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          Bruins Report

          NHL playoff standings: Rangers, Wild both on the ropes?

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          Ovechkin scores 891st goal, 4 away from breaking record (0:56)

          Alex Ovechkin scores from close range, putting him three away from tying Wayne Gretzky's record. (0:56)

          • ESPN staffApr 2, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

          As the defending Presidents' Trophy winners, the New York Rangers were envisioned as a playoff team again in 2024-25. As the team on top of the league standings in early December, similar words could be written about the Minnesota Wild.

          And yet, heading into Wednesday night's matchup between the clubs (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+), nothing is certain about either team's playoff chances after the pair has gone 8-9-3 in the past 10 games apiece.

          The Wild enter the game in a playoff position, and have a 93.7% chance to make the playoffs per Stathletes. A key part of that is the team's remaining strength of schedule; their remaining opponents have a 46.0% winning percentage, which is the second-easiest path. (Only the New Jersey Devils face a weaker slate in the final stretch.)

          Compare that to the Rangers, who have a 19.0% chance, and will begin this game on the outside looking in. New York's remaining slate is considerably more difficult; a 54.1% opponents' winning percentage ranks as the second toughest, behind only the Detroit Red Wings.

          If the Wild qualify as the first wild card, their likely first-round opponent is the Vegas Golden Knights; if they land in the second wild-card position, their likely opponent is the Winnipeg Jets. Unfortunately, Minnesota went 0-3 against both teams this season.

          The Rangers' more likely outcome as a playoff entrant is as the second wild card, which earns them a matchup against the Washington Capitals; the Caps have won all three games against New York this season. The Rangers could wind up as the first wild card, earning a matchup against the Atlantic Division champ. They went 1-2 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, 0-2 against the Florida Panthers (with one more game coming up on April 14), and 0-1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning (with games coming up on April 7 and April 17).

          So, the future isn't blindingly bright in the playoffs for these teams. But all you need is a ticket in, and unexpected things can happen!

          There are just over two weeks left until the season's end on April 17, and we'll help you track it all with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we'll provide details on all the playoff races, along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

          Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

          Jump ahead:
          Current playoff matchups
          Today's schedule
          Yesterday's scores
          Expanded standings
          Race for No. 1 pick

          Current playoff matchups

          Eastern Conference

          A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
          A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
          M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
          M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

          Western Conference

          C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 Minnesota Wild
          C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
          P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 St. Louis Blues
          P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

          Wednesday's games

          Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

          Minnesota Wild at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
          Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m. (TNT)
          Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m.
          Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
          Seattle Kraken at Vancouver Canucks, 10:30 p.m.

          Tuesday's scoreboard

          Washington Capitals 4, Boston Bruins 3
          Montreal Canadiens 3, Florida Panthers 2 (OT)
          Buffalo Sabres 5, Ottawa Senators 2
          Columbus Blue Jackets 8, Nashville Predators 4
          Tampa Bay Lightning 4, New York Islanders 1
          St. Louis Blues 2, Detroit Red Wings 1 (OT)
          Utah Hockey Club 3, Calgary Flames 1
          Edmonton Oilers 3, Vegas Golden Knights 2
          Anaheim Ducks 4, San Jose Sharks 3 (SO)
          Los Angeles Kings 4, Winnipeg Jets 1

          Expanded standings

          Atlantic Division

          Toronto Maple Leafs

          Points: 94
          Regulation wins: 37
          Playoff position: A1
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 104.1
          Next game: vs. FLA (Wednesday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Tampa Bay Lightning

          Points: 93
          Regulation wins: 38
          Playoff position: A2
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 103.1
          Next game: @ OTT (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Florida Panthers

          Points: 92
          Regulation wins: 35
          Playoff position: A3
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 102.0
          Next game: @ TOR (Wednesday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Ottawa Senators

          Points: 84
          Regulation wins: 30
          Playoff position: WC1
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 93.1
          Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 98.6%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Montreal Canadiens

          Points: 79
          Regulation wins: 25
          Playoff position: WC2
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 87.5
          Next game: vs. BOS (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 51.7%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Detroit Red Wings

          Points: 75
          Regulation wins: 26
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 83.1
          Next game: vs. CAR (Friday)
          Playoff chances: 2.3%
          Tragic number: 13

          Buffalo Sabres

          Points: 70
          Regulation wins: 26
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 77.6
          Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
          Playoff chances: 0.1%
          Tragic number: 8

          Boston Bruins

          Points: 69
          Regulation wins: 23
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 7
          Points pace: 75.4
          Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: ~0%
          Tragic number: 5

          Metro Division

          x - Washington Capitals

          Points: 105
          Regulation wins: 41
          Playoff position: M1
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 116.4
          Next game: @ CAR (Wednesday)
          Playoff chances: 100%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Carolina Hurricanes

          Points: 94
          Regulation wins: 40
          Playoff position: M2
          Games left: 9
          Points pace: 105.6
          Next game: vs. WSH (Wednesday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          New Jersey Devils

          Points: 87
          Regulation wins: 35
          Playoff position: M3
          Games left: 6
          Points pace: 93.9
          Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)
          Playoff chances: 99.8%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Columbus Blue Jackets

