NHL playoff picture, NHL schedule today, full standings, updated bracket

[ASFN Admin]

The NHL playoff picture enters its final week with little clarity yet in each conference's wild-card race.

The Nashville Predators hold the second wild-card spot by a point heading into April 9's games. But the teams behind Nashville all hold a game in hand.

In the East, Philadelphia and Ottawa are the teams locked into the third spot in the Metro and the second wild-card, respectively. But there's still more opportunity for movement for teams like Columbus and Washington.

Here's the full NHL playoff picture heading into tonight:

LAST TIME OUT: How Justus Annunen ended Nashville Predators' long shutout streak in win over Ducks

NHL playoff picture​

After April 8 games

Western Conference standings​

Central Division top 3​

1. Colorado Avalanche (112 points; clinched playoff berth)​

• Record: 51-16-10 | Regulation wins: 45 | Games remaining: 5
• Next three games: vs. Calgary (April 9), vs. Vegas (April 11), at Edmonton (April 13)

2. Dallas Stars (104 points; clinched playoff berth)​

• Record: 46-20-12 | Regulation wins: 35 | Games remaining: 4
• Next three games: vs. Minnesota (April 9), vs. NY Rangers (April 11), at Toronto (April 13)

3. Minnesota Wild (102 points; clinched playoff berth)​

• Record: 45-21-12 | Regulation wins: 30 | Games remaining: 4
• Next three games: at Dallas (April 9), at Nashville (April 11), at St. Louis (April 13)

Pacific Division top 3​

1. Edmonton Oilers (90 points)​

• Record: 40-29-10 | Regulation wins: 31 | Games remaining: 3
• Next three games: at Los Angeles (April 11), vs. Colorado (April 13), vs. Vancouver (April 16)

2. Vegas Golden Knights (88 points)​

• Record: 36-26-16 | Regulation wins: 28 | Games remaining: 4
• Next three games: at Seattle (April 9), at Colorado (April 11), vs. Winnipeg (April 13)

3. Anaheim Ducks (87 points)​

• Record: 41-32-5 | Regulation wins: 24 | Games remaining: 4
• Next three games: vs. San Jose (April 9), vs. Vancouver (April 12), at Minnesota (April 14)

--------------------------

Wild card standings​

1. Utah Mammoth (88 points)​

• Record: 41-30-6 | Regulation wins: 31 | Games remaining: 5
• Next three games: vs. Nashville (April 9), vs. Carolina (April 11), at Calgary (April 12)

2. Nashville Predators (84 points)​

• Record: 37-31-10 | Regulation wins: 27 | Games remaining: 4
• Next three games: at Utah (April 9), vs. Minnesota (April 11), vs. San Jose (April 13)

--------------------------

3. Los Angeles Kings (83 points)​

• Record: 32-26-19 | Regulation wins: 19 | Games remaining: 5
• Next three games: vs. Vancouver (April 9), vs. Edmonton (April 11), at Seattle (April 13)

4. San Jose Sharks (81 points)​

• Record: 37-33-7 | Regulation wins: 25 | Games remaining: 5
• Next three games: at Anaheim (April 9), vs. Vancouver (April 11), at Nashville (April 13)

5. Winnipeg Jets (80 points)​

• Record: 34-31-12 | Regulation wins: 27 | Games remaining: 5
• Next three games: at St. Louis (April 9), vs. Philadelphia (April 11), at Vegas (April 13)

6. St. Louis Blues (78 points)​

• Record: 33-32-12 | Regulation wins: 29 | Games remaining: 5
• Next three games: vs. Winnipeg (April 9), at Chicago (April 11), vs. Minnesota (April 13)

7. Seattle Kraken (75 points)​

• Record: 32-34-11 | Regulation wins: 25 | Games remaining: 5
• Next three games: vs. Vegas (April 9), vs. Calgary (April 11), vs. Los Angeles (April 13)

8. Calgary Flames (73 points; eliminated from playoff contention)​

9. Chicago Blackhawks (70 points; eliminated from playoff contention)​

10. Vancouver Canucks (52 points; eliminated from playoff contention)​

--------------------------

Eastern Conference standings​

Metropolitan Division top 3​

1. Carolina Hurricanes (106 points; clinched playoff berth)​

• Record: 50-22-6 | Regulation wins: 36 | Games remaining: 4
• Next three games: at Chicago (April 9), at Utah (April 11), at Philadelphia (April 13)

2. Pittsburgh Penguins (96 points)​

• Record: 40-22-16 | Regulation wins: 33 | Games remaining: 4
• Next three games: at NJ Devils (April 9), vs. Washington (April 11), at Washington (April 12)

