Super 16: Remaining schedules of playoff contenders examined down stretch

There are 122 games remaining in a regular season that features 1,312, and it feels like everything is still up for grabs in the races for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Only two teams have clinched with 30 of 32 still mathematically alive.

The next week should determine a lot, or it could simply just muddy the waters even more before we get to the final week of the regular season, which ends April 16. 

Don't fear, though, because, as always, the Super 16 is here to give you, the reader, a look at what's ahead to prepare you for these final 14 nights of games in the NHL (there are no games April 10) before the best postseason in all of professional sports begins.

The remaining schedule of each team ranked this week is examined by our expert staff of writers and editors, showcasing the path ahead, including marquee games, for all 16 teams.

As always, to come up with the Super 16, the 15 voters this week put together their own version of what they think the rankings should look like and a point total was assigned to each, with the team selected first given 16 points, second 15, third 14, and so on.

Here is the what lies ahead the rest of the way edition of the Super 16:

1. Colorado Avalanche (49-15-10)

Total points: 238
Last week: No. 1

"They have eight games left, including against the Dallas Stars on Saturday. Five of their remaining games are against teams that are not in a playoff position. They are likely going to win the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice throughout the playoffs but need to stay healthy. They got a scare this week when all-world defenseman Cale Makar sustained an upper-body injury against the Calgary Flames on Monday. Coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday that Makar is going to be OK but will miss some time. It seems the only thing that could derail the Avalanche right now is injuries." -- Bill Price, NHL.com Editor-in-Chief 

2. Buffalo Sabres (46-21-8)

Total points: 218
Last week: No. 3

"Of the Sabres' remaining seven games, two jump off the page. The first is a visit to the Canadian Tire Centre against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday and potentially a chance to clinch their first playoff berth since 2011. Coach Lindy Ruff would covet seeing his team punch its ticket into the postseason as early as possible in order to prepare sooner than later for the Eastern Conference First Round. Not to be outdone is a date with Atlantic Division rival Tampa Bay Lightning at KeyBank Center on Monday. Remember the previous time these two played in Buffalo on March 8? In what arguably was the best game of the NHL season, the teams combined for 15 goals and 102 penalty minutes in an 8-7 Sabres win. I can't wait to see what they have in store for an encore." -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

3. Carolina Hurricanes (47-21-6)

Total points: 211
Last week: No. 4

"Carolina isn't in jeopardy of losing its grip on the top seed in the Metropolitan Division, but there's plenty of interest in potentially earning home-ice advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs. They're tied in points with the Sabres in the East with three home games and five left on the road. Seven of those eight games are against teams in the playoff hunt, including home to the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders and Boston Bruins, and at the Senators, Utah Mammoth, Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Islanders. It's time to get down to business." -- Mike G. Morreale, senior draft writer

4. Dallas Stars (44-19-12)

Total points: 196
Last week: No. 2

"The Stars are slumping, but with a cushion. They're eight points behind the first-place Avalanche in the Central Division with seven games to play and 1-4-2 in their past seven games, which has seriously diminished their chances of winning the division. The Avalanche have two games in hand, but the Stars are still six points ahead of the third-place Minnesota Wild, so they look fairly locked into second place and playing the Wild in the Western Conference First Round. Before getting there, the Stars need to get going in the right direction again. The good news is they're home for their next five games. They're 22-10-4 at American Airlines Center but the schedule is hard. They play the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, and the Jets have clawed back into the race and have a lot to play for. The Avalanche visit Dallas on Saturday and the Wild are in town next Thursday in a likely playoff preview. Then it eases with games against the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs before they finish in Buffalo. Dallas is in a good spot but needs a good finish to feel good going into the playoffs." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

5. Tampa Bay Lightning (46-22-6)

Total points: 175
Last week: No. 5

"Tampa Bay will be tested down the stretch. The Lightning have eight games left. Five are against teams holding playoff spots and two fighting for one. They don't play a team out of the playoff picture until their finale against the Rangers on April 15. The toughest stretch is a four-game road trip to Buffalo, Ottawa, the Montreal Canadiens and Bruins from April 6-11. The first two games are back to back." -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist 

