NHL playoff watch: Rangers-Bruins a potential Eastern Conference finals preview

Tim Kavanagh, ESPN.comMar 21, 2024, 07:00 AM ET
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As with most Thursdays on the NHL schedule, the lineup of matchups is pretty stellar. It includes an interconference showdown of two of the hottest teams in the league as the Nashville Predators visit the Florida Panthers (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu). There is also a game that will have big ramifications on the Eastern Conference wild-card race as the New York Islanders take on the Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+).

But the highest-profile matchup on the docket is the New York Rangers‘ visit to TD Garden to play the Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). The two teams currently lead their respective divisions, and the Bruins hold the top spot in the entire league.

The Rangers have won both games in the season series to this point, 7-4 at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 25 and 2-1 in OT in Boston on Dec. 16. We’ll see a more playoff-ready version of each team in this contest, but what are the chances this is the matchup in the Eastern Conference finals?

Using Stathletes projections, the East bracket will line up as follows: A1 Bruins vs. WC2 Washington Capitals; A2 Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs; M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning; M2 Rangers vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers.

The Bruins lost their one game against the Caps this season, with two more upcoming; but let’s assume they can get by Alex Ovechkin & Co. The Rangers have fared better against the Flyers, winning both games so far with two left on the slate.

Looking ahead to Round 2, the Bruins swept the Maple Leafs this season and have two wins in two tries against Florida (with two more remaining). As for the Rangers, they’ve gone 2-1 against both the Canes (pre-Evgeny Kuznetsov and Jake Guentzel) and Lightning.

Matchups matter en route to the Stanley Cup Final, but there is certainly a strong chance that Thursday’s showdown will be repeated as a best-of-7 in May.

As we traverse the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check in on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2024 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

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

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Detroit Red Wings
A2 Florida Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 New York Rangers vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Dallas Stars
P1 Vancouver Canucks vs. WC2 Vegas Golden Knights
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Thursday’s games

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

New York Rangers at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
New York Islanders at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.
Winnipeg Jets at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia Flyers at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Florida Panthers, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
Buffalo Sabres at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
Seattle Kraken at Vegas Golden Knights, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Tampa Bay Lightning at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday’s scoreboard

Toronto Maple Leafs 7, Washington Capitals 3
Dallas Stars 5, Arizona Coyotes 2
Los Angeles Kings 6, Minnesota Wild 0

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 114
Next game: vs. NYR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 14
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 97
Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 97.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. NYI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 19.4%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ EDM (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 8.2%
Tragic number: 19

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 75
Next game: @ VAN (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 14

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 73
Next game: vs. STL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 13

Metropolitan Division

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 112
Next game: @ BOS (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 13
Points pace: 93
Next game: @ CAR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 52.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. CAR (Friday)
Playoff chances: 61.6%
Tragic number: 27

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ DET (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 49%
Tragic number: 25

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. WPG (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 6.8%
Tragic number: 20

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ DAL Friday)
Playoff chances: 5.7%
Tragic number: 21

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 69
Next game: @ COL (Friday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 8

Central Division

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 112
Next game: @ NJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 111
Next game: s. CBJ (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 110
Next game: vs. PIT (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 100
Next game: @ FLA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 96%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 16.7%
Tragic number: 21

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 4.8%
Tragic number: 22

Points: 61
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 73
Next game: vs. SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 8

Points: 43
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 51
Next game: @ ANA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 112
Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 86
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 16
Points pace: 107
Next game: vs. BUF (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 13
Points pace: 99
Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 88.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 95
Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 90.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 86
Next game: @ VAN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 3.6%
Tragic number: 20

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0.4%
Tragic number: 19

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 58
Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 39
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 47
Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: E

p — clinched Presidents’ Trophy
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 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. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer is Macklin Celebrini, a freshman at Boston University.

Points: 39
Regulation wins: 12

Points: 43
Regulation wins: 14

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 17

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 18

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 19

Points: 61
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 15

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 22

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 25

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 28

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 28