NHL playoff bracket update: Wild coming on strong

10:05 AM ET

When the Minnesota Wild fired coach Bruce Boudreau and traded Jason Zucker shortly thereafter, some surmised that this was more of a rebuilding season for the club than a contending one. But a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night gave the Wild seven wins in their last nine games and vaulted them into the first wild-card slot in the Western Conference. A big part of the resurgence is the breakout campaign of Kevin Fiala, who has seen increasing ice time as he continues to put it all together in his age-23 season. Whether the Wild make the playoffs this season or not, they appear to have found a dynamic talent in the Swiss sniper.

Here’s where things stand throughout the league heading into Friday’s six-game slate, including Vegas Golden Knights–Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche–Vancouver Canucks streaming live on ESPN+.

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

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

Eastern Conference

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: Atlantic 1
Games left: 14 (7 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 7: vs. TB
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: Atlantic 2
Games left: 15 (7 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 7: @ BOS
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: Atlantic 3
Games left: 14 (8 home, 6 away)
Next game: March 6: @ ANA
Playoff chances: 85.4%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: Metro 1
Games left: 15 (8 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 7: @ PIT
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: Metro 2
Games left: 15 (8 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 7: vs. BUF
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: Metro 3
Games left: 16 (8 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 7: vs. WSH
Playoff chances: 94.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: Wild card 1
Games left: 14 (5 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 7: @ EDM
Playoff chances: 46.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: Wild card 2
Games left: 16 (7 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 7: vs. CAR
Playoff chances: 48.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15 (6 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 7: vs. NJ
Playoff chances: 32.0%
Tragic number: 29

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17 (8 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 7: @NYI
Playoff chances: 66.6%
Tragic number: 32

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15 (7 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 7: vs. MTL
Playoff chances: 21.3%
Tragic number: 27

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13 (5 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 7: @ FLA
Playoff chances: 4.2%
Tragic number: 20

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15 (7 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 7: @ PHI
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 19

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: 60
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14 (4 home, 10 away)
Next game: March 7: @ SJ
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: 88
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: Central 2
Games left: 16 (9 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 6: @ VAN
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Central 3
Games left: 15 (9 home, 6 away)
Next game: March 7: vs. NSH
Playoff chances: 97.8%
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: 98.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: Pacific 2
Games left: 14 (10 home, 4 away)
Next game: March 7: vs. CBJ
Playoff chances: 93.0%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: Pacific 3
Games left: 14 (10 home, 4 away)
Next game: March 6: vs. ARI
Playoff chances: 81.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: Wild card 1
Games left: 15 (6 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 7: @ LA
Playoff chances: 74.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Wild card 2
Games left: 16 (9 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 6: vs. COL
Playoff chances: 49.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15 (6 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 7: @ DAL
Playoff chances: 30.6%
Tragic number: 31

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14 (6 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 6: vs. VGS
Playoff chances: 22.1%
Tragic number: 29

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14 (8 home, 6 away)
Next game: March 6: @ CGY
Playoff chances: 38.9%
Tragic number: 29

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15 (9 home, 6 away)
Next game: March 6: @ DET
Playoff chances: 13.6%
Tragic number: 27

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15 (7 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 7: vs. OTT
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 19

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15 (9 home, 6 away)
Next game: March 6: vs. TOR
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 19

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15 (10 home, 5 away)
Next game: March 7: vs. MIN
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: 58
Regulation wins: 18
Chance of No. 1 pick: 13.5%

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 18
Chance of No. 1 pick: 11.5%

Points: 62
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: 70
Regulation wins: 22
Chance of No. 1 pick: 6%

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

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 26
Chance of No. 1 pick: 3.5%