NHL 2023 Playoff Races as of March 26, 2023

Welcome to a new series from Full Press Hockey. With NHL rumors slowing down until the summer draft, we will only cover them once a week on Sundays. To replace the Wednesday rumors article, we will present a daily analysis of the playoff races called NHL 2023 playoff races. The analysis will be done daily when enough games affecting the playoffs are scheduled, with the article being published every morning after games are played. We will cover trends in the standings, and which teams are hot and which teams are not. With less than 20 games remaining in the 2022-23 season, all NHL fans will be tracking their team’s progress to see where they will finish.

NHL 2023 Playoff Races – As of March 26

NHL Schedule For March 24, 2023:

MATCHUP
New Jersey	@  Buffalo
New York	@  Columbus
Arizona	@  Colorado

NHL Scores for March 24, 2023:

 

Final	1	2	3	Tot
New Jersey	2	0	2	4
Buffalo	3	2	0	5

Final	1	2	3	OT	Tot
NY Islanders	1	1	2	0	4
Columbus	0	4	0	1	5

Final	1	2	3	Tot
Arizona	1	0	0	1
Colorado	1	0	2	3

New Jersey Devils vs Buffalo Sabres

Alex Tuch had two goals and an assist as the Buffalo Sabres beat the New Jersey Devils 5-4 on Friday night. Buffalo remained on the fringes of contention for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot, pulling up six points behind Pittsburgh for the second wild card. The Sabres have 11 games remaining. The Devils missed an opportunity to tie the Carolina Hurricanes for the top spot in the Metro Division.

New York Islanders vs Columbus Blue Jackets

Boone Jenner scored 40 seconds into overtime and the Columbus Blue Jackets rallied to beat the New York Islanders 5-4 Friday night for their second straight win. The Isles did get one point, but only hold a three-point lead over the Penguins for the top wild-card spot. NHL Lottery teams continue to wreak havoc for playoff contenders.

Arizona Coyotes vs Colorado Avalanche

Cale Makar had a goal and two assists in his return to the lineup, Nathan MacKinnon also had a goal and two assists, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the Arizona Coyotes 3-1 on Friday night. Clayton Keller continued his hot streak with his 35th goal to tie it with 1:03 left in the first period. He now has an 11-game point streak and has eight goals in the last seven games.

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NHL Schedule For March 25, 2023:

Final	1	2	3	Tot
Tampa Bay	1	0	0	1
Boston	1	1	0	2

Final	1	2	3	Tot
Detroit	0	0	0	0
Philadelphia	0	2	1	3

Final	1	2	3	Tot
Seattle	2	1	4	7
Nashville	0	1	1	2

Final	1	2	3	Tot
San Jose	1	2	0	3
Calgary	2	1	2	5

Final	1	2	3	Tot
Winnipeg	0	1	0	1
Los Angeles	1	1	2	4

Final	1	2	3	Tot
NY Rangers	0	2	2	4
Florida	2	0	1	3

Final	1	2	3	Tot
Chicago	0	0	1	1
Minnesota	0	1	2	3

Final	1	2	3	Tot
Buffalo	0	0	2	2
NY Islanders	0	0	0	0

Final	1	2	3	Tot
Toronto	0	2	1	3
Carolina	2	0	3	5

Final	1	2	3	Tot
Vancouver	1	2	0	3
Dallas	1	0	0	1

Final	1	2	3	Tot
Columbus	2	0	0	2
Montreal	2	4	2	8

Final	1	2	3	Tot
Ottawa	1	2	0	3
New Jersey	1	2	2	5

Final	1	2	3	Tot
Washington	0	0	3	3
Pittsburgh	0	2	2	4

Final	1	2	3	OT	Tot
Vegas	2	0	1	1	4
Edmonton	1	1	1	0	3

Final	1	2	3	Tot
St. Louis	3	2	1	6
Anaheim	2	0	1	3

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins are winning so much that clinching their division didn’t merit any celebration. Captain Patrice Bergeron didn’t even realize it had happened. The win was the Bruins’ 56th and moves them one behind the club record set in 1970-71. It also keeps them on pace to set the NHL record for victories in a regular season with 10 games left. The Detroit Red Wings won 62 in 1995-96 and Tampa Bay matched it in their final regular-season game (at TD Garden in Boston) in 2018-19.

Detroit Red Wings vs Philadelphia Flyers

*NO PLAYOFF RAMIFICATIONS

Seattle Kraken vs Nashville Predators

Eeli Tolvanen scored twice, Philipp Grubauer made 14 saves and the Seattle Kraken defeated the Nashville Predators 7-2 on Saturday. The Kraken moved to within two points of Edmonton for the Pacific Division lead. The Predators needed a win to stay in contention for a wild-card spot. They are five points out with 11 games remaining.

San Jose Sharks vs Calgary Flames

Led offensively by two guys with Stanley Cup rings, the Calgary Flames kept their faint playoff hopes alive on Saturday. Tyler Toffoli scored two goals and Nazem Kadri notched the game-winner as the Flames won 5-3 over the San Jose Sharks to climb two points closer to a playoff berth.

Winnipeg Jets vs Los Angeles Kings

Todd McLellan isn’t about to get enthused about his Los Angeles Kings squad tying the franchise mark for the longest point streak in franchise history. Playing stout defense though is something the fourth-year coach can get excited about. Not only did the Kings pick up a point in their 11th straight game Saturday afternoon with a 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, but it also extended their streak of allowing two or fewer goals in regulation to 10 games.

New York Rangers vs Florida Panthers

Patrick Kane scored the tie breaking goal early in the third period as the New York Rangers rallied from two goals down to beat the Florida Panthers 4-3 on Saturday. Kaapo Kakko, Alexis Lafreniere and Filip Chytil each had a goal and an assist to help New York win for the eighth time in 10 games. Jaroslav Halak stopped 31 shots to snap a four-game skid (0-2-2) and get his first win since Feb. 11 at Carolina.

Chicago Blackhawks vs Minnesota Wild

Ryan Hartman scored with 1:11 remaining in the third period and the Minnesota Wild beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 on Saturday. Ryan Reaves and Frederick Gaudreau also scored for Minnesota, and Filip Gustavsson made 22 saves in goal. The Wild have points in four straight after their franchise-record 14-game point streak was snapped on March 18. Minnesota started the day a point behind Dallas, who lost to Vancouver, giving the lead to the Wild in the Central Division.

Buffalo Sabres vs New York Islanders

Kyle Okposo scored with 6:30 remaining, Eric Comrie stopped 27 shots for his second career shutout, and the Buffalo Sabres beat the New York Islanders 2-0 on Saturday. Jeff Skinner added an empty-net goal to help Buffalo win its second straight after losing the previous four. The Sabres are four points behind Pittsburgh for the final wild card in the tightly-contested Eastern Conference playoff race with the Penguins hosting Washington on Saturday night.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Carolina Hurricanes

Sebastian Aho scored his team-leading 32nd goal of the season with 2:26 remaining to rescue the Carolina Hurricanes in a 5-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night. Aho’s goal came 32 seconds after Auston Matthews‘ second goal for Toronto tied the game. Teuvo Teravainen added an empty-net goal. Both teams stayed in their respective positions in the standings.

Vancouver Canucks vs Dallas Stars

Brock Boeser scored the go-ahead goal in the second period and the Vancouver Canucks held the Dallas Stars scoreless on four power plays, including one late in the third period, for a 3-1 win Saturday night. Jack Rathbone and Dakota Joshua also scored for Vancouver, which swept the three-game season series against Dallas and has won the past six meetings dating to last season. The last time the Stars beat the Canucks was Nov. 19, 2019, in Dallas. The Stars relinquished first place in the Central with this loss.

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Montreal Canadiens

*NO PLAYOFF RAMIFICATIONS

Ottawa Senators vs New Jersey Devils

Jack Hughes had a goal and an assist, Mackenzie Blackwood had 25 saves and the New Jersey Devils defeated the Ottawa Senators 5-3 and clinched a playoff berth on Saturday night. New Jersey could have clinched its first postseason berth since 2018 with a win, but it happened before their first intermission when the Florida Panthers lost to the New York Rangers in regulation.

Washington Capitals vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Evgeni Malkin beat Darcy Kuemper on a breakaway with 1:20 left in regulation to lift the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Saturday night. Pittsburgh moved three points clear of Florida after the Panthers lost to the Rangers earlier Saturday. Both teams have nine regular-season games left.

Vegas Golden Knights vs Edmonton Oilers

Nicolas Roy scored the winning goal 2:26 in overtime, Jack Eichel had a goal and two assists and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 on Saturday night for their fourth straight victory. Vegas increased their lead in the Pacific to four points over the Kings and seven over the Oilers with this key win.

St. Louis Blues vs Anaheim Ducks

*NO PLAYOFF RAMIFICATIONS

CLICK HERE For NHL Standings as of 3/26/23

That concludes this edition of NHL 2023 Playoff Races. Be sure to catch our next article to stay tuned in with the playoff races. Thanks for reading!