Meaty motivation The role of the rally sausage in Twins recent triumphs
Thursday is the final night of the 2023-24 NHL regular season, with the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs set to begin Saturday.
Although the identity of all 16 playoff teams is known, the eight matchups are not all locked in. So which games matter most?
Sadly for those with early bedtimes on the East Coast, the two games most vital to the playoff bracket have opening puck drop times with four digits in them.
The Vegas Golden Knights currently hold the Pacific Division's No. 3 seed, with 98 points and 34 regulation wins. They'll host the Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). One point behind them in the standings sit the Los Angeles Kings, though L.A. is ahead in regulation wins, the first tiebreaker. The Kings will host the Chicago Blackhawks (10:30 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+), in the swan song of Connor Bedard's rookie campaign.
Both teams are heavily favored to win. But, in the event the Knights only pick up one point to the Kings' two, the tiebreak would go to L.A.
As mentioned, the spot at stake between these two is the P3 position -- and a first-round matchup against the Edmonton Oilers -- or the second West wild card, which yields a matchup with the Dallas Stars.
But it's not all about the postseason! The race for the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's regular-season scoring leader could be in play as well. Currently, Nikita Kucherov leads with 144 points. Skating against each other are the Nos. 2 and 3 players in the race, Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid. The Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers face off a little earlier (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), and while their playoff seeds are locked in, a scoring title for their franchise center would be a nice way for those teams to close out game No. 82. MacKinnon is six points behind, and McDavid 12 points behind; so, perhaps unlikely that they catch Kucherov, but not impossible.
Jump ahead: Current playoff matchups Thursday's schedule Wednesday's scores Expanded standings Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchupsEastern Conference
A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning A2 Boston Bruins vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs M1 New York Rangers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New York Islanders
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC2 Los Angeles Kings C2 Winnipeg Jets vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC1 Nashville Predators P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights
Thursday's gamesNote: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
Seattle Kraken at Minnesota Wild, 7 p.m. (ESPN) Vancouver Canucks at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m. San Jose Sharks at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m. Edmonton Oilers at Colorado Avalanche, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN) Anaheim Ducks at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m. Chicago Blackhawks at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.
Wednesday's scoreboardTampa Bay Lightning 6, Toronto Maple Leafs 4 New York Islanders 5, Pittsburgh Penguins 4 Dallas Stars 2, St. Louis Blues 1 (SO) Arizona Coyotes 5, Edmonton Oilers 2
Expanded standings Atlantic Division y - Florida PanthersPoints: 110 Regulation wins: 42 Playoff position: A1 Games left: 0 Points pace: 110 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Boston BruinsPoints: 109 Regulation wins: 36 Playoff position: A2 Games left: 0 Points pace: 109 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Toronto Maple LeafsPoints: 102 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: A3 Games left: 0 Points pace: 102 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Tampa Bay LightningPoints: 98 Regulation wins: 37 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 0 Points pace: 98 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
e - Detroit Red WingsPoints: 91 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Points pace: 91 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Buffalo SabresPoints: 84 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Points pace: 84 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 78 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Points pace: 78 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Montreal CanadiensPoints: 76 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Points pace: 76 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Metropolitan Division p - New York RangersPoints: 114 Regulation wins: 43 Playoff position: M1 Games left: 0 Points pace: 114 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Carolina HurricanesPoints: 111 Regulation wins: 44 Playoff position: M2 Games left: 0 Points pace: 111 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - New York IslandersPoints: 94 Regulation wins: 29 Playoff position: M3 Games left: 0 Points pace: 94 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Washington CapitalsPoints: 91 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 0 Points pace: 91 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
e - Pittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 88 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Points pace: 88 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e -Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 30 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Points pace: 87 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - New Jersey DevilsPoints: 81 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Points pace: 81 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 66 Regulation wins: 21 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Points pace: 66 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Central Division y - Dallas StarsPoints: 113 Regulation wins: 40 Playoff position: C1 Games left: 0 Points pace: 113 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Winnipeg JetsPoints: 108 Regulation wins: 45 Playoff position: C2 Games left: 1 Points pace: 109 Next game: vs. VAN (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Colorado AvalanchePoints: 105 Regulation wins: 41 Playoff position: C3 Games left: 1 Points pace: 106 Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Nashville PredatorsPoints: 99 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 0 Points pace: 99 Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
e - St. Louis BluesPoints: 92 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Points pace: 92 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Minnesota WildPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 88 Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Arizona CoyotesPoints: 77 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 0 Points pace: 77 Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 51 Regulation wins: 17 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 52 Next game: @ LA (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Pacific Division y - Vancouver CanucksPoints: 109 Regulation wins: 44 Playoff position: P1 Games left: 1 Points pace: 110 Next game: @ WPG (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Edmonton OilersPoints: 104 Regulation wins: 39 Playoff position: P2 Games left: 1 Points pace: 105 Next game: @ COL (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Vegas Golden KnightsPoints: 98 Regulation wins: 34 Playoff position: P3 Games left: 1 Points pace: 99 Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
x - Los Angeles KingsPoints: 97 Regulation wins: 37 Playoff position: WC2 Games left: 1 Points pace: 98 Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
e - Calgary FlamesPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 80 Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Seattle KrakenPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 80 Next game: @ MIN (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - Anaheim DucksPoints: 57 Regulation wins: 20 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 58 Next game: @ VGK (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
e - San Jose SharksPoints: 47 Regulation wins: 14 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 1 Points pace: 48 Next game: @ CGY (Thursday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
p -- clinched Presidents' Trophy y -- clinched division x -- clinched playoff berth e -- eliminated from playoff contention
Race for the No. 1 pickThe 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 draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston University.
1. San Jose SharksPoints: 47 Regulation wins: 14
2. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 51 Regulation wins: 17
3. Anaheim DucksPoints: 57 Regulation wins: 20
4. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 66 Regulation wins: 21
5. Montreal CanadiensPoints: 76 Regulation wins: 20
6. Arizona CoyotesPoints: 77 Regulation wins: 28
7. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 78 Regulation wins: 25
8. Seattle KrakenPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 27
9. Calgary FlamesPoints: 79 Regulation wins: 31
10. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 81 Regulation wins: 33
11. Buffalo SabresPoints: 84 Regulation wins: 33
12. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 30
13. Minnesota WildPoints: 87 Regulation wins: 32
14. Pittsburgh Penguins*Points: 88 Regulation wins: 32
15. Detroit Red WingsPoints: 91 Regulation wins: 27
16. St. Louis BluesPoints: 91 Regulation wins: 31
* The Penguins' first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.