6. Montreal Canadiens (43-21-10)

Total points: 173
Last week: No. 7

"In April, the Canadiens will play four games in Montreal and four more on the road but face five teams that right now are not in a playoff position. Technically, they have a fairly easy schedule with a back to back against the New Jersey Devils, one against the Rangers, and one against the Florida Panthers. The biggest game will be against the Lightning on April 9, which could decide who wins the Atlantic Division. There is a three-way race for first place with the Sabres, Lightning and Canadiens." -- Jean-Francois Chaumont, LNH.com senior writer

7. Minnesota Wild (41-21-12)

Total points: 143
Last week: No. 6

"The Wild have eight games remaining, three at home and five on the road, although they have almost identical records at and away from Grand Casino Arena. Only three are against teams holding a playoff spot: the Stars, Nashville Predators and Anaheim Ducks. At six points back of the Stars for second in the Central, the Wild could overtake them, especially if they can defeat them in regulation in their remaining head-to-head game in Dallas on April 9. At this point, they are playing for home-ice advantage in a potential first-round series against the Stars, which is almost a locked-in matchup." -- David Satriano, staff writer

8. Boston Bruins (43-24-8)

Total points: 138
Last week: No. 9

"After yet another massive win, this time against the Stars on Tuesday, the Bruins headed out on what once seemed to be a daunting road trip. But with their recent play, including four straight wins against teams in the playoff picture (Buffalo, Minnesota, Columbus and Dallas), the remainder of their season doesn't look quite as bad. They do play five of their last seven games on the road, with games at the Lightning, Hurricanes and Blue Jackets, plus the surging Philadelphia Flyers, but have seen far better results away from TD Garden in the past three weeks and are riding high in terms of confidence. It's not an easy way to finish out the schedule, but the Bruins have solidified their playoff spot of late and feel like they can defeat anyone right now, no matter the opponent." -- Amalie Benjamin, senior writer

9. Pittsburgh Penguins (38-21-16)

Total points: 118
Last week: No. 10

"After making it through arguably the toughest part of their schedule, the Penguins appear to be in good shape with seven games left. Their game at the Lightning on Thursday is the lone remaining matchup with a team that's in a playoff spot. They visit the two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers on Saturday and Sunday, but the Panthers are depleted by injuries. They also play a home-and-home series against the Washington Capitals, who are hanging around on the edge playoff race, on April 11 and 12. Still, those two sets of back-to-back games might be the toughest remaining challenges in their quest to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2022." -- Tom Gulitti, senior writer

10. Anaheim Ducks (41-29-5)

Total points: 96
Last week: No. 12

"The schedule suggests that the Ducks should hold on to win their first Pacific title since the 2016-17 season. They have a two-point lead on the Edmonton Oilers. Of their seven remaining games, five are at home and only one is against a firmly established playoff team, on the road against the Wild in the penultimate game of the season. Before they get to that point, Anaheim plays the St. Louis Blues (four points out of a playoff spot), Calgary Flames (eight points out), Predators (one point out), San Jose Sharks (one point out) and the last-place Vancouver Canucks (26 points out) before finishing against Minnesota and Nashville, this time on the road. The Ducks couldn't ask for a better road to the No. 2 seed in the West." -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

11. Columbus Blue Jackets (38-25-12)

Total points: 80
Last week: No. 8

"The Blue Jackets are staring down one of the toughest closing stretches in the League, and it comes at the worst possible time. They have dropped four in a row (0-3-1) and five of six (1-4-1), their first real skid under coach Rick Bowness, and there is no soft landing ahead. Every one of their final seven opponents is either safely in a playoff spot and pushing for seeding or right in the middle of the race. Road games in Carolina, Detroit, Buffalo and Montreal, with Winnipeg, Boston and Washington visiting Columbus, doesn't help. The Blue Jackets still hold the second wild card, but the margin is razor thin. The Flyers, Senators and Detroit Red Wings are all two points back with a game in hand. From here on out, anything less than matching those teams stride for stride will cost the Blue Jackets their spot." -- Paul Strizhevsky, staff writer

12. New York Islanders (42-29-5)

Total points: 68
Last week: No. 13

"The Islanders have hit a speed bump on their path to the playoffs with back-to-back regulation losses, and they have another back-to-back set Friday and Saturday with a home game against the Flyers before visiting Carolina. They received help Tuesday to remain third in the Metropolitan, and five of their remaining six regular-season games will be played at home. Three are against teams outside of playoff position (Philadelphia on Friday, Toronto on April 9 and Ottawa on April 11). New York is 21-13-2 at UBS Arena, and it will need to be at its best -- a far cry from what we saw in an 8-3 loss to Pittsburgh on Monday. Even with the Maple Leafs all but out of the race, there is talent on the roster. The Flyers and Senators are still very much alive. Translation: There are no easy games and it's on the Islanders to be better in their own end and find a way into the postseason." -- Brian Compton, managing editor 

