The Dallas Mavericks decline to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday guaranteed the Mavericks would have a getting rid of time for the 1st time since 2019, Luka Doncic’s rookie year. Inspite of that, the Mavericks continue to are not mathematically removed from the engage in-in tournament. Here’s a closing update on the standings and eventualities before the Mavericks begin their remaining extend of the year Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings.
Initially things 1st: let us consider a appear at the standings as of Tuesday early morning.
Dallas can’t win extra than 40 online games this year. The Mavericks are 37-42 with 3 online games still left. That suggests any team with 41 wins is out of the Mavericks arrive at, so scratch off any distant chance enthusiasts may well have had of catching the Clippers or Warriors.
The Mavericks also can move the Pelicans outright, but it is remarkably inconceivable: the groups break up the time collection, so the tiebreaker falls to division history, then meeting file. New Orleans has 3 additional meeting game titles remaining, which include a person division recreation. So for Dallas to move New Orleans, the Pelicans would have to eliminate out (-4), with just one of the 4 becoming a decline to Memphis, even though the Mavericks would have to acquire out. That would tie the two teams in division report, and the Mavericks would have 29 meeting wins as opposed to the Pelicans 28.
A comparable circumstance exists for the Lakers: they have to shed out (-4) and the Mavericks have to acquire out. Dallas owns the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Lakers. Sad to say the Lakers perform Utah two times, who are shutting down critical gamers like starting rookie heart Walker Kessler. Never depend on the Mavericks passing the Lakers or Pelicans.
That leaves the Timberwolves and Thunder. Minnesota has to lose out (-3) and the Mavericks have to win out to go the Wolves, who also own the head-to-head tiebreaker towards the Mavericks. Minnesota performs San Antonio in 1 of its last three, so which is an additional improbable scenario.
The Thunder are the most realistic to capture. There are two paths: Thunder go 1-2 and the Mavericks earn out (3-) or the Thunder go -3 and the Mavericks just have to go 2-1. OKC also does not have approximately as effortless a program as the other teams forward of the Mavericks: the Thunder engage in at Golden State Tuesday (where by the Warriors are 32-8 at house), then at Utah and residence towards Memphis. Depending on Memphis’ standing in that video game, that could imply the Thunder are participating in two game titles versus groups with almost nothing to drop, but definitely I believe you can only look at that Utah match as a attainable positive-issue. And if we’ve acquired just about anything from the NBA this period, nothing is a positive issue — the Thunder have current losses to Charlotte and Indiana, and Minnesota just just lately misplaced to a Portland staff that has shut down just about all its major rotation gamers.
Of program, this implies the Mavericks, no make any difference who they want to catch, have to gain at minimum two of its last a few games. For a group that has presently misplaced 7 of its final eight, that does not seem to be most likely. The very last time the Mavericks won two out of three online games, the two wins have been an overtime earn in opposition to the Spurs and a miracle Maxi Kleber buzzer beater versus the Lakers — not precisely self-assurance inspiring wins. Dallas plays Sacramento on Wednesday, Chicago on Friday, and San Antonio to near the period on Sunday. The Thunder engage in two games just before Dallas will suggestion off Friday towards Chicago, so their fate my currently be sealed by the weekend. That’s not even finding into the reality that Dallas might sit Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving for the final 3 video games. Let’s see what happens.
Tim Kavanagh is a senior NHL editor for ESPN. He’s a native of upstate New York.
There have been some incredibly busy nights on the NHL schedule recently, with many playoff contenders battling it out for those precious points. Tonight is not one of those nights.
Six of the eight teams in action are in draft lottery positions right now, and while two of them — the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals — can almost see a pathway to a wild card if they squint their eyes a certain way, the other four have a combined playoff chance percentage of about 4{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1}. But that just means it’s time for another dive into the NHL draft lottery projections!
For those who haven’t been paying close attention to draft prospects yet, a franchise-altering forward named Connor Bedard is tearing up the WHL this season and will be the first name off the board this June. Unlike some other leagues, the worst team doesn’t automatically get the first pick; instead, a weighted lottery occurs, where teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots via two draws. In other words, any team that finishes 11th or worse has a crack at drafting Bedard, thus accelerating its rebuild/retool.
Tonight’s slate features two of the bottom four teams — the Columbus Blue Jackets (49 points, 15 regulation wins in 67 games) and Anaheim Ducks (54, 12 in 68) — squaring off in SoCal. Meanwhile, the aforementioned Sabres and Capitals will play the Philadelphia Flyers (59, 22 in 67) and the St. Louis Blues (63, 21 in 67), respectively.
There could be movement in the Bedard standings by tomorrow morning, and be sure to set your calendar for May 8 at 7 p.m. ET, when the draft lottery will be broadcast live on ESPN.
As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2023 NHL draft lottery.
Jump ahead: Current playoff matchups Today’s games Last night’s scores Expanded standings Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 New York Islanders A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Pittsburgh Penguins M2 New Jersey Devils vs. M3 New York Rangers
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC1 Seattle Kraken C2 Minnesota Wild vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Friday’s games
Note: All times Eastern. All games not on ESPN, TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m. Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. (NHLN) St. Louis Blues at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. Columbus Blue Jackets at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
Thursday’s scoreboard
Watch “In the Crease” on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.
Florida Panthers 9, Montreal Canadiens 5 New York Rangers 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 2 Tampa Bay Lightning 4, New Jersey Devils 3 (SO) Colorado Avalanche 5, Ottawa Senators 4 Chicago Blackhawks 2, Nashville Predators 1 Boston Bruins 3, Winnipeg Jets 0 Edmonton Oilers 4, Dallas Stars 1 Arizona Coyotes 3, Vancouver Canucks 2 Calgary Flames 7, Vegas Golden Knights 2 Los Angeles Kings 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 1 Seattle Kraken 2, San Jose Sharks 1 (OT)
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 107 Regulation wins: 44 Playoff position: A1 Games left: 15 Points pace: 131 Next game: @ MIN (Saturday) Playoff chances: 100{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1} Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89 Regulation wins: 34 Playoff position: A2 Games left: 15 Points pace: 109 Next game: vs. CAR (Friday) Playoff chances: >99{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1} Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: A3 Games left: 13 Points pace: 105 Next game: vs. MTL (Saturday) Playoff chances: >99{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1} Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75 Regulation wins: 29 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 14 Points pace: 90 Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday) Playoff chances: 52{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1} Tragic number: 25
Points: 83 Regulation wins: 30 Playoff position: WC1 Games left: 14 Points pace: 100 Next game: vs. EDM (Saturday) Playoff chances: 93{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1} Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76 Regulation wins: 25 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 13 Points pace: 90 Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday) Playoff chances: 26{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1} Tragic number: 23
Points: 63 Regulation wins: 18 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 15 Points pace: 77 Next game: @ LA (Saturday) Playoff chances: <1{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1} Tragic number: 14
Points: 54 Regulation wins: 12 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 14 Points pace: 65 Next game: vs. CBJ (Friday) Playoff chances: <1{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1} Tragic number: 3
Points: 52 Regulation wins: 14 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 13 Points pace: 62 Next game: vs. NYI (Saturday) Playoff chances: 0{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1} Tragic number: E
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 might 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 Connor Bedard, who has been lauded as a generational talent.
Tim Kavanagh is a senior NHL editor for ESPN. He’s a native of upstate New York.
Both the Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets appear to be on their way to the postseason. FiveThirtyEight projects the Wild’s playoff chances at 93{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1}, with the Jets’ at 65{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1}.
Amid quite a bit of chaos in the Western Conference playoff race, these two clubs from the prairie could well be the ones facing off as the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds representing the Central Division in the first round.
Tonight’s matchup (7:30 ET, available via NHL Power Play on ESPN+) is the third of four games in the season series between the two teams. Minnesota has handily won both prior matchups (6-1 on Nov. 23 and 4-1 on Dec. 27).
Will the Jets’ deadline additions make any difference? Or will the Wild continue to own their northern neighbors? Tonight will be another clue in the slowly unraveling mystery of the Central seeding race.
As we enter 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 2023 NHL draft lottery.
Jump ahead: Current playoff matchups Today’s games Last night’s scores Expanded standings Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Pittsburgh Penguins A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 New York Islanders M2 New Jersey Devils vs. M3 New York Rangers
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC1 Edmonton Oilers C2 Minnesota Wild vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Seattle Kraken
Wednesday’s games
Note: All times Eastern. All games not on ESPN, TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).
Chicago Blackhawks at Detroit Red Wings, 7:30 p.m. (TNT) Minnesota Wild at Winnipeg Jets, 7:30 p.m. Anaheim Ducks at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday’s scoreboard
Watch In the Crease on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, New Jersey Devils 3 Florida Panthers 2, Vegas Golden Knights 1 Carolina Hurricanes 4, Montreal Canadiens 3 (SO) Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 4 (OT) Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Philadelphia Flyers 2 New York Islanders 3, Buffalo Sabres 2 Calgary Flames 1, Minnesota Wild 0 (SO) Arizona Coyotes 6, St. Louis Blues 2 Colorado Avalanche 6, San Jose Sharks 0 Seattle Kraken 5, Anaheim Ducks 2
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 103 Regulation wins: 42 Playoff position: A1 Games left: 20 Points pace: 136 Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday) Playoff chances: >99{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1} Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86 Regulation wins: 33 Playoff position: A2 Games left: 18 Points pace: 110 Next game: vs. EDM (Saturday) Playoff chances: >99{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1} Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81 Regulation wins: 31 Playoff position: A3 Games left: 18 Points pace: 104 Next game: vs. VGK (Thursday) Playoff chances: >99{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1} Tragic number: N/A
Points: 70 Regulation wins: 28 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 17 Points pace: 88 Next game: vs. CHI (Friday) Playoff chances: 39{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1} Tragic number: 31
Points: 68 Regulation wins: 24 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 19 Points pace: 89 Next game: vs. DAL (Thursday) Playoff chances: 15{b7c9e2c88beb1a84f22d94ab877a147f4adc4b3519717f3f957a0f34e16918d1} Tragic number: 33
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order at the top of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team may 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 Connor Bedard, who has been lauded as a generational talent.
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