NHL playoff watch: Can the Blues still make the playoffs? (2024)

Tim Kavanagh, ESPN.comMar 25, 2024, 11:00 PM
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After the St. Louis Blues' Stanley Cup championship run in 2019, the team kept its fans engaged with playoff returns the next three seasons. An 81-point campaign in 2022-23 landed the Blues sixth in the Central Division and outside the playoff picture, and they are currently outside the playoff mix heading into Monday's two-game NHL schedule.

In fact, Stathletes projects their chances of a postseason berth at 5.8%. So, can they pull off a mild upset and qualify?

That process begins Monday night as the Blues host the team they are directly chasing for a wild-card spot, the Vegas Golden Knights (8 p.m. ET, NHL Network). The Knights have a four-point edge in the points column (83-79), and are two games ahead in regulation wins. Vegas also has a game in hand on St. Louis.

The bad news: After Monday's matchup, the Blues have the Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars on the remaining schedule. The good news: They have the San Jose Sharks (twice!), Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks (plus a game apiece against the non-playoff-bound Calgary Flames and Seattle Kraken).

What about the Golden Knights? The defending Cup champs have some tough matchups on the way as well, including two against the Vancouver Canucks and one apiece against the Oilers, Preds, Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche; in addition, they have two contests against the Minnesota Wild, another club trying to chase them down. But, they also have a game against the Arizona Coyotes to break up that tough slate, and then close out with games against the Blackhawks and Ducks (just in case they need four more points to seal the deal).

So it's a tough task, but not an impossible one, for the Blues to extend their season beyond 82 games. A regulation win Monday night would make it just a little easier.

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
Monday's schedule
Sunday's scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

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

Western Conference

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

Monday'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).

Vegas Golden Knights at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m. (NHLN)
Los Angeles Kings at Vancouver Canucks, 9 p.m.

Sunday's scoreboard

Washington Capitals 3, Winnipeg Jets 0
Colorado Avalanche 5, Pittsburgh Penguins 4 (OT)
New Jersey Devils 4, New York Islanders 0
Ottawa Senators 5, Edmonton Oilers 3
Florida Panthers 4, Philadelphia Flyers 1
Carolina Hurricanes 2, Toronto Maple Leafs 1
Dallas Stars 4, Arizona Coyotes 2
Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Anaheim Ducks 2 (OT)
Buffalo Sabres 4, Calgary Flames 1
Montreal Canadiens 5, Seattle Kraken 1

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Florida Panthers

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 112
Next game: vs. BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Boston Bruins

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 111
Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 104
Next game: vs. NJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 98
Next game: vs. BOS (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 98.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 90
Next game: @ WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 24.2%
Tragic number: 21

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 83
Next game: vs. OTT (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 2.2%
Tragic number: 14

Ottawa Senators

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 75
Next game: @ BUF (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 9

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 75
Next game: @ COL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 9

Metropolitan Division

New York Rangers

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 10
Points pace: 111
Next game: @ PIT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 10
Points pace: 92
Next game: @ NYR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 86.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 93
Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 66.3%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 87
Next game: @ FLA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 12.7%
Tragic number: 18

New Jersey Devils

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Points pace: 84
Next game: @ TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 8.9%
Tragic number: 15

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.5%
Tragic number: 15

e - Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 67
Next game: @ ARI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 112
Next game: vs. MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 11
Points pace: 107
Next game: vs. EDM (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 102
Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.7%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 91
Next game: vs. VGK (Monday)
Playoff chances: 5.8%
Tragic number: 18

Minnesota Wild

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 89
Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 2.7%
Tragic number: 16

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 73
Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 2

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 45
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 52
Next game: vs. CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 11
Points pace: 113
Next game: vs. LA (Monday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 105
Next game: @ WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 100
Next game: @ VAN (Monday)
Playoff chances: 98.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 97
Next game: @ STL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 93.0%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 83
Next game: @ CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 12

Seattle Kraken

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 81
Next game: vs. ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 10

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 60
Next game: @ SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 40
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 47
Next game: vs. DAL (Tuesday)
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.

1. San Jose Sharks

Points: 40
Regulation wins: 12

2. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 45
Regulation wins: 14

3. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 18

4. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 18

5. Arizona Coyotes

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 23

6. Montreal Canadiens

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 16

7. Ottawa Senators

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 21

8. Seattle Kraken

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22

9. Pittsburgh Penguins*

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 25

10. Calgary Flames

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 28

11. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 28

12. New Jersey Devils

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 30

13. New York Islanders

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 22

14. Minnesota Wild

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 27

15. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25

16. St. Louis Blues

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 28

* The Penguins' first-round pick was traded to the Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade. However, it is top-10 protected.