          Points: 77
          Regulation wins: 24
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 9
          Points pace: 86.5
          Next game: vs. COL (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 25.5%
          Tragic number: 17

          New York Rangers

          Points: 77
          Regulation wins: 32
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 85.3
          Next game: vs. MIN (Wednesday)
          Playoff chances: 19.0%
          Tragic number: 15

          New York Islanders

          Points: 74
          Regulation wins: 25
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 82
          Next game: vs. MIN (Friday)
          Playoff chances: 3.1%
          Tragic number: 12

          Pittsburgh Penguins

          Points: 71
          Regulation wins: 20
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 7
          Points pace: 77.6
          Next game: @ STL (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 0.1%
          Tragic number: 7

          Philadelphia Flyers

          Points: 71
          Regulation wins: 20
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 6
          Points pace: 76.6
          Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
          Playoff chances: ~0%
          Tragic number: 5

          Central Division

          x - Winnipeg Jets

          Points: 106
          Regulation wins: 40
          Playoff position: C1
          Games left: 7
          Points pace: 115.9
          Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 100%
          Tragic number: N/A

          x - Dallas Stars

          Points: 102
          Regulation wins: 40
          Playoff position: C2
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 113.0
          Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 100%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Colorado Avalanche

          Points: 94
          Regulation wins: 38
          Playoff position: C3
          Games left: 7
          Points pace: 102.8
          Next game: @ CHI (Wednesday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          St. Louis Blues

          Points: 89
          Regulation wins: 30
          Playoff position: WC1
          Games left: 6
          Points pace: 96.0
          Next game: vs. PIT (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 96.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Minnesota Wild

          Points: 88
          Regulation wins: 33
          Playoff position: WC2
          Games left: 7
          Points pace: 96.2
          Next game: @ NYR (Wednesday)
          Playoff chances: 93.7%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Utah Hockey Club

          Points: 80
          Regulation wins: 26
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 7
          Points pace: 87.5
          Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 0.7%
          Tragic number: 7

          e - Nashville Predators

          Points: 62
          Regulation wins: 23
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 7
          Points pace: 67.8
          Next game: @ DAL (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 0%
          Tragic number: E

          e - Chicago Blackhawks

          Points: 51
          Regulation wins: 18
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 56.5
          Next game: vs. COL (Wednesday)
          Playoff chances: 0%
          Tragic number: E

          Pacific Division

          x - Vegas Golden Knights

          Points: 98
          Regulation wins: 42
          Playoff position: P1
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 108.6
          Next game: vs. WPG (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 100%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Los Angeles Kings

          Points: 93
          Regulation wins: 37
          Playoff position: P3
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 103.1
          Next game: @ UTA (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Edmonton Oilers

          Points: 91
          Regulation wins: 31
          Playoff position: P2
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 100.8
          Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 99.9%
          Tragic number: N/A

          Calgary Flames

          Points: 82
          Regulation wins: 26
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 90.9
          Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 6.4%
          Tragic number: 11

          Vancouver Canucks

          Points: 81
          Regulation wins: 26
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 89.8
          Next game: vs. SEA (Wednesday)
          Playoff chances: 2.4%
          Tragic number: 10

          Anaheim Ducks

          Points: 74
          Regulation wins: 23
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 82.0
          Next game: @ CGY (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: ~0%
          Tragic number: 3

          e - Seattle Kraken

          Points: 68
          Regulation wins: 25
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 7
          Points pace: 74.3
          Next game: @ VAN (Wednesday)
          Playoff chances: 0%
          Tragic number: E

          e - San Jose Sharks

          Points: 50
          Regulation wins: 14
          Playoff position: N/A
          Games left: 8
          Points pace: 55.4
          Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday)
          Playoff chances: 0%
          Tragic number: E

          Note: An "x" means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An "e" means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.

          Race for the No. 1 pick

          The 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 No. 1 pick. Full details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL's Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.

          1. San Jose Sharks

          Points: 50
          Regulation wins: 14

          2. Chicago Blackhawks

          Points: 51
          Regulation wins: 18

          3. Nashville Predators

          Points: 62
          Regulation wins: 23

          4. Seattle Kraken

          Points: 68
          Regulation wins: 25

          5. Buffalo Sabres

          Points: 70
          Regulation wins: 26

          6. Boston Bruins

          Points: 69
          Regulation wins: 23

          7. Philadelphia Flyers

          Points: 71
          Regulation wins: 20

          8. Pittsburgh Penguins

          Points: 71
          Regulation wins: 20

          9. Anaheim Ducks

          Points: 74
          Regulation wins: 23

          10. New York Islanders

          Points: 74
          Regulation wins: 25

          11. Detroit Red Wings

          Points: 75
          Regulation wins: 26

          12. New York Rangers

          Points: 77
          Regulation wins: 32

          13. Columbus Blue Jackets

          Points: 77
          Regulation wins: 24

          14. Utah Hockey Club

          Points: 80
          Regulation wins: 26

          15. Vancouver Canucks

          Points: 81
          Regulation wins: 26

          16. Calgary Flames

          Points: 82
          Regulation wins: 26