EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBeginning with the 1985-86 season, the NHL has awarded the Presidents' Trophy to the team with the best regular-season record.In the salary cap era (since 2005-06), only two teams have won the Presidents' Trophy then gone on to win the Stanley Cup: the 2007-08 Detroit Red Wings and the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks. Two of the past seven Presidents' Trophy winners have lost int he first round.So while the team that wins the prize this season does get home-ice advantage for as long as it lasts in the playoffs, it's clearly no shoo-in to make it to the ultimate stage.Nevertheless, that advantage is a nice benefit to have in a club's pocket, and with less than a month remaining, there are six teams within 10 points at the top of the league standings.The team that has been in first place for the vast majority of the season, the Colorado Avalanche, takes the ice tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+).Also on Friday, the Eastern Conference's top team, the Carolina Hurricanes, takes on the Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network). The Dallas Stars, two points behind the Avs, next take the ice on Saturday (4 p.m. ET, ESPN+), skating against the Minnesota Wild, who are eight points back.Saturday is also the next game day for the Buffalo Sabres, who play the Los Angeles Kings (4 p.m. ET, ESPN+).The Tampa Bay Lightning have the most ground to make up, and their journey continues Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+).Stathletes projects the Avs to finish with the most points (117.3), followed by the Stars (112.5), Canes (110.1), Lightning (108.1), Wild (106.4) and Sabres (105.8). Is that how the standings will play out, or will one of the other contenders hurdle the Avs?Every team has about 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 Columbus Blue JacketsWestern ConferenceC1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Los Angeles KingsC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota WildP1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah MammothP2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden KnightsToday's gamesNote: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. (NHL Network)New Jersey Devils at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.Florida Panthers at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.Anaheim Ducks at Utah Mammoth, 10 p.m.Last night's scoreboardBoston Bruins 6, Winnipeg Jets 1Ottawa Senators 3, New York Islanders 2Detroit Red Wings 3, Montreal Canadiens 1Columbus Blue Jackets 6, New York Rangers 3Chicago Blackhawks 2, Minnesota Wild 1Nashville Predators 3, Seattle Kraken 1Florida Panthers 4, Edmonton Oilers 0Tampa Bay Lightning 6, Vancouver Canucks 2Utah Mammoth 4, Vegas Golden Knights 0Buffalo Sabres 5, San Jose Sharks 0Philadelphia Flyers 4, Los Angeles Kings 3 (SO)Expanded standingsAtlantic DivisionBuffalo SabresPoints: 92Regulation wins: 36Playoff position: A1Games left: 13Points pace: 109.3Next game: @ LA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.6%Tragic number: N/ATampa Bay LightningPoints: 88Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: A2Games left: 15Points pace: 107.7Next game: @ EDM (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AMontreal CanadiensPoints: 84Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: A3Games left: 14Points pace: 101.3Next game: vs. NYI (Saturday)Playoff chances: 88.4%Tragic number: N/ABoston BruinsPoints: 84Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: WC1Games left: 13Points pace: 99.8Next game: @ DET (Saturday)Playoff chances: 57.4%Tragic number: N/ADetroit Red WingsPoints: 84Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC2Games left: 13Points pace: 99.8Next game: vs. BOS (Saturday)Playoff chances: 42.5%Tragic number: N/AOttawa SenatorsPoints: 79Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 95.3Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 52.8%Tragic number: 23Florida PanthersPoints: 71Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 85.6Next game: @ CGY (Friday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 15Toronto Maple LeafsPoints: 70Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 83.2Next game: vs. CAR (Friday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 12Metro DivisionCarolina HurricanesPoints: 92Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: M1Games left: 14Points pace: 110.9Next game: @ TOR (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/APittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 84Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: M2Games left: 14Points pace: 101.3Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday)Playoff chances: 84.7%Tragic number: N/AColumbus Blue JacketsPoints: 83Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: M3Games left: 14Points pace: 100.1Next game: vs. SEA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 85.3%Tragic number: N/ANew York IslandersPoints: 83Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 98.6Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 77.2%Tragic number: 25Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 78Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 94.1Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 6.2%Tragic number: 22Washington CapitalsPoints: 76Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 90.3Next game: vs. NJ (Friday)Playoff chances: 5%Tragic number: 18New Jersey DevilsPoints: 72Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 86.8Next game: @ WSH (Friday)Playoff chances: 0.9%Tragic number: 16New York RangersPoints: 64Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 76.1Next game: vs. WPG (Sunday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 6Central DivisionColorado AvalanchePoints: 98Regulation wins: 39Playoff position: C1Games left: 15Points pace: 119.9Next game: @ CHI (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/ADallas StarsPoints: 96Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: C2Games left: 14Points pace: 115.8Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AMinnesota WildPoints: 90Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: C3Games left: 12Points pace: 105.4Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AUtah MammothPoints: 78Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: WC1Games left: 13Points pace: 92.7Next game: vs. ANA (Friday)Playoff chances: 97.3%Tragic number: N/ANashville PredatorsPoints: 71Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 85.6Next game: vs. VGK (Saturday)Playoff chances: 6.4%Tragic number: 27Winnipeg JetsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 80.8Next game: @ PIT (Saturday)Playoff chances: 3.4%Tragic number: 23St. Louis BluesPoints: 65Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 78.4Next game: @ VAN (Saturday)Playoff chances: 2.2%Tragic number: 21Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 64Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 77.2Next game: vs. COL (Friday)Playoff chances: 0.2%Tragic number: 20Pacific DivisionAnaheim DucksPoints: 78Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: P1Games left: 14Points pace: 94.1Next game: @ UTA (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.2%Tragic number: N/AEdmonton OilersPoints: 77Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: P2Games left: 12Points pace: 90.2Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)Playoff chances: 88.4%Tragic number: N/AVegas Golden KnightsPoints: 76Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: P3Games left: 13Points pace: 90.3Next game: @ NSH (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.1%Tragic number: N/ALos Angeles KingsPoints: 72Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: WC2Games left: 14Points pace: 86.8Next game: vs. BUF (Saturday)Playoff chances: 34.4%Tragic number: N/ASeattle KrakenPoints: 71Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 85.6Next game: @ CBJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 11.7%Tragic number: 27San Jose SharksPoints: 70Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 85.7Next game: vs. PHI (Saturday)Playoff chances: 57.7%Tragic number: 28Calgary FlamesPoints: 61Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 73.6Next game: s. FLA (Friday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 17Vancouver CanucksPoints: 50Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 60.3Next game: vs. STL (Saturday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 6Race 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: 50Regulation wins: 142. Calgary FlamesPoints: 61Regulation wins: 223. New York RangersPoints: 64Regulation wins: 194. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 64Regulation wins: 195. St. Louis BluesPoints: 65Regulation wins: 246. Winnipeg JetsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 237. Toronto Maple Leafs*Points: 70Regulation wins: 218. San Jose SharksPoints: 70Regulation wins: 209. Nashville PredatorsPoints: 71Regulation wins: 2310. Seattle KrakenPoints: 71Regulation wins: 2511. Florida PanthersPoints: 71Regulation wins: 2712. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 72Regulation wins: 2313. Washington CapitalsPoints: 76Regulation wins: 2914. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 78Regulation wins: 2015. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 79Regulation wins: 2916. New York IslandersPoints: 83Regulation wins: 25*Note: The Maple Leafs' pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five.
