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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
It is a full day of motion across the NHL on Saturday, with 11 video games on the schedule. The drama begins at 12:30 p.m. ET with the Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the New Jersey Devils, and will not finish till the 2 10 p.m. ET video games (Ottawa Senators–Vancouver Canucks and Arizona Coyotes–Los Angeles Kings) are full.
However maybe probably the most intriguing matchups happen in between these bookends: a trio of division leaders taking over fellow playoff contenders, with the Carolina Hurricanes visiting the Florida Panthers, the Toronto Maple Leafs making a house call to the Winnipeg Jets, and the Washington Capitals squaring off in opposition to the host New York Islanders. All three video games start at 7 p.m. ET.
And of these three, we’re most intrigued by the most recent conflict between Barry Trotz’s present crew (the Isles) and his former crew (the Caps). On Thursday, these two had been deadlocked at zero by means of regulation and time beyond regulation, needing a shootout to resolve that the Caps would get the W that night. Tonight’s matchup additionally streams live on ESPN+.
As we enter the ultimate stretch of the common season, it is time to test 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.
Bounce forward:
Current playoff matchups
Race for No. 1 pick
East Division
zero:52
Sam Reinhart scores a trio of targets because the Sabres take down the Bruins at residence 6-Four.
Factors: 64
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: E1
Video games left: 9
Subsequent recreation: @ NYI (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 99.eight%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: E2
Video games left: 9
Subsequent recreation: vs. NJ (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: E3
Video games left: 9
Subsequent recreation: vs. WSH (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 99.2%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 60
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: E4
Video games left: 10
Subsequent recreation: @ PIT (Apr. 25)
Playoff possibilities: 97.1%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 54
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: eight
Subsequent recreation: vs. BUF (Apr. 25)
Playoff possibilities: Three.eight%
Tragic quantity: 11
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 9
Subsequent recreation: vs. NJ (Apr. 25)
Playoff possibilities: zero.1%
Tragic quantity: 7
Factors: 34
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 10
Subsequent recreation: @ PIT (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 33
Regulation wins: 10
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: eight
Subsequent recreation: @ NYR (Apr. 25)
Playoff possibilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Central Division
zero:32
Luke Kunin scores in his third consecutive recreation because the Predators win Three-1.
Factors: 67
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: C1
Video games left: 10
Subsequent recreation: @ FLA (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 65
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: C2
Video games left: eight
Subsequent recreation: vs. CAR (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 64
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: C3
Video games left: 9
Subsequent recreation: vs. CBJ (Apr. 25)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 54
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: C4
Video games left: 7
Subsequent recreation: vs. FLA (Apr. 26)
Playoff possibilities: 61.Four%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 50
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 10
Subsequent recreation: @ DET (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 37.1%
Tragic quantity: 16
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: eight
Subsequent recreation: vs. TB (Apr. 27)
Playoff possibilities: 1.6%
Tragic quantity: 11
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent recreation: vs. DAL (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: 1
Factors: 39
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent recreation: @ TB (Apr. 25)
Playoff possibilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: E
North Division
zero:33
Sean Monahan’s aim all however provides the Flames the win in a Four-2 victory over the Canadiens.
Factors: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N1
Video games left: 9
Subsequent recreation: @ WPG (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N2
Video games left: 10
Subsequent recreation: vs. TOR (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 56
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: N3
Video games left: 11
Subsequent recreation: @ WPG (Apr. 26)
Playoff possibilities: 99.5%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N4
Video games left: 11
Subsequent recreation: @ CGY (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 82.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 43
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 10
Subsequent recreation: vs. MTL (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 12.9%
Tragic quantity: 14
Factors: 39
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 16
Subsequent recreation: vs. OTT (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: Four.9%
Tragic quantity: 22
Factors: 38
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 9
Subsequent recreation: @ VAN (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: 7
West Division
zero:53
Kirill Kaprizov scores a pair of targets because the Wild head on the highway and take down the Kings Four-2.
Factors: 68
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: W1
Video games left: 10
Subsequent recreation: @ ANA (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 66
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: W2
Video games left: 12
Subsequent recreation: @ STL (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 63
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: W3
Video games left: 10
Subsequent recreation: @ SJ (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 45
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: W4
Video games left: 9
Subsequent recreation: @ LA (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 27%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 12
Subsequent recreation: vs. COL (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 45.Three%
Tragic quantity: 23
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 10
Subsequent recreation: vs. MIN (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: eight.2%
Tragic quantity: 16
Factors: 40
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 12
Subsequent recreation: vs. ARI (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: 19.5%
Tragic quantity: 19
Factors: 35
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 9
Subsequent recreation: vs. VGS (Apr. 24)
Playoff possibilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: eight
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 Winnipeg Jets vs. No. Three Edmonton Oilers
West Division
No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. Four Arizona Coyotes
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 crew that finishes in final place is just not assured the No. 1 choice. New for 2021, a crew might 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: 34
Regulation wins: 11
Factors: 35
Regulation wins: 9
Factors: 38
Regulation wins: 13
Factors: 39
Regulation wins: 11
Factors: 39
Regulation wins: 12
Factors: 40
Regulation wins: 15
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 12
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 15
Factors: 43
Regulation wins: 17
Factors: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 50
Regulation wins: 16
Factors: 54
Regulation wins: 21