1 pick | Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: Atlantic 1
Games left: 15 (7 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 5: @ FLA
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: Atlantic 2
Games left: 16 (8 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 5: vs. MTL
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: Atlantic 3
Games left: 15 (8 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 5: @ LA
Playoff chances: 85.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 86
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: Metro 1
Games left: 17 (9 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 4: vs. PHI
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: Metro 2
Games left: 17 (9 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 4: @ WSH
Playoff chances: 99.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: Metro 3
Games left: 17 (8 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 5: @ BUF
Playoff chances: 90.0%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: Wild card 1
Games left: 17 (7 home, 10 away)
Next game: March 5: @ OTT
Playoff chances: 61.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: Wild card 2
Games left: 15 (5 home, 10 away)
Next game: March 4: @ CGY
Playoff chances: 41.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18 (8 home, 10 away)
Next game: March 5: @ PHI
Playoff chances: 70.9%
Tragic number: 34

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (7 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 5: vs. WSH
Playoff chances: 25.3%
Tragic number: 29

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (8 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 5: vs. BOS
Playoff chances: 20.0%
Tragic number: 28

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14 (5 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 5: @ TB
Playoff chances: 5.8%
Tragic number: 22

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (8 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 5: vs. PIT
Playoff chances: 0.2%
Tragic number: 21

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (9 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 6: vs. STL
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 19

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15 (5 home, 10 away)
Next game: March 5: vs. NYI
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 11

Points: 35
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14 (7 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 6: vs. CHI
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: Eliminated

Western Conference

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: Central 1
Games left: 15 (7 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 6: @ NJ
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: Central 2
Games left: 17 (10 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 4: vs. ANA
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Central 3
Games left: 16 (9 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 5: @ NSH
Playoff chances: 99.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: Pacific 1
Games left: 14 (4 home, 10 away)
Next game: March 6: @ WPG
Playoff chances: 98.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: Pacific 2
Games left: 16 (10 home, 5 away)
Next game: March 5: @ CHI
Playoff chances: 95.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: Pacific 3
Games left: 15 (11 home, 4 away)
Next game: March 4: vs. CBJ
Playoff chances: 79.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Wild card 1
Games left: 17 (10 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 4: vs. ARI
Playoff chances: 61.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: Wild card 2
Games left: 14 (6 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 6: vs. VGS
Playoff chances: 25.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (6 home, 10 away)
Next game: March 5: @ SJ
Playoff chances: 66.6%
Tragic number: 32

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (7 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 5: vs. DAL
Playoff chances: 29.0%
Tragic number: 31

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15 (8 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 4: @ VAN
Playoff chances: 33.3%
Tragic number: 29

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (10 home, 6 away)
Next game: March 5: vs. EDM
Playoff chances: 10.9%
Tragic number: 27

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (8 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 5: vs. MIN
Playoff chances: 0.3%
Tragic number: 21

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (9 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 4: @ COL
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 19

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (11 home, 5 away)
Next game: March 5: vs. TOR
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 15

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order at the top of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. However, whoever does win the draft lottery has a chance to select Alexis Lafreniere.

Find out more about Lafreniere here, read up on the rest of the top draft prospects here, and check out all of our 2020 NHL draft coverage.

Points: 35
Regulation wins: 12
Chance of No. 1 pick: 18.5%

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 18
Chance of No. 1 pick: 13.5%

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 17
Chance of No. 1 pick: 11.5%

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 18
Chance of No. 1 pick: 9.5%

Note: Pick belongs to Ottawa.

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 22
Chance of No. 1 pick: 8.5%

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 20
Chance of No. 1 pick: 7.5%

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 22
Chance of No. 1 pick: 6.5%

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 21
Chance of No. 1 pick: 6%

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 19
Chance of No. 1 pick: 5%

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Chance of No. 1 pick: 3.5%