Sat Apr 12 09:30:00 UTC 2025: ## NHL Playoffs Approaching: Final Seeds and Draft Lottery Positions Up for Grabs
**New York, NY** – With just a week until the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on April 19th, the final playoff picture and draft lottery order remain fiercely contested. Several crucial matchups on Friday will determine the final standings.
The Ottawa Senators have secured a playoff berth but are battling the Florida Panthers for the Atlantic Division’s third seed. Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens are vying for the second wild-card spot, with a chance to overtake the Senators.
In the Atlantic Division, the Tampa Bay Lightning are chasing the Toronto Maple Leafs for first place, while the Detroit Red Wings face a long shot for the playoffs but are fighting for a better draft lottery position. The Pittsburgh Penguins, also out of the playoff race, are looking to improve their draft lottery standing.
Out West, the Edmonton Oilers need just one more point to clinch a playoff spot, but are aiming for a higher seed. The San Jose Sharks, meanwhile, are focused on securing the top spot in the draft lottery. The Calgary Flames are desperately fighting for a wild-card berth in their game against the Minnesota Wild.
Friday’s key matchups include:
* Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
* Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
* Pittsburgh Penguins at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network)
* San Jose Sharks at Edmonton Oilers (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
* Minnesota Wild at Calgary Flames (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
The regular season concludes on April 17th, setting the stage for the playoffs and the 2025 NHL draft lottery. The lottery will determine the draft order for the teams that missed the playoffs, with the last-place team not guaranteed the first overall pick.
First Piper 