NHL Playoff Race Heats Up: Eastern Wild-Card Battle Intensifies with Key Matchups Ahead

NHL Playoff Watch: Eastern Wild-Card Chaos Reaches Critical Point

The battle for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot is reaching its boiling point as four teams remain within two points of each other. With three of those teams in action on Friday night, every shift could be the difference between playoff hockey and an early offseason.

Friday's Pivotal Matchups

Montreal Canadiens at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+) The Canadiens currently occupy the second wild-card spot but face a tough test against the Metropolitan Division-leading Hurricanes. Montreal's playoff probability sits at 43.7% (via Stathletes) - the highest among wild-card contenders.
Vancouver Canucks at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+) Despite being a Western Conference team, Vancouver's visit to Columbus carries huge implications. The Blue Jackets (18.5% playoff chance) need every possible point to stay in contention.
New York Rangers at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+) The Rangers (18.1% playoff chance) begin a crucial West Coast swing against the struggling Ducks. New York must capitalize on this "schedule advantage" against non-playoff teams.

Playoff Implications and Key Dates

With less than three weeks remaining in the regular season, two upcoming games loom especially large:

April 10: Rangers vs Islanders (Battle of New York)
April 17: Islanders vs Blue Jackets (regular season finale)

The Islanders (18.4% playoff chance), currently idle, will watch Friday's action closely before their Saturday matchup against Tampa Bay.

Expanded Standings Snapshot (Eastern Wild Card)

Team	Points	Games Left	Playoff Chance
Canadiens	75	11	43.7%
Blue Jackets	73	12	18.5%
Islanders	74	11	18.4%
Rangers	74	10	18.1%

Draft Lottery Watch

While some teams fight for the playoffs, others are jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery. The current bottom five:

San Jose Sharks - 49 points
Chicago Blackhawks - 51 points
Nashville Predators - 62 points
Buffalo Sabres - 66 points
Philadelphia Flyers - 67 points

Top prospect Matthew Schaefer (Erie Otters) headlines this year's draft class.

How to Follow the Action

Download the ESPN app and enable push notifications to receive real-time updates on these playoff races. The NHL Playoff Watch will continue to provide daily updates as we approach the April 17 regular season finale.