The Pittsburgh Steelers were fortunate to clinch a playoff spot so early in the 2024 NFL season. It seemed that after that, the team went on cruise control in all the wrong ways, leading to a four-game losing streak to finish the regular season.
According to ESPN NFL reporter Brooke Pryor, the Steelers are one of only three teams to ever go into the playoffs on a four-game losing streak. The last team to do it before the Steelers was the Detroit Lions in 1999.
In case you were wondering, those 1999 Lions team finished the season 8-8 and lose in the wild card round of the playoffs.
With the 19-17 loss, the Steelers are the third team in NFL history to enter the playoffs on a four-game losing streak. The last team to enter the playoffs on such a streak were the 1999 Detroit Lions.
The Steelers now have to sit back and watch the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers play to determine who their first-round playoff opponent will be.
At the start of the 2024-25 NHL season, some predicted that the Detroit Red Wings — with one of the proudest histories among the league’s 32 clubs — would make their triumphant return to the postseason field.
Although they remain mathematically in the race with less than two weeks to go, their chances are getting slimmer by the day.
Friday night, they’ll host the Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+), with a chance to inch their way closer to the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers, who have been ping-ponging the final wild-card spot back and forth in recent days.
Advertisement
As the games get underway, the Red Wings’ 75 points are six behind both the Canadiens, and their 26 regulation wins are tied with Montreal.
Things only get harder for Dylan Larkin & Co. after the game against the Canes. Their remaining schedule features only games against teams currently in playoff position: the Florida Panthers twice, Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs. Perhaps the teams that have clinched a playoff berth will take a proverbial foot off the gas pedal, but this is not exactly an ideal closing schedule for a team on the outside looking in on the playoffs.
But if the Red Wings are going to make a run, a win on Friday will go a long way (at least emotionally) to rally support. Can they do it?
With the regular season ending April 17, we’ll help you track it all with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide details on all the playoff races, along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Advertisement
Jump ahead: Current playoff matchups Today’s schedule Yesterday’s scores Expanded standings Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Advertisement
Friday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Carolina Hurricanes at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m. Chicago Blackhawks at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu/NHLN) Minnesota Wild at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday’s scoreboard
Montreal Canadiens 4, Boston Bruins 1 Ottawa Senators 2, Tampa Bay Lightning 1 Colorado Avalanche 7, Columbus Blue Jackets 3 St. Louis Blues 5, Pittsburgh Penguins 4 (OT) Dallas Stars 5, Nashville Predators 1 Los Angeles Kings 4, Utah Hockey Club 2 Calgary Flames 4, Anaheim Ducks 1 Winnipeg Jets 4, Vegas Golden Knights 0 Edmonton Oilers 3, San Jose Sharks 2
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 96 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: A1 Games left: 7 Points pace: 105.0 Next game: vs. CBJ (Saturday) Playoff chances: 100% Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95 Regulation wins: 38 Playoff position: P3 Games left: 7 Points pace: 103.9 Next game: vs. EDM (Saturday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93 Regulation wins: 32 Playoff position: P2 Games left: 7 Points pace: 101.7 Next game: @ LA (Saturday) Playoff chances: 99.9% Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84 Regulation wins: 27 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 7 Points pace: 91.8 Next game: vs. VGK (Saturday) Playoff chances: 5.9% Tragic number: 10
Points: 81 Regulation wins: 26 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 7 Points pace: 88.6 Next game: vs. ANA (Saturday) Playoff chances: 0.8% Tragic number: 7
Points: 74 Regulation wins: 23 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 7 Points pace: 80.9 Next game: @ ANA (Saturday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Advertisement
Points: 70 Regulation wins: 26 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 6 Points pace: 75.5 Next game: @ SJ (Saturday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Points: 50 Regulation wins: 14 Playoff position: N/A Games left: 7 Points pace: 54.7 Next game: vs. SEA (Saturday) Playoff chances: 0% Tragic number: E
Note: An “x” means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An “e” means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL’s Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.
Legal support offered to Michigan apartment complex tenants – CBS Detroit
Advertisement
Advertisement
Watch CBS News
Advertisement
As the city of Ypsilanti, Michigan, and the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office continue their lawsuit against the owners of the Arbor One apartments, residents are getting some help from community advocates to make sure they’re not being taken advantage of.
Advertisement
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
