What tonight means for the Anaheim Ducks' playoff race

Anaheim Ducks • Western Pacific • 4-4-0, 8 pts • Scenarios for October 20
Magic # 153
Tragic # 152
Safe tonight

The Anaheim Ducks are 4-4-0, 8 points with a magic number of 153 and a tragic number of 152 — chasing Dallas Stars for a wild card spot.

Tonight they visit New York Islanders.

Nothing is decided for a playoff berth tonight.

Playoff berth

Nothing is decided for a playoff berth tonight.

Elimination

The Anaheim Ducks can't be eliminated tonight; the tragic number is 152 and tonight's games can't bring it to zero.

Clinch

The Anaheim Ducks can't clinch a playoff berth tonight — the magic number is 153 points, more than tonight's games can take off it. The earliest it could happen is 39 games from now.

Games that matter tonight

  • Anaheim Ducks at New York Islanders
  • Boston Bruins at Dallas Stars
  • San Jose Sharks at Montréal Canadiens
  • Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues
  • Carolina Hurricanes at Vancouver Canucks

5 other NHL games with a smaller bearing on this race were left out of the enumeration, so a path that depends on one of them isn't listed. Every path shown is a real guarantee.

Every combination of these results (0 in all) was checked with the same conservative math as the standings page, so each path listed is a mathematical guarantee — no tiebreaker assumptions in your favor. Want the result-by-result version? The rooting guide on the team page shows what each game does to the numbers.

Frequently asked questions

How can the Anaheim Ducks clinch a playoff spot tonight?

The Anaheim Ducks can't clinch a playoff berth tonight — the magic number is 153 points, more than tonight's games can take off it. The earliest it could happen is 39 games from now.

Can the Anaheim Ducks be eliminated tonight?

The Anaheim Ducks can't be eliminated tonight; the tragic number is 152 and tonight's games can't bring it to zero.

What is the Anaheim Ducks magic number right now?

The Anaheim Ducks magic number is 153 and their tragic number is 152.

How are these scenarios calculated?

Every combination of results in the NHL games that bear on the race tonight is enumerated, and the magic and tragic numbers are recomputed in each one with the same conservative math as the standings page. The paths listed are the minimal sets of results that guarantee the outcome no matter how the other games end.

Full guide: how magic numbers work →