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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
As the top of April nears, many groups across the NHL are right down to a single-digit variety of video games remaining on the schedule. In different phrases, time is operating out for golf equipment at present on the bubble to make a wonderful run into playoff position. Three such groups chasing that dream will take the ice on Friday night time, within the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and Calgary Flames.
The Blackhawks are three factors behind the No. Four-seeded Nashville Predators, a crew they’ll face tonight at the United Center (streaming live on ESPN+). The unhealthy information is that Nashville leads the season collection 6-1; the excellent news is that the “1” got here Wednesday night time.
Possibilities for a playoff look by the Blueshirts are somewhat slimmer, as they’re eight factors again of the Boston Bruins, and the B’s have two video games in hand. But when such a run is feasible, it will probably have to incorporate a win Friday night time towards the Philadelphia Flyers. Philly is up Four-Three within the season collection towards New York, and tonight’s game (additionally streaming live on ESPN+) is at Madison Sq. Backyard, the place the Flyers won 3-2 on Thursday night time.
For the Flames, it is a home matchup towards the Montreal Canadiens, towards whom they lead the season collection Four-2. Much like the Rangers’ scenario, the Flames are eight factors again of the Habs, so a win tonight is additional vital.
As we enter the ultimate stretch of the common season, it is time to examine in on all of the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place within the 2021 NHL draft lottery.
Be aware: Playoff chances are high through 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:24
David Pastrnak is given an excessive amount of room and he makes the Sabres pay with a objective within the Bruins’ 5-1 win.
Factors: 64
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: E1
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: @ NYI (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: 99.eight%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: E2
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: vs. NJ (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: E3
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: vs. WSH (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: 99.1%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 60
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: E4
Video games left: 11
Subsequent sport: @ BUF (Apr. 23)
Playoff probabilities: 99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 52
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: vs. PHI (Apr. 23)
Playoff probabilities: 2%
Tragic quantity: 11
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 10
Subsequent sport: @ NYR (Apr. 23)
Playoff probabilities: zero.2%
Tragic quantity: 9
Factors: 34
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 10
Subsequent sport: @ PIT (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 31
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: vs. BOS (Apr. 23)
Playoff probabilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Central Division
zero:24
Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas alternate passes earlier than Aho scores the primary of two short-handed targets in Carolina’s Four-2 win over Florida.
Factors: 67
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: C1
Video games left: 10
Subsequent sport: @ FLA (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 65
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: C2
Video games left: eight
Subsequent sport: vs. CAR (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 64
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: C3
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: vs. CBJ (Apr. 25)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 52
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff place: C4
Video games left: eight
Subsequent sport: @ CHI (Apr. 23)
Playoff probabilities: 49.7%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 50
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 10
Subsequent sport: @ DET (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: 43.6%
Tragic quantity: 18
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: vs. NSH (Apr. 23)
Playoff probabilities: 6.7%
Tragic quantity: 15
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: vs. DAL (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: Three
Factors: 39
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: @ TB (Apr. 25)
Playoff probabilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: 1
North Division
zero:21
Auston Matthews matches his jersey quantity along with his 34th objective of the season in Toronto’s 5-Three win over Winnipeg.
Factors: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N1
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: @ WPG (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N2
Video games left: 10
Subsequent sport: vs. TOR (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 56
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: N3
Video games left: 11
Subsequent sport: @ WPG (Apr. 26)
Playoff probabilities: 99.Four%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N4
Video games left: 12
Subsequent sport: @ CGY (Apr. 23)
Playoff probabilities: 88.7%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 11
Subsequent sport: vs. MTL (Apr. 23)
Playoff probabilities: eight.5%
Tragic quantity: 14
Factors: 39
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 16
Subsequent sport: vs. OTT (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: Three.5%
Tragic quantity: 22
Factors: 38
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: @ VAN (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: 7
West Division
zero:33
Andre Burakovsky information two targets within the Avalanche’s Four-2 win over the Blues.
Factors: 68
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: W1
Video games left: 10
Subsequent sport: @ ANA (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 66
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: W2
Video games left: 12
Subsequent sport: @ STL (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 61
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: W3
Video games left: 11
Subsequent sport: @ LA (Apr. 23)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 45
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: W4
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: @ LA (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: 20.2%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 12
Subsequent sport: vs. COL (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: 39.7%
Tragic quantity: 23
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 10
Subsequent sport: vs. MIN (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: 6.Three%
Tragic quantity: 16
Factors: 40
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 13
Subsequent sport: vs. MIN (Apr. 23)
Playoff probabilities: 33.eight%
Tragic quantity: 21
Factors: 35
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: vs. VGS (Apr. 24)
Playoff probabilities: 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 high of the primary spherical, so the crew that finishes in final place shouldn’t be assured the No. 1 choice. New for 2021, a crew 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: 31
Regulation wins: 9
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: 41
Regulation wins: 16
Factors: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 50
Regulation wins: 16
Factors: 52
Regulation wins: 20