13. Edmonton Oilers (38-28-9)

Total points: 62
Last week: No. 15

"The Oilers control their own playoff fate with seven games remaining. They have four against Pacific Division opponents and three against teams holding playoff positions. Edmonton hosts the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, then travel to face the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday, the Sharks on Wednesday and Los Angeles Kings on April 11. The Oilers will close out the season by hosting the Avalanche on April 13 and Canucks on April 16. They have four games against non-playoff teams in Chicago, San Jose, Los Angeles and Vancouver. They're on a four-game winning streak for the first time this season after a 3-0 victory against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday, and two points behind the Ducks." -- Derek Van Diest, staff writer 

14. Ottawa Senators (38-26-10)

Total points: 32
Last week: No. 11

"The Senators have hit a rough patch with three straight losses and there are questions about their defense and goaltending holding up. They're also two points out of a wild-card spot in the East with eight games to play, so they are right in the mix. The problem is the next four games will be like trying to skate through a gauntlet. Ottawa faces Buffalo, Minnesota, Carolina and Tampa Bay in the next six days, including a back-to-back set against the Wild and Hurricanes this weekend. Survive that and the rest of the schedule looks promising with games against the Panthers, Islanders, Devils and Maple Leafs. The Panthers defeated the Senators 6-3 on Tuesday, an indication that this won't be easy, but let's see what the Senators look like after the next four games." -- Rosen

15. Philadelphia Flyers (37-25-12)

Total points: 28
Last week: Not ranked

"If the Flyers are able to reach the playoffs, they will have earned it with a stretch that sees them play six of their final eight games against teams holding a playoff spot, plus one at the Jets, who are one point out of the second wild card in the West -- all in a span of 13 days. They have two sets of a back-to-back games, including at home against the Red Wings on Thursday and at the Islanders on Friday. And they close the season with a back to back against the Hurricanes and Canadiens. And with the Flyers having just 23 regulation wins, tied for the second-fewest in the Eastern Conference, they won't be able to depend on any tiebreakers to help them." -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

16. Utah Mammoth (38-30-6)

Total points: 25
Last week: No. 14

"The Mammoth are in good shape in the playoff race. They're in the first wild-card spot, four points ahead of the Kings, who hold the second one. They visit Seattle on Thursday after a four-day break, which isn't a bad thing heading into the last stretch of the season. They'll face teams fighting for a playoff spot, including the Kraken, Predators and Jets. That should keep the Mammoth on their toes through mid-April. Five of those games will also be at Delta Center, where the Mammoth are 19-14-3 this season." -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

Dropped out from last week: Detroit Red Wings (No. 16)

Others receiving points: Vegas Golden Knights 20, Washington Capitals 8, Red Wings 8, Nashville Predators 2, Winnipeg Jets 1

HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

AMALIE BENJAMIN

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Buffalo Sabres; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Montreal Canadiens; 7. Boston Bruins; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Anaheim Ducks; 10. Pittsburgh Penguins; 11. Columbus Blue Jackets; 12. New York Islanders; 13. Edmonton Oilers; 14. Utah Mammoth; 15. Ottawa Senators; 16. Vegas Golden Knights

JEAN-FRANCOIS CHAUMONT

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Buffalo Sabres; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Montreal Canadiens; 7. Minnesota Wild; 8. Boston Bruins; 9. Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. Columbus Blue Jackets; 11. Edmonton Oilers; 12. Anaheim Ducks; 13. Utah Mammoth; 14. Vegas Golden Knights; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Ottawa Senators

BRIAN COMPTON

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Buffalo Sabres; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Montreal Canadiens; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Boston Bruins; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. Anaheim Ducks; 11. Columbus Blue Jackets; 12. Edmonton Oilers; 13. Ottawa Senators; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Philadelphia Flyers; 16. Washington Capitals

NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Buffalo Sabres; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Montreal Canadiens; 7. Boston Bruins; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. New York Islanders; 11. Columbus Blue Jackets; 12. Anaheim Ducks; 13. Detroit Red Wings; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Philadelphia Flyers; 16. Edmonton Oilers

