The NHL's Tuesday Night Showdown: Playoff Implications Abound

With Alex Ovechkin's historic 895th goal now in the record books, the hockey world turns its attention to the thrilling conclusion of the 2024-25 NHL regular season. Tuesday night presents a pivotal slate of 10 games that will significantly impact both playoff positioning and draft lottery odds.

Eastern Conference Battles

Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers (7 PM ET, ESPN)

• Potential playoff preview with Toronto holding a 6-point lead over Florida
• Panthers fighting to maintain wild card position over surging Ottawa
• Matthews vs. Tkachuk: Star power on full display

Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens (7 PM ET, ESPN+)

• Detroit's last gasp for playoff contention, trailing Montreal by 6 points
• Habs looking to solidify final wild card spot in the East

Carolina Hurricanes at Buffalo Sabres (7 PM ET, ESPN+)

• Carolina jockeying for Metro Division positioning
• Buffalo's recent 7-3-0 stretch improving their draft lottery standing

Western Conference Clashes

Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche (9:30 PM ET, ESPN)

• Potential Western Conference Finals preview
• Both teams loaded with playoff experience and star talent
• Nathan MacKinnon vs. Jack Eichel center ice duel

Vancouver Canucks at Dallas Stars (8 PM ET, ESPN+)

• Vancouver faces must-win scenario trailing Minnesota by 8 points
• Dallas battling Winnipeg for Central Division supremacy

Draft Lottery Implications

The night also features several games with significant implications for the 2025 NHL Draft:

• Chicago at Pittsburgh: Blackhawks chasing San Jose for top lottery odds
• Seattle at Utah: Both teams in the mix for better draft positioning

Updated Playoff Picture

Current projected first-round matchups:

Eastern Conference

• Toronto (A1) vs. Ottawa (WC1)
• Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Florida (A3)
• Washington (M1) vs. Montreal (WC2)
• Carolina (M2) vs. New Jersey (M3)

Western Conference

• Winnipeg (C1) vs. Minnesota (WC2)
• Dallas (C2) vs. Colorado (C3)
• Vegas (P1) vs. St. Louis (WC1)
• Los Angeles (P2) vs. Edmonton (P3)

What to Watch For

1. Toronto's Atlantic Division lead - Can they extend their 4-point advantage over Tampa Bay?
2. Ottawa's hot streak - The Senators have allowed 0 goals in last 2 games
3. Colorado's defense - How will they handle Vegas's balanced attack?
4. Goalie matchups - Several games feature elite netminders facing off

With just over a week remaining in the regular season, every point matters in both the playoff race and draft lottery positioning. Tuesday night's action will go a long way in determining which teams will be playing into late April - and which will be turning their attention to offseason plans.