NHL playoff bracket update: Predators strike back

9:17 AM ET

The Nashville Predators‘ midseason coaching change from Peter Laviolette to John Hynes didn’t cause the kind of immediate impact that some had hoped, but the team has lingered in the playoff mix through much of the second half. With Saturday’s 1-0 win over the Dallas Stars, they jumped back into the second wild-card spot. The Predators have six remaining games against teams currently in a playoff spot.

Here’s where things stand throughout the league heading into Sunday’s seven-game slate, including Carolina Hurricanes–Pittsburgh Penguins and Vegas Golden Knights–Calgary Flames 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: 13 (6 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 10: @ PHI
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: Atlantic 2
Games left: 14 (7 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 8: @ DET
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: Atlantic 3
Games left: 13 (8 home, 5 away)
Next game: March 10: vs. TB
Playoff chances: 78.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: Metro 1
Games left: 14 (8 home, 6 away)
Next game: March 9: @ BUF
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: Metro 2
Games left: 14 (7 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 10: vs. BOS
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: Metro 3
Games left: 15 (7 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 8: vs. CAR
Playoff chances: 94.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: Wild card 2
Games left: 15 (6 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 10: @ VAN
Playoff chances: 51.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: Wild card 1
Games left: 13 (5 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 8: @ VAN
Playoff chances: 43.4%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16 (8 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 8: @ PIT
Playoff chances: 77.8%
Tragic number: 31

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14 (5 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 10: @ DAL
Playoff chances: 17.0%
Tragic number: 26

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14 (6 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 9: @ STL
Playoff chances: 35.0%
Tragic number: 26

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12 (5 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 10: vs. NSH
Playoff chances: 1.6%
Tragic number: 17

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14 (8 home, 6 away)
Next game: March 10: vs. PIT
Playoff chances: 0.3%
Tragic number: 18

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14 (7 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 9: vs. WSH
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 16

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13 (4 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 10: @ ANA
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 10

Points: 37
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13 (6 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 8: vs. TB
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: Eliminated

Western Conference

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: Central 1
Games left: 14 (7 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 8: @ CHI
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: Central 2
Games left: 15 (9 home, 6 away)
Next game: March 8: @ SJ
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Central 3
Games left: 14 (8 home, 6 away)
Next game: March 10: vs. NYR
Playoff chances: 96.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: Pacific 2
Games left: 13 (9 home, 4 away)
Next game: March 9: vs. VGS
Playoff chances: 96.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: Pacific 1
Games left: 13 (4 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 8: @ CGY
Playoff chances: 97.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: Pacific 3
Games left: 13 (9 home, 4 away)
Next game: March 8: vs. VGS
Playoff chances: 85.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: Wild card 1
Games left: 15 (8 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 8: vs. CBJ
Playoff chances: 54.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: Wild card 2
Games left: 14 (6 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 10: @ MTL
Playoff chances: 38.0%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13 (5 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 9: vs. ARI
Playoff chances: 29.1%
Tragic number: 27

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14 (6 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 8: @ ANA
Playoff chances: 66.6%
Tragic number: 28

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13 (8 home, 5 away)
Next game: March 9: @ WPG
Playoff chances: 29.4%
Tragic number: 25

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14 (9 home, 5 away)
Next game: March 8: vs. STL
Playoff chances: 6.4%
Tragic number: 23

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14 (8 home, 6 away)
Next game: March 8: vs. MIN
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 17

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14 (6 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 8: vs. COL
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 16

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14 (9 home, 5 away)
Next game: March 9: vs. COL
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 13

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: 37
Regulation wins: 13
Chance of No. 1 pick: 18.5%

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 19
Chance of No. 1 pick: 13.5%

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 18
Chance of No. 1 pick: 11.5%

Note: Pick belongs to Ottawa.

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 22
Chance of No. 1 pick: 9.5%

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19
Chance of No. 1 pick: 8.5%

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 22
Chance of No. 1 pick: 7.5%

Points: 68
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%