EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFor two straight seasons, the Edmonton Oilers have fallen just short of winning the Stanley Cup, losing in the Cup Final to the Florida Panthers both times.What does their projected playoff path this season tell us about their chances of finishing the story this spring?The Oilers' march to the playoffs continues on Friday with a game against the St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu). But with the Blues far from any realistic playoff shot, let's look beyond that contest.If the season had ended last night, the Oilers would face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific Division's No. 2/3 matchup in the first round. Stathletes projects that particular pairing as the fifth-most-likely Round 1 series, at 36.8%. A matchup against the Anaheim Ducks has a 17.4% chance, and a series where the Oilers take on the wild-card Utah Mammoth has a 16.4% chance.From a larger perspective, Stathletes gives the Oilers the second-best chances among Western teams of reaching the conference finals (37.3%), reaching the Cup Final (18.6%) and winning the Cup (9.2%), all of which are lower than the projected chances for the Colorado Avalanche.In terms of likely first-round playoff opponents, the Oilers are:2-0 against the Golden Knights, with two games left to play1-1 against the Ducks, with one game left to play1-0 against the Mammoth, with two games left to playEdmonton was blown out (9-1) by Colorado in November but won 4-3 on Tuesday, with an April 13 matchup potentially serving as a conference finals preview. The Oilers lost all three games against the Dallas Stars this season, including on Thursday night; they also lost all three games this season to the Minnesota Wild. Obviously, the hope for Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and friends is that their previous playoff experience gives them an edge over those opponents should they face off again.Every team has fewer than 20 games left before the regular season concludes April 16, and we'll help you keep track of it all here on the NHL playoff watch every day. As we traverse the final stretch, we'll provide details on all the playoff races -- along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.Jump ahead:Current playoff matchupsFriday's scheduleThursday's scoresExpanded standingsRace for No. 1 pickCurrent playoff matchupsEastern ConferenceA1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Detroit Red WingsA2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal CanadiensM1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Boston BruinsM2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 New York IslandersWestern ConferenceC1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 San Jose SharksC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota WildP1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah MammothP2 Vegas Golden Knights vs. P3 Edmonton OilersFriday's gamesNote: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).Los Angeles Kings at New York Islanders, 7 p.m.Edmonton Oilers at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)Thursday's scoreboardSan Jose Sharks 4, Boston Bruins 2Washington Capitals 2, Buffalo Sabres 1Toronto Maple Leafs 6, Anaheim Ducks 4Tampa Bay Lightning 4, Detroit Red Wings 1Florida Panthers 2, Columbus Blue Jackets 1 (OT)Calgary Flames 5, New Jersey Devils 4St. Louis Blues 3, Carolina Hurricanes 1Dallas Stars 7, Edmonton Oilers 2Philadelphia Flyers 3, Minnesota Wild 2 (OT)Vancouver Canucks 4, Nashville Predators 3 (SO)Vegas Golden Knights 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 2Colorado Avalanche 5, Seattle Kraken 1Expanded standingsAtlantic DivisionBuffalo SabresPoints: 86Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: A1Games left: 16Points pace: 106.9Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.7%Tragic number: N/ATampa Bay LightningPoints: 84Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: A2Games left: 18Points pace: 107.6Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.8%Tragic number: N/AMontreal CanadiensPoints: 82Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: A3Games left: 18Points pace: 105.1Next game: vs. SJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 92.2%Tragic number: N/ADetroit Red WingsPoints: 79Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: WC1Games left: 16Points pace: 98.2Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 49.3%Tragic number: N/ABoston BruinsPoints: 78Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC2Games left: 17Points pace: 98.4Next game: @ WSH (Saturday)Playoff chances: 77%Tragic number: N/AOttawa SenatorsPoints: 73Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 93.5Next game: vs. ANA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 51.5%Tragic number: 31Florida PanthersPoints: 69Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 87.1Next game: @ SEA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 1.2%Tragic number: 25Toronto Maple LeafsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 83.2Next game: @ BUF (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 21Metro DivisionCarolina HurricanesPoints: 88Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: M1Games left: 17Points pace: 111.0Next game: @ TB (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/APittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 79Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: M2Games left: 17Points pace: 99.7Next game: @ UTA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 59.4%Tragic number: N/ANew York IslandersPoints: 79Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: M3Games left: 17Points pace: 99.7Next game: vs. LA (Friday)Playoff chances: 74.6%Tragic number: N/AColumbus Blue JacketsPoints: 77Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 97.1Next game: @ PHI (Saturday)Playoff chances: 81%Tragic number: 33Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 73Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 92.1Next game: vs. CBJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 4%Tragic number: 29Washington CapitalsPoints: 73Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 89.3Next game: vs. BOS (Saturday)Playoff chances: 7.3%Tragic number: 25New Jersey DevilsPoints: 66Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 83.3Next game: vs. LA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 3%Tragic number: 22New York RangersPoints: 62Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 78.2Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 18Central DivisionColorado AvalanchePoints: 97Regulation wins: 39Playoff position: C1Games left: 18Points pace: 124.3Next game: @ WPG (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/ADallas StarsPoints: 92Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: C2Games left: 17Points pace: 116.1Next game: vs. DET (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AMinnesota WildPoints: 88Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: C3Games left: 16Points pace: 109.3Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AUtah MammothPoints: 74Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: WC1Games left: 16Points pace: 91.9Next game: vs. PIT (Saturday)Playoff chances: 92.2%Tragic number: N/ANashville PredatorsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 84.5Next game: @ EDM (Sunday)Playoff chances: 12.7%Tragic number: 33Winnipeg JetsPoints: 62Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 79.4Next game: vs. COL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 5.9%Tragic number: 30St. Louis BluesPoints: 62Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 78.2Next game: vs. EDM (Friday)Playoff chances: 0.8%Tragic number: 28Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 61Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 76.0Next game: @ VGK (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 27Pacific DivisionAnaheim DucksPoints: 75Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: P1Games left: 17Points pace: 94.6Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99%Tragic number: N/AVegas Golden KnightsPoints: 74Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: P2Games left: 16Points pace: 91.9Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday)Playoff chances: 95.9%Tragic number: N/AEdmonton OilersPoints: 72Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: P3Games left: 16Points pace: 89.5Next game: @ STL (Friday)Playoff chances: 93.6%Tragic number: N/ASan Jose SharksPoints: 68Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: WC2Games left: 19Points pace: 88.5Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 61.7%Tragic number: N/ASeattle KrakenPoints: 67Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 85.8Next game: @ VAN (Saturday)Playoff chances: 15%Tragic number: 35Los Angeles KingsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 16Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 85.8Next game: @ NYI (Friday)Playoff chances: 19%Tragic number: 35Calgary FlamesPoints: 59Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 74.4Next game: @ NYI (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 25Vancouver CanucksPoints: 48Regulation wins: 13Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 60.6Next game: vs. SEA (Saturday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 14Race 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. Atop draft boards for this summer is Gavin McKenna, a forward for Penn State.1. Vancouver CanucksPoints: 48Regulation wins: 132. Calgary FlamesPoints: 59Regulation wins: 223. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 61Regulation wins: 184. New York RangersPoints: 62Regulation wins: 185. St. Louis BluesPoints: 62Regulation wins: 246. Winnipeg JetsPoints: 62Regulation wins: 217. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 66Regulation wins: 218. Toronto Maple Leafs*Points: 67Regulation wins: 209. Nashville PredatorsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 2210. Los Angeles KingsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 1611. Seattle KrakenPoints: 67Regulation wins: 2312. Florida PanthersPoints: 69Regulation wins: 2613. Washington CapitalsPoints: 73Regulation wins: 2814. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 73Regulation wins: 2015. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 73Regulation wins: 2616. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 77Regulation wins: 23*Note: The Maple Leafs' pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five.
