NHL playoff bracket update: Here come the Hurricanes

6:50 AM ET

The Carolina Hurricanes made a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Final last spring, and with much of the roster returning, there was hope that they’d be a top contender again in 2019-20. Instead, it’s been an up and down season for Rod Brind’Amour‘s crew, as they’ve battled a number of injuries to key players. But are they getting hot at the right time? The Canes’ dominant 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday catapulted them into the second wild-card spot. Of the Canes’ 15 remaining games, eight are against teams currently in playoff position, and they have one left against the New York Islanders, who are nipping at their heels.

Here’s where things stand throughout the league heading into Monday’s five-game slate, including Washington Capitals–Buffalo Sabres and Colorado Avalanche–Los Angeles Kings 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: 92
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: Atlantic 2
Games left: 13 (7 home, 6 away)
Next game: March 10: @ TOR
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: 78.3%
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: 99.9%
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: 14 (6 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 10: @ NJ
Playoff chances: 90.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: Wild card 1
Games left: 12 (5 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 12: vs. PIT
Playoff chances: 51.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: Wild card 2
Games left: 15 (7 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 10: @ DET
Playoff chances: 82.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15 (6 home, 9 away)
Next game: March 10: @ VAN
Playoff chances: 47.0%
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: 14.3%
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: 33.8%
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: 0.1%
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: 39
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12 (5 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 8: vs. TB
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: Eliminated

Western Conference

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: Central 1
Games left: 13 (7 home, 6 away)
Next game: March 9: vs. FLA
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: Central 2
Games left: 14 (9 home, 5 away)
Next game: March 9: @ LA
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: 97.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: Pacific 1
Games left: 12 (4 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 9: @ EDM
Playoff chances: 98.8%
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: 96.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: Pacific 3
Games left: 12 (8 home, 4 away)
Next game: March 12: vs. NYI
Playoff chances: 80.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: Wild card 1
Games left: 13 (6 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 12: vs. VGS
Playoff chances: 75.4%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: Wild card 2
Games left: 14 (7 home, 7 away)
Next game: March 10: vs. NYI
Playoff chances: 47.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14 (6 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 10: @ MTL
Playoff chances: 39.4%
Tragic number: 29

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13 (5 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 9: vs. ARI
Playoff chances: 30.2%
Tragic number: 27

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13 (8 home, 5 away)
Next game: March 9: @ WPG
Playoff chances: 31.3%
Tragic number: 25

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13 (8 home, 5 away)
Next game: March 11: vs. SJ
Playoff chances: 3.6%
Tragic number: 21

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13 (7 home, 6 away)
Next game: March 10: vs. OTT
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 16

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13 (5 home, 8 away)
Next game: March 11: @ CHI
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 14

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: 39
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: 65
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%