TOM GULITTI

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Buffalo Sabres; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Montreal Canadiens; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Boston Bruins; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. Columbus Blue Jackets; 11. Anaheim Ducks; 12. New York Islanders; 13. Edmonton Oilers; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Detroit Red Wings; 16. Philadelphia Flyers

ADAM KIMELMAN

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Buffalo Sabres; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Minnesota Wild; 7. Montreal Canadiens; 8. Anaheim Ducks; 9. Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. Edmonton Oilers; 11. Boston Bruins; 12. New York Islanders; 13. Vegas Golden Knights; 14. Utah Mammoth; 15. Columbus Blue Jackets; 16. Philadelphia Flyers

MIKE G. MORREALE

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Buffalo Sabres; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Montreal Canadiens; 6. Boston Bruins; 7. Tampa Bay Lightning; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Columbus Blue Jackets; 10. Pittsburgh Penguins; 11. New York Islanders; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. Edmonton Oilers; 14. Anaheim Ducks; 15. Washington Capitals; 16. Philadelphia Flyers

TRACEY MYERS 

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Buffalo Sabres; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Montreal Canadiens; 7. Minnesota Wild; 8. Boston Bruins; 9. Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. New York Islanders; 11. Columbus Blue Jackets; 12. Anaheim Ducks; 13. Edmonton Oilers; 14. Utah Mammoth; 15. Vegas Golden Knights; 16. Philadelphia Flyers

BILL PRICE

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Buffalo Sabres; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Montreal Canadiens; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Minnesota Wild; 8. Boston Bruins; 9. Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. Anaheim Ducks; 11. Columbus Blue Jackets; 12. Edmonton Oilers; 13. Vegas Golden Knights; 14. Utah Mammoth; 15. New York Islanders; 16. Nashville Predators

SHAWN P. ROARKE 

1. Buffalo Sabres; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Colorado Avalanche; 4. Tampa Bay Lightning; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Anaheim Ducks; 7. Minnesota Wild; 8. Montreal Canadiens; 9. Boston Bruins; 10. Philadelphia Flyers; 11. Pittsburgh Penguins; 12. Columbus Blue Jackets; 13. Utah Mammoth; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Edmonton Oilers; 16. Nashville Predators

DAN ROSEN

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Buffalo Sabres; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Montreal Canadiens; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Boston Bruins; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. Edmonton Oilers; 11. Anaheim Ducks; 12. New York Islanders; 13. Philadelphia Flyers; 14. Utah Mammoth; 15. Columbus Blue Jackets; 16. Ottawa Senators

DAVID SATRIANO

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Buffalo Sabres; 4. Montreal Canadiens; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Minnesota Wild; 8. Boston Bruins; 9. Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. Anaheim Ducks; 11. New York Islanders; 12. Philadelphia Flyers; 13. Columbus Blue Jackets; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Washington Capitals; 16. Edmonton Oilers

PAUL STRIZHEVSKY

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Carolina Hurricanes; 3. Buffalo Sabres; 4. Montreal Canadiens; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Boston Bruins; 8. Pittsburgh Penguins; 9. Minnesota Wild; 10. Anaheim Ducks; 11. Columbus Blue Jackets; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. Philadelphia Flyers; 14. Washington Capitals; 15. Edmonton Oilers; 16. Detroit Red Wings

DEREK VAN DIEST

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Buffalo Sabres; 3. Carolina Hurricanes; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Montreal Canadiens; 6. Tampa Bay Lightning; 7. Minnesota Wild; 8. Pittsburgh Penguins; 9. Boston Bruins; 10. New York Islanders; 11. Columbus Blue Jackets; 12. Ottawa Senators; 13. Anaheim Ducks; 14. Edmonton Oilers; 15. Vegas Golden Knights; 16. Detroit Red Wings

MIKE ZEISBERGER

1. Colorado Avalanche; 2. Dallas Stars; 3. Buffalo Sabres; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Tampa Bay Lightning; 6. Montreal Canadiens; 7. Minnesota Wild; 8. Boston Bruins; 9. Pittsburgh Penguins; 10. Edmonton Oilers; 11. Anaheim Ducks; 12. New York Islanders; 13. Vegas Golden Knights; 14. Columbus Blue Jackets; 15. Utah Mammoth; 16. Winnipeg Jets