Those rooting for Canadian NHL teams will experience some odd bumps in the momentum down the stretch of the end of the 2022-2023 NHL season. Open dates for makeup games, though not as much of a concern in 2023 as it was in 2021 and 2022.
No NHL team plays on April 7 (Friday). April 3 (Monday) has 3 NHL games, none of them involving Canadian teams. April 9 (Sunday) has 2 NHL games, none of them involving Canadian teams. April 14 (Friday) has 2 NHL games, none of them involving Canadian teams.
Every Canadian team except for Calgary plays on April 13, the final day for Canadian NHL teams.
We circled April 5 for Calgary @ Winnipeg at 7:30 pm Eastern as part of Wednesday Night Hockey on Rogers Sportsnet. An all-Canadian matchup that could be a huge factor as to whether those Canadian teams sneak into the wild card race in the Campbell Conference (Western).
Calgary leads the league in one-goal losses. That hasn't helped the Flames playoff chances. The Flames would be in better shape if Calgary had converted 6 of those 15 overtime or shootout losses.
Toronto has clinched a playoff spot and hopes to hang on to the #2 seed. The Maple Leafs are currently 44-20-10 for 98 points. Toronto is 4 points ahead of Tampa Bay and the Leafs have 2 more games to play.
Ottawa has a very outside chance. Think Rich Strike at 80-1 to win the 2022 Kentucky Derby. The Senators sit at 37-33-5 for 79 points, 5 points behind the second wild card.
Edmonton (44-23-9 for 97 points) jumped into second place Thursday night, a point ahead of Los Angeles and 2 points behind Las Vegas. The other 2 teams have an extra game on Edmonton.
"We've got six games to go and every single one is a huge one."
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 1, 2023
It was the perfect start to a critical five-game home stand, @MitchellClinton writes (in his final recap as a verified twitter user) ✅
The 4-way Campbell | Western battle for the 2 wild card spots is with Seattle, Calgary, Winnipeg, and Nashville. Many in the NHL will root for the Kraken to make the Stanley Cup playoffs; Calgary and Winnipeg fans will be the exceptions.
The Kraken may be too far out in front to catch for the top wild card spot. Calgary is in Winnipeg on April 5. Nashville is in Winnipeg (8) and Calgary (10). Here are the up to date standings for that wild card spot.
Western Conference wild card standings
| Team | Record | Points | Games Remaining |
| Seattle | 41-25-8 | 90 | 8 |
| Winnipeg | 42-31-3 | 87 | 6 |
| Calgary | 35-26-15 | 85 | 6 |
| Nashville | 37-29-8 | 82 | 8 |
Montréal will not make the playoffs. Vancouver is out, not officially but very soon.
Despite being virtually eliminated, the Canucks have a home-and-home with Los Angeles (to help Edmonton), hosts Seattle (to help Calgary and Winnipeg), and hosts Calgary (to help Winnipeg).
Here are the number of games remaining for each Canadian NHL team:
8 — Toronto // 7 — Ottawa; Vancouver // 6 — Calgary; Edmonton; Montréal; Winnipeg
Here is the end of the regular schedule for the Canadian teams in the 2022-2023 NHL season.
Saturday, April 1
Carolina @ Montréal, 7p
Toronto @ Ottawa, 7p
Anaheim @ Edmonton, 10p
Sunday, April 2
Ottawa @ Columbus, 6p
New Jersey @ Winnipeg, 7p
Detroit @ Toronto, 7p
Los Angeles @ Vancouver, 8p
Anaheim @ Calgary, 8p
Tuesday, April 4
Columbus @ Toronto, 7p
Detroit @ Montréal, 7p
Ottawa @ Carolina, 7p
Chicago @ Calgary, 9p
Seattle @ Vancouver, 10p
Edmonton @ Los Angeles, 10:30p
Wednesday, April 5
Calgary @ Winnipeg, 7:30p
Edmonton @ Anaheim, 10p
Thursday, April 6
Ottawa @ Florida, 7p
Toronto @ Boston, 7p
Washington @ Montréal, 7p
Chicago @ Vancouver, 10p
Saturday, April 8
Edmonton @ San Jose, 4p
Nashville @ Winnipeg, 7p
Montréal @ Toronto, 7p
Tampa Bay @ Ottawa, 7p
Calgary @ Vancouver, 10p
Monday, April 10
San Jose @ Winnipeg, 7p
Carolina @ Ottawa, 7p
Toronto @ Florida, 7p
Nashville @ Calgary, 9:30p
Vancouver @ Los Angeles, 10:30p
Tuesday, April 11
Toronto @ Tampa Bay, 7p
Winnipeg @ Minnesota, 8p
Edmonton @ Colorado, 9:30p
Vancouver @ Anaheim, 10p
Wednesday, April 12
Montréal @ NY Islanders, 7p
San Jose @ Calgary, 10p
Thursday, April 13
Boston @ Montréal, 7p
Ottawa @ Buffalo, 7p
Toronto @ NY Rangers, 7p
San Jose @ Edmonton, 9p
Winnipeg @ Colorado, 9p
Vancouver @ Arizona, 10p
NHL the month in preview April 2023
On the U.S. side, we note a few telecasts down the stretch on various platforms. ESPN+ will carry any game that isn't listed. Some of those games should be covered on a NHL Center Ice free preview. Though we didn't have a late season NHL Center Ice free preview in 2022.
On the Canadian side, Rogers Sportsnet has quite a few games on top of the final 2 Hockey Night in Canada evenings. NHL games may shift outlets since the MLB season started on Thursday.
CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage
As we noted, voting is currently underway for the 2023 Kraft Hockeyville contest until 5 pm EDT. The announcement will be made tonight on Hockey Night in Canada.
The Kraft Hockeyville finalists are Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Ste. Anne, Manitoba, West Lorne, Ontario, and Saint-Anselme, Quebec.
The 2022 winner (Sydney, Nova Scotia) will likely have its preseason game in the fall along with the 2023 winner.
photo credit: NHL
Twitter capture: @NHLJets
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