EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMonday is a big day. The NHL is one month away from the end of the regular season. Because it's 3/16, that is also Stone Cold Steve Austin Day for the many who celebrate.But because March 15 was Selection Sunday for the NCAA basketball tournaments, that means many sports fans will be quite preoccupied with filling out their brackets and perhaps finding some bracket busters to aid their chances at winning their pools.The Stanley Cup playoffs are no stranger to Cinderella teams; the Florida Panthers were the final team in the postseason in 2023 -- and made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. Do any of this season's potential wild cards have such a run in them?The Boston Bruins hold the East's first wild-card spot heading into Monday's game against the New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET, ESPN). If they finish in that position, they'll take on the division champ with the lower point total.The Bruins are 2-1-0 against the Buffalo Sabres, their current first-round matchup.Boston has had less luck against the Tampa Bay Lightning, going 0-1-1 so far, with two games remaining against them.If the standings fall in a way that the Carolina Hurricanes are Boston's first opponent, they have gone 1-1-0 vs. that club, with one game remaining.Currently holding down the second wild-card spot are the Detroit Red Wings, who have losing records against Carolina (1-2-0), Buffalo (0-1-1, with a game remaining) and Tampa Bay (1-2-0, with a game remaining).Right behind the Red Wings are the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have a winning record against Buffalo (2-0-0, with one game remaining) and Tampa Bay (3-0-0). The Blue Jackets lost their only game to the Canes thus far (back on Dec. 9), but play them again three times in the final stretch of the season. Fans in Western New York and Central Florida might be a little queasy about drawing Columbus in the first round.Among the Bruins, Red Wings and Blue Jackets, Columbus has the highest chances of making the second round (57.0%), conference finals (25.4%), Cup Final (12.1%) and winning it all (6.0%), according to Stathletes.In the Western half of the bracket, the team that earns the first wild-card position would appear to have a significantly easier track ahead, as it will likely face the Pacific Division winner instead of the Central's. Currently, the top three teams in the Pacific range from 73 to 76 standings points, while their Central counterparts are from 88 to 97, led by the juggernaut Colorado Avalanche.The San Jose Sharks hold the second wild card heading into Monday's games. They have one win and two losses this season against Colorado.Next up are the Seattle Kraken, who do have a game left against Colorado but lost their previous two against the Avs.The Los Angeles Kings are another possibility for the second wild card but have lost all three of their games against Colorado.Can the first wild card make a run through the Pacific teams? Right now, that top wild-card position is in possession of the Utah Mammoth.They have gone 1-1-0 against the Vegas Golden Knights thus far, with one game remaining, this Thursday.Utah's record against the Anaheim Ducks is 1-0-1, with their final game against the Ducks the very next night.The Mammoth lost their only game thus far against the Edmonton Oilers but play them twice in the remaining month.Stathletes gives Utah the best chance of making a run among that quartet of teams: 46.5% to make the second round, 25.2% to make the conference finals, 13.0% to make the Cup Final and 6.3% to win it all.Every team has around 15 games remaining 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 matchupsToday's scheduleLast night's scoresExpanded standingsRace for No. 1 pickCurrent playoff matchupsEastern ConferenceA1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Boston BruinsA2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal CanadiensM1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Detroit Red WingsM2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 New York IslandersWestern ConferenceC1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Seattle KrakenC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota WildP1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah MammothP2 Vegas Golden Knights vs. P3 Edmonton OilersToday's gamesNote: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).Calgary Flames at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.Boston Bruins at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m. (ESPN)Los Angeles Kings at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.Utah Mammoth at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.Pittsburgh Penguins at Colorado Avalanche, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)Last night's scoreboardWinnipeg Jets 3, St. Louis Blues 2Ottawa Senators 7, San Jose Sharks 4Anaheim Ducks 4, Montreal Canadiens 3Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Minnesota Wild 2Edmonton Oilers 3, Nashville Predators 1Seattle Kraken 6, Florida Panthers 2Expanded standingsAtlantic DivisionBuffalo SabresPoints: 88Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: A1Games left: 15Points pace: 107.7Next game: @ VGK (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.6%Tragic number: N/ATampa Bay LightningPoints: 84Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: A2Games left: 17Points pace: 106.0Next game: @ SEA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.8%Tragic number: N/AMontreal CanadiensPoints: 82Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: A3Games left: 16Points pace: 101.9Next game: vs. BOS (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 90.8%Tragic number: N/ABoston BruinsPoints: 80Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC1Games left: 16Points pace: 99.4Next game: @ NJ (Monday)Playoff chances: 74.6%Tragic number: N/ADetroit Red WingsPoints: 80Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: WC2Games left: 15Points pace: 97.9Next game: vs. CGY (Monday)Playoff chances: 34.5%Tragic number: N/AOttawa SenatorsPoints: 77Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 95.7Next game: @ WSH (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 64.4%Tragic number: 29Toronto Maple LeafsPoints: 70Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 84.4Next game: vs. NYI (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 18Florida PanthersPoints: 69Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 85.7Next game: @ VAN (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 1.1%Tragic number: 21Metro DivisionCarolina HurricanesPoints: 90Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: M1Games left: 16Points pace: 111.8Next game: @ CBJ (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/APittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 81Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: M2Games left: 16Points pace: 100.6Next game: @ COL (Monday)Playoff chances: 65.3%Tragic number: N/ANew York IslandersPoints: 81Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: M3Games left: 15Points pace: 99.1Next game: @ TOR (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 73.7%Tragic number: N/AColumbus Blue JacketsPoints: 79Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 98.2Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 84.1%Tragic number: 31Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 74Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 91.9Next game: @ ANA (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 5.4%Tragic number: 26Washington CapitalsPoints: 74Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 89.2Next game: vs. OTT (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 5.9%Tragic number: 22New Jersey DevilsPoints: 68Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 84.5Next game: vs. BOS (Monday)Playoff chances: 0.8%Tragic number: 20New York RangersPoints: 64Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 79.5Next game: vs. LA (Monday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 16Central DivisionColorado AvalanchePoints: 97Regulation wins: 39Playoff position: C1Games left: 17Points pace: 122.4Next game: vs. PIT (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/ADallas StarsPoints: 94Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: C2Games left: 16Points pace: 116.8Next game: vs. UTA (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AMinnesota WildPoints: 88Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: C3Games left: 14Points pace: 106.1Next game: @ CHI (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AUtah MammothPoints: 74Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: WC1Games left: 15Points pace: 90.6Next game: @ DAL (Monday)Playoff chances: 93.5%Tragic number: N/ANashville PredatorsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 83.2Next game: @ WPG (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 6.3%Tragic number: 28Winnipeg JetsPoints: 66Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 82Next game: vs. NSH (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 2.1%Tragic number: 27St. Louis BluesPoints: 64Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 78.3Next game: @ CGY (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 3.4%Tragic number: 23Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 61Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 75.8Next game: vs. MIN (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 22Pacific DivisionAnaheim DucksPoints: 77Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: P1Games left: 15Points pace: 94.2Next game: vs. PHI (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 96.6%Tragic number: N/AVegas Golden KnightsPoints: 76Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: P2Games left: 15Points pace: 93.0Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.3%Tragic number: N/AEdmonton OilersPoints: 75Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: P3Games left: 14Points pace: 90.4Next game: vs. SJ (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 82.5%Tragic number: N/ASeattle KrakenPoints: 71Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: WC2Games left: 16Points pace: 88.2Next game: vs. TB (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 11.1%Tragic number: N/ASan Jose SharksPoints: 70Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 88.3Next game: @ EDM (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 80.3%Tragic number: 33Los Angeles KingsPoints: 69Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 85.7Next game: @ NYR (Monday)Playoff chances: 24.8%Tragic number: 30Calgary FlamesPoints: 59Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 73.3Next game: @ DET (Monday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 20Vancouver CanucksPoints: 48Regulation wins: 13Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 59.6Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 9Race 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. St. Louis BluesPoints: 64Regulation wins: 245. New York RangersPoints: 64Regulation wins: 196. Winnipeg JetsPoints: 66Regulation wins: 237. Nashville PredatorsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 228. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 68Regulation wins: 229. Los Angeles KingsPoints: 69Regulation wins: 1710. Florida PanthersPoints: 69Regulation wins: 2611. Toronto Maple Leafs*Points: 70Regulation wins: 2112. San Jose SharksPoints: 70Regulation wins: 2013. Washington CapitalsPoints: 74Regulation wins: 2814. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 74Regulation wins: 2015. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 77Regulation wins: 2816. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 79Regulation wins: 23*Note: The Maple Leafs' pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five.
