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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
For those who like intrigue all the way to the end, Wednesday night’s action in the West Division gave you just what you desire.
Both the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche won in lopsided shutouts, which means Thursday night’s game between the Avs and the Los Angeles Kings will determine the No. 1 seed in the West Division as well as the Presidents’ Trophy for the best overall record for the season. The latter title takes on added importance this season, as the final two rounds of the playoffs will involve a re-bracketing of the final four.
The stakes are pretty simple: If the Avalanche get a win of any kind on Thursday, they take the top seed (thanks to tiebreakers). If they lose in regulation, overtime or shootout, the top seed stays with the Golden Knights. The puck drops at 9 p.m. ET, and the game will stream live on ESPN+.
Having reached the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check in on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Money Puck. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta of the NHL.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Race for No. 1 pick
East Division
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: E2
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: E3
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: E4
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 37
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: C4
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 55
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
North Division
0:27
Dominik Kahun scores 27 seconds into overtime as the Oilers top the Canadiens on the road.
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N1
Games left: 1
Next game: @ OTT (May 12)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N2
Games left: 1
Next game: @ MTL (May 12)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N3
Games left: 1
Next game: vs. TOR (May 14)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N4
Games left: 0
Next game: vs. EDM (May 12)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: vs. TOR (May 12)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. VAN (May 13)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: @ CGY (May 13)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
West Division
0:33
Dylan Sikura scores a pair of goals in the third period as the Golden Knights shut out the Sharks 6-0.
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: W1
Games left: 0
Next game: @ SJ (May 12)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: W2
Games left: 1
Next game: vs. LA (May 12)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: W3
Games left: 1
Next game: @ STL (May 12)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: W4
Games left: 1
Next game: vs. MIN (May 12)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Next game: @ COL (May 12)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: vs. VGS (May 12)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 43
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Current playoff matchups
East Division
No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 4 New York Islanders
No. 2 Washington Capitals vs. No. 3 Boston Bruins
Central Division
No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 4 Nashville Predators
No. 2 Florida Panthers vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning
North Division
No. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 4 Montreal Canadiens
No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Winnipeg Jets
West Division
No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 4 St. Louis Blues
No. 2 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 3 Minnesota Wild
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order at the top of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. New for 2021, a team may move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here.
Points: 37
Regulation wins: 11
Points: 43
Regulation wins: 11
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 12
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 16
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 55
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 24