The Washington Capitals already have seen the end of their eight-season playoff streak, which had been the second-long active one in the NHL.
By the end of the week, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 16-year streak, the longest active one, and the Nashville Predators’ eight-year run could end, and the Buffalo Sabres’ playoff drought could hit 12 seasons.
All three teams found themselves sitting out of a playoff position on Monday morning, though still alive in the race.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan, Central and Pacific division titles are still up for grabs, as are two wild-card spots in the Eastern Conference and one in the West. A few milestones can be reached and the NHL’s worst record for the best draft lottery odds still needs to be settled.
CONNOR BEDARD: Which NHL team has best odds to draft generational talent?
What’s at stake before Friday’s end of the NHL regular season:
Metropolitan Division race
The Carolina Hurricanes lead the New Jersey Devils by one point and have a game in hand. But the Devils have one more regulation win, the first tiebreaker, so the Hurricanes would have to finish at least one point ahead to claim the title. The New York Rangers still have a slim chance. Carolina has lost two in a row, but coach Rod Brind’Amour will be back after he watched his son Skyler win the NCAA Division I men’s hockey championship with Quinnipiac.
Remaining schedules: The Hurricanes play Monday (at Ottawa), Tuesday (vs. Detroit) and Thursday (at Florida). The Devils play Tuesday (vs. Buffalo) and Thursday (at Washington). The Rangers have home games Monday (Buffalo) and Thursday (Toronto).
Central Division race
The defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche lead the Dallas Stars by two points and the Minnesota Wild by four. All have three games left. The Stars have the most regulation wins at 36. The Avalanche have won five in a row and Mikko Rantanen joined teammate Nathan MacKinnon on Sunday as a 100-point scorer.
Remaining schedules: The Avalanche play at home Tuesday (Edmonton) and Thursday (Winnipeg) and on the road Friday (Nashville). The Stars play Monday (at Detroit), then have a home-and-home set with St. Louis on Wednesday and Thursday. The Wild play Monday (at Chicago), Tuesday (vs. Winnipeg) and Thursday (at Nashville).
Pacific Division race
The Vegas Golden Knights lead Edmonton by two points, but the Oilers lead in regulation wins. Edmonton is on a 9-0-1 run, led by Connor McDavid, the NHL’s first 150-point scorer since the 1990s.
Remaining schedules: The Golden Knights play a home-and-home set against Seattle Tuesday and Thursday. The Oilers visit Colorado on Tuesday and host San Jose on Thursday.
Eastern Conference wild-card race
The Florida Panthers will clinch a playoff berth on Monday if they defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs in regulation or overtime (though not in a shootout) and the New York Islanders lose to the Capitals in regulation.
If that happens, the final playoff berth will come down to the Islanders (91 points), Penguins (90) and Sabres (85). Buffalo, which has been riding with former Northeastern University goalie Devon Levi, has two games in hand but only 29 regulation wins, so it would have to win out and get some help. If the Sabres fall short, they would tie the New York Jets for the longest active playoff drought in the four major professional leagues.
Remaining schedules: The Panthers play at home Monday (Toronto) and Thursday (Carolina). The Islanders play Monday (at Washington) and Wednesday (vs. Montreal). The Penguins play Tuesday (vs. Chicago) and Thursday (at Columbus). The Sabres play on the road Monday (Rangers), Tuesday (New Jersey) and Friday (Columbus) and at home Thursday (Ottawa).
Western Conference wild-card race
The Winnipeg Jets have 91 points, the Calgary Flames have 90 and the Predators have 88. Winnipeg leads in regulation wins and Calgary has played one more game. Helping the Jets’ cause: The Flames and Predators in Calgary Monday night.
Remaining schedules: The Jets play at home Monday (San Jose) and on the road Tuesday (Minnesota) and Thursday (Colorado). The Flames play at home Monday (Nashville) and Wednesday (San Jose). The Predators play Monday at Calgary, then have road games Thursday (Minnesota) and Friday (Colorado).
The race for Connor Bedard
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Chicago Blackhawks have the fewest points (56) and Columbus has the fewest regulation wins (15) of the two. The Blackhawks moved out players in the offseason and before the trade deadline while the Blue Jackets were aggressive in the offseason, signing Johnny Gaudreau, but have been hurt by injuries. The Anaheim Ducks (58, only 13 regulation wins) and San Jose Sharks (60) still have a chance to drop into the NHL’s basement. The last-place team has a 25.5% chance of landing generational talent Connor Bedard after the May 8 draft lottery.
Remaining schedules: The Blue Jackets play Tuesday at Philadelphia, then at home Thursday (Pittsburgh) and Friday (Buffalo). The Blackhawks play Monday (vs. Minnesota), Tuesday (at Pittsburgh) and Thursday (vs. Philadelphia). The Ducks play at home Tuesday (Vancouver) and Thursday (Los Angeles). The Sharks play on the road Monday (Winnipeg), Wednesday (Calgary) and Thursday (Edmonton).
Achievable milestones
-The Boston Bruins, who set the NHL record for wins (63), need two points over their last two games, to break the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens’ record of 132 points in a season. They finish the season with games at Washington and Montreal.
-San Jose’s Erik Karlsson needs two points over his final three games to become the first defenseman since Brian Leetch to get 100 points in a season.
-Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl needs three power-play goals over his final two games to tie Tim Kerr’s record (34). The Oilers’ power play (32.5%) can set a record for efficiency if it holds on. The current record is 31.9% by the 1977-78 Canadiens.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL standings, playoffs: Races, stats, schedule to watch in final week