3. Philadelphia Flyers (92 points)​

• Record: 40-26-12 | Regulation wins: 25 | Games remaining: 4
• Next three games: at Detroit (April 9), at Winnipeg (April 11), vs. Carolina (April 13)

Atlantic Division top 3​

1. Buffalo Sabres (100 points; clinched playoff berth)​

• Record: 48-23-8 | Regulation wins: 40 | Games remaining: 3
• Next three games: vs. Columbus (April 9), at Chicago (April 13), vs. Dallas (April 15)

2. Tampa Bay Lightning (102 points; clinched playoff berth)​

• Record: 48-24-6 | Regulation wins: 39 | Games remaining: 4
• Next three games: at Montreal (April 9), at Boston (April 11), vs. Detroit (April 13)

3. Montreal Canadiens (100 points; clinched playoff berth)​

• Record: 46-22-10 | Regulation wins: 32 | Games remaining: 4
• Next three games: vs. Tampa Bay (April 9) vs. Columbus (April 11), at NY Islanders (April 12)

--------------------------

Wild card standings​

1. Boston Bruins (96 points)​

• Record: 43-26-10 | Regulation wins: 31 | Games remaining: 3
• Next three games: vs. Tampa Bay (April 11), at Columbus (April 12), vs. New Jersey (April 14)

2. Ottawa Senators (92 points)​

• Record: 41-27-10 | Regulation wins: 35 | Games remaining: 4
• Next three games: vs. Florida (April 9), at NY Islanders (April 11), at New Jersey (April 12)

--------------------------

3. Columbus Blue Jackets (90 points)​

• Record: 39-27-12 | Regulation wins: 27 | Games remaining: 4
• Next three games: at Buffalo (April 9), at Montreal (April 11), vs. Boston (April 12)

4. Detroit Red Wings (89 points)​

• Record: 40-29-9 | Regulation wins: 29 | Games remaining: 4
• Next three games: vs. Philadelphia (April 9), vs. New Jersey (April 11), at Tampa Bay (April 13)

5. New York Islanders (89 points)​

• Record: 42-31-5 | Regulation wins: 28 | Games remaining: 4
• Next three games: vs. Toronto (April 9), vs. Ottawa (April 11), vs. Montreal (April 12)

6. Washington Capitals (89 points)​

• Record: 40-30-9 | Regulation wins: 34 | Games remaining: 3
• Next three games: at Pittsburgh (April 11), vs. Pittsburgh (April 12), at Columbus (April 14)

7. New Jersey Devils (83 points; eliminated from playoff contention)​

8. Florida Panthers (78 points; eliminated from playoff contention)​

9. Toronto Maple Leafs (78 points; eliminated from playoff contention)​

10. New York Rangers (75 points; eliminated from playoff contention)​

NHL playoffs projected first round matchups​

As of April 8

Western Conference

• Central No. 1 Colorado Avalanche vs. Wild card No. 2 Nashville Predators
• Central No. 2 Dallas Stars vs. Central No. 3 Minnesota Wild
• Pacific No. 1 Edmonton Oilers vs. Wild card No. 1 Utah Mammoth
• Pacific No. 2 Anaheim Ducks vs. Pacific No. 3 Vegas Golden Knights

Eastern Conference

• Metro No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. Wild card No. 2 Ottawa Senators
• Metro No. 2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Metro No. 3 Philadelphia Flyers
• Atlantic No. 1 Buffalo Sabres vs. Wild card No. 1 Boston Bruins
• Atlantic No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Atlantic No. 3 Montreal Canadiens

NHL schedule today for April 9 games​

All times Central; All games on ESPN+ in U.S. unless otherwise noted

• Toronto Maple Leafs at New York Islanders, 5:45 p.m. on ESPN+ and Hulu
• Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens, 6 p.m.
• Columbus Blue Jackets at Buffalo Sabres, 6 p.m.
• Philadelphia Flyers at Detroit Red Wings, 6 p.m.
• Florida Panthers at Ottawa Senators, 6 p.m.
• Pittsburgh Penguins at New Jersey Devils, 6 p.m.
• Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues, 7 p.m.
• Carolina Hurricanes at Chicago Blackhawks, 7:30 p.m.
• Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m. on ESPN+ and Hulu
• Nashville Predators at Utah Mammoth, 8 p.m. on FanDuel Sports Network South
• Calgary Flames at Colorado Avalanche, 8 p.m.
• Vegas Golden Knights at Seattle Kraken, 9 p.m.
• San Jose Sharks at Anaheim Ducks, 9 p.m.
• Vancouver Canucks at Los Angeles Kings, 9:30 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NHL playoff picture, NHL schedule today, updated standings and bracket

Continue reading...