NHL playoff watch: How high can the Kraken finish?

The Vegas Golden Knights set unrealistic expectations for every expansion franchise that has come (and will come) after them, making it to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural campaign.

But from an absolute perspective, what the Seattle Kraken have done in their second campaign is quite impressive.

With fewer than 10 games remaining, they are holding tightly to the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot. But should they aim higher?

The Kraken have 88 points and 31 regulation wins, behind the Golden Knights (98, 34), Los Angeles Kings (96, 33) and Edmonton Oilers (95, 39). That seems like a lot to make up!

However, they’ll face the lottery-bound Anaheim Ducks tonight (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu), and then host the Kings on Saturday (which is the vaunted “four-point swing” if they win in regulation). Then it’s five straight games against lottery teams — including three against the Arizona Coyotes! — before closing out with a home-and-home against the Golden Knights. If things are close by then — or the Knights are so far ahead they decide to rest key players — it could be an occasion for Seattle to make up some serious ground.

Today’s clinching scenarios

1. The Boston Bruins can clinch the Presidents’ Trophy if they defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets in any fashion, or they get a point against the Blue Jackets and the Carolina Hurricanes lose to the Detroit Red Wings in any fashion, or if the Hurricanes lose to the Red Wings in regulation.

2. The Vegas Golden Knights can clinch a playoff spot if they beat the San Jose Sharks in any fashion, or if they get a point against the Sharks and the Nashville Predators do not win in regulation against the Pittsburgh Penguins, or if the Preds lose to the Pens in regulation.

As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2023 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via FiveThirtyEight.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s games
Last night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Pittsburgh Penguins
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 New York Islanders
M2 New Jersey Devils vs. M3 New York Rangers

Western Conference

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

Thursday’s games

Note: All times Eastern. All games not on ESPN, TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).

Columbus Blue Jackets at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
New York Rangers at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia Flyers at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.
Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
Carolina Hurricanes at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
Vegas Golden Knights at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday’s scoreboard

Watch “In the Crease” on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.

Florida Panthers 3, Toronto Maple Leafs 2 (OT)
New York Islanders 2, Washington Capitals 1 (SO)
Minnesota Wild 4, Colorado Avalanche 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 119
Regulation wins: 49
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 132
Next game: vs. CBJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 109
Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 101
Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 89
Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 35%
Tragic number: 14

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 87
Next game: vs. NYR (Friday)
Playoff chances: 4%
Tragic number: 14

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 85
Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 3%
Tragic number: 12

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. CAR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 10

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 72
Next game: vs. FLA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Metropolitan Division

Points: 103
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 116
Next game: @ DET (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 111
Next game: vs. NYR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 8
Points pace: 109
Next game: @ NJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 6
Points pace: 94
Next game: @ TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 93%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 91
Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 63%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 84
Next game: @ TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 10

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 79
Next game: @ OTT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 7

Points: 53
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 60
Next game: @ BOS (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 7
Points pace: 106
Next game: @ VGK (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 104
Next game: @ ARI (Friday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 8
Points pace: 104
Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 7
Points pace: 93
Next game: vs. DET (Friday)
Playoff chances: 55%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ PIT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 21%
Tragic number: 16

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ CHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 6

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 73
Next game: vs. DAL (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 60
Next game: vs. STL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 8
Points pace: 109
Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 8
Points pace: 106
Next game: @ EDM (Thursday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 95
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 7
Points pace: 104
Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 9
Points pace: 99
Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 98%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Points pace: 91
Next game: @ VAN (Friday)
Playoff chances: 25%
Tragic number: 13

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. CGY (Friday)
Playoff chances: <1%
Tragic number: 6

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 62
Next game: @ SEA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 55
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Points pace: 61
Next game: vs. VGK (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Y — Clinched division; X — Clinched playoff berth; E — 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 might 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 Connor Bedard, who has been lauded as a generational talent.

Points: 53
Regulation wins: 15

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 16

Points: 55
Regulation wins: 15

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 13

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 22

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 25

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 29

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 31

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 28

*Notes on traded picks impacting the top 16: