How NHL playoff standings could shake out in season’s final week: Saturday’s 16-game slate is big
draft lottery luck in order to select generational talent Connor Bedard.
Breaking down Saturday’s games (all times p.m. ET):
Which games affect NHL milestone chases?
Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks, 4 p.m. ET: Oilers star Connor McDavid needs two points to reach 150 and Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson needs two points to reach 100. No NHL player has had 150 points since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96 and no defenseman has had 100 points since Brian Leetch in 1991-92. Is it possible for McDavid and Karlsson to reach the milestones in the same game? McDavid has averaged 2.5 points vs. the Sharks this season and Karlsson has two points in two games vs. the Oilers.
Follow every game: Latest NHL Scores and Schedules
NHL PLAYOFF BRACKET:Updated league standings, potential first-round matchups
CONNOR BEDARD WATCH: Who has best chance to win draft lottery?
New Jersey Devils at Boston Bruins, 8: The Bruins can tie the NHL record of 62 wins set by the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings and matched by the 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning. The Bruins are 32-4-3 at home and 2-0 vs. the Devils this season, but Boston might be missing Charlie McAvoy and David Krejci. If the Bruins win Saturday, they can break the record Sunday at Philadelphia.
Star Kirill Kaprizov has been cleared to return from a lower-body injury, but Joel Eriksson Ek is now week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
Which games affect the Connor Bedard watch?
Anaheim Ducks at Arizona Coyotes, 5:30 p.m. ET
New York Rangers at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7
Chicago Blackhawks at Seattle Kraken, 10
The Ducks, Blue Jackets and Blackhawks are tied at the bottom of the league with 56 points. Anaheim sits in last place because it has the fewest regulation wins, followed by Columbus and Chicago. The Ducks have lost nine in a row, but their opponent Saturday is in the midst of a nine-game winless streak. Blue Jackets leading scorer Johnny Gaudreau left his last game because of illness. Chicago has lost nine of its last 10 games. Whichever team finishes last has a 25.5% chance of getting the No. 1 overall pick in the May 8 draft lottery.