-
Tim KavanaghESPN.com
With the tip of the season approaching, the NHL has supplied us a deal with: Saturday’s schedule includes 15 games — everybody however the Winnipeg Jets will probably be in motion — together with numerous matchups on which we’ll be maintaining a detailed look ahead to playoff ramifications.
The New York Rangers‘ playoff hopes are nonetheless flickering, and so they can put extra gasoline on that fireside with a win in their game towards the New York Islanders. The Isles will probably be additional motivated as a result of that is the ultimate time these two rivals will play at Nassau Coliseum earlier than the membership moves to UBS Arena for 2021-22. Elsewhere within the East, the No. 1-seeded Washington Capitals will host the No. 2-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins for the ultimate recreation of their season collection. Each golf equipment have clinched a playoff berth, however stay in competition for that prime spot.
The critical matchup in the Central today pits the Nashville Predators towards the Dallas Stars (streaming live on ESPN+). Dallas is 2 factors behind Nashville for the ultimate postseason slot, and desires the win to tie the season collection for tiebreaker functions down the road as nicely.
The Calgary Flames‘ playoff possibilities took successful on Friday evening with the Montreal Canadiens‘ win over the Jets, and so they’ll hope to make up some floor within the final game of the 2021 Battle of Alberta collection. The host Edmonton Oilers lead the collection 5-Four.
Within the West, we’re getting near do-or-die time for groups chasing the St. Louis Blues for the No. Four spot. The Blues themselves will take on the No. Three-seeded Minnesota Wild (streaming live on ESPN+), whereas the Arizona Coyotes host the Vegas Golden Knights and the San Jose Sharks visit the Colorado Avalanche.
Having reached the ultimate stretch of the common season, it is time to verify in on all of the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place within the 2021 NHL draft lottery.
Word: Playoff likelihood is by way of Money Puck. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta of the NHL.
Soar forward:
Current playoff matchups
Race for No. 1 pick
East Division
Factors: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: E1
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: vs. PIT (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 69
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: E2
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: @ WSH (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 65
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: E3
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: vs. NYR (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 99.7%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 64
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: E4
Video games left: 7
Subsequent recreation: vs. BUF (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 99.eight%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 58
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: @ NYI (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: Zero.5%
Tragic quantity: 5
Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: vs. NJ (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 39
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ PHI (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 33
Regulation wins: 10
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: @ BOS (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Central Division
Factors: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: C1
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: vs. CBJ (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: C2
Video games left: Four
Subsequent recreation: @ CHI (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 70
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: C3
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ DET (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 56
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: C4
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: vs. DAL (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 68.Four%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ NSH (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 31%
Tragic quantity: 10
Factors: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: vs. FLA (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: Zero.6%
Tragic quantity: 6
Factors: 43
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: Four
Subsequent recreation: vs. TB (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 42
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: @ CAR (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
North Division
Zero:49
The Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki scores within the first interval, then provides the eventual recreation winner within the third, serving to Montreal take down Winnipeg 5-Three.
Factors: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N1
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: vs. VAN (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 60
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: N2
Video games left: eight
Subsequent recreation: vs. CGY (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N3
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ OTT (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 98.Four%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 53
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N4
Video games left: 7
Subsequent recreation: vs. OTT (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 86.Three%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 47
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent recreation: @ EDM (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 14.6%
Tragic quantity: eight
Factors: 42
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ MTL (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: 1
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 12
Subsequent recreation: @ TOR (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: Zero.eight%
Tragic quantity: 12
West Division
Zero:49
Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar every rating power-play targets within the first interval, main the Avalanche to a Three-Zero win over the Sharks.
Factors: 72
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: W1
Video games left: 7
Subsequent recreation: @ ARI (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 68
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff place: W2
Video games left: eight
Subsequent recreation: vs. SJ (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 66
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: W3
Video games left: 7
Subsequent recreation: vs. STL (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 52
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: W4
Video games left: eight
Subsequent recreation: @ MIN (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 90.6%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: vs. VGS (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 7.Three%
Tragic quantity: 7
Factors: 45
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ COL (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: Zero.Four%
Tragic quantity: 5
Factors: 44
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: eight
Subsequent recreation: @ ANA (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 1.7%
Tragic quantity: eight
Factors: 37
Regulation wins: 10
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: vs. LA (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Present playoff matchups
East Division
No. 1 Washington Capitals vs. No. Four Boston Bruins
No. 2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. Three New York Islanders
Central Division
No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. Four Nashville Predators
No. 2 Florida Panthers vs. No. Three Tampa Bay Lightning
North Division
No. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. Four Montreal Canadiens
No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. Three Winnipeg Jets
West Division
No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. Four St. Louis Blues
No. 2 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. Three Minnesota Wild
Race for the No. 1 decide
The NHL makes use of a draft lottery to find out the order on the prime of the primary spherical, so the staff that finishes in final place isn’t assured the No. 1 choice. New for 2021, a staff could transfer up a most of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so solely 11 groups are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 decide. Full details on the process can be found here.
Factors: 33
Regulation wins: 10
Factors: 37
Regulation wins: 10
Factors: 39
Regulation wins: 13
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Factors: 42
Regulation wins: 11
Factors: 42
Regulation wins: 15
Factors: 43
Regulation wins: 15
Factors: 44
Regulation wins: 17
Factors: 45
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 47
Regulation wins: 19
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 18
Factors: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Factors: 58
Regulation wins: 23