NHL playoff watch: Bruins-Capitals matchup leads busy Sunday slate
Hilary Knight and Rick DiPietro demonstrate how to defend against hockey’s most polarizing highlight move, “The Michigan.” (3:01)
Thanks to some early start times, Sunday’s NHL schedule gives us another “all-day hockey” feel, and it starts off with arguably the best matchup of the day as the Boston Bruins visit the Washington Capitals at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Though neither team has officially clinched a playoff spot yet, both appear to be well on their way; the Bruins currently sit third in the Atlantic Division and would play the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, while the Caps possess the East’s No. 2 wild card, and would take on the Florida Panthers. Boston has won the first two games in the season series (7-3 in D.C. on Jan. 10, and 4-3 in Boston on Jan. 20).
Later in the day, we’ll be keeping an eye on two other matchups of likely playoff teams, with the Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the Nashville Predators, and the Los Angeles Kings visiting the Minnesota Wild.
As we enter the final stretch of the 2021-22 regular season, it’s time to check in on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2022 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via FiveThirtyEight. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta of the NHL.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s games
Last night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Eastern Conference
A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Boston Bruins
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
M2 New York Rangers vs. M3 Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Dallas Stars
C2 St. Louis Blues vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Calgary Flames vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Note: All times Eastern. All out-of-market, non-TNT games available on ESPN+
Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals, 1:30 p.m. (TNT)
Nashville Predators at Pittsburgh Penguins, 4 p.m. (TNT)
Buffalo Sabres at Tampa Bay Lightning, 5 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Minnesota Wild, 5 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks at Carolina Hurricanes, 6 p.m.
Dallas Stars at Chicago Blackhawks, 7 p.m.
Winnipeg Jets at Ottawa Senators, 7:30 p.m.
Watch In the Crease on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.
New Jersey Devils 3, Dallas Stars 1
Washington Capitals 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 3
Florida Panthers 4, Nashville Predators 1
Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Montreal Canadiens 2
Columbus Blue Jackets 5, Detroit Red Wings 4 (OT)
New York Rangers 5, Ottawa Senators 1
Calgary Flames 4, Seattle Kraken 1
Anaheim Ducks 5, Philadelphia Flyers 3
St. Louis Blues 6, New York Islanders 1
Colorado Avalanche 2, Edmonton Oilers 1 (SO)
Vancouver Canucks 4, San Jose Sharks 2
Vegas Golden Knights 6, Arizona Coyotes 1
Points: 108
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 11
Next game: @ WSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: @ TB (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. WPG (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. WPG (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. ANA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 100
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. NSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
The 2021-22 NHL season is winding down towards the final day on April 29. Catch all the playoff races live on ESPN, ESPN+, ABC and Hulu.
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• Subscribe to ESPN+
• Stream the NHL on ESPN
Points: 88
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. BOS (Sunday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. PIT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 9
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. MTL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 4
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ ARI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 110
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. LA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 10
Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 12
Next game: vs. LA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
This season will include 103 exclusive regular-season games across ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu and ABC, and more than 1,000 out-of-market games will be available on ESPN+.
• How to watch
• Subscribe to ESPN+
• Stream the NHL on ESPN
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 11
Next game: @ PIT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 94%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 11
Next game: @ CHI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 77%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ OTT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 13
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. DAL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 97
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 9
Next game: @ MIN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 97%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 9
Next game: @ MIN (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 70%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: @ VAN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 53%
Tragic number: 18
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 9%
Tragic number: 14
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: @ CAR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 4
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: @ NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 5
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
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. As of 2021, a team may 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.
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 16
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 31
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 32