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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
The all-Canadian North Division has been enjoyable to look at in the course of the 2021 NHL season, that includes a number of the NHL’s most historic rivalries which were rejuvenated with a brand new assortment of gamers.
The highest finish of the division seems fairly nicely set proper now, with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets just about locked in to these prime three spots. The Montreal Canadiens — with a 79.Three% probability on the playoffs, per Cash Puck — are presently fourth, and can look to increase their four-point lead over the Calgary Flames on Friday.
Friday’s contest pits the Habs towards the Jets (streaming live on ESPN+), and a win would knock Calgary’s tragic quantity right down to eight. The 2 golf equipment have completed their season sequence already, so there will probably be a number of scoreboard watching within the subsequent two weeks amongst these two fan bases.
Having reached 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.
Word: 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:25
Oliver Wahlstrom nets an influence play objective because the Islanders deal with the Rangers Four-Zero.
Factors: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: E1
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: vs. PIT (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 69
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: E2
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: @ WSH (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 65
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: E3
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: vs. NYR (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: 99.eight%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 64
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: E4
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: vs. BUF (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: 99.eight%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 58
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: @ NYI (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: Zero.Four%
Tragic quantity: 5
Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: vs. NJ (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 39
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: @ PHI (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 33
Regulation wins: 10
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: @ BOS (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Central Division
Zero:31
Lightning’s Ondrej Palat places the puck at the back of the web off the turnover for the primary objective of the sport serving to Tampa Bay take down Dallas Three-Zero.
Factors: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: C1
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: vs. CBJ (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: C2
Video games left: Four
Subsequent sport: @ CHI (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 70
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: C3
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: @ DET (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 56
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: C4
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: vs. DAL (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: 68.6%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: @ NSH (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: 30.7%
Tragic quantity: 10
Factors: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: vs. FLA (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: Zero.7%
Tragic quantity: 6
Factors: 43
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: Four
Subsequent sport: vs. TB (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 42
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: @ CAR (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
North Division
Zero:45
Elias Lindholm scores an early objective within the first interval, then scores once more within the second interval because the Flames go on to down the Oilers on the street Three-1.
Factors: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N1
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: vs. VAN (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 60
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: N2
Video games left: eight
Subsequent sport: vs. CGY (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N3
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: @ MTL (April 30)
Playoff probabilities: 99.Four%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N4
Video games left: eight
Subsequent sport: vs. WPG (April 30)
Playoff probabilities: 79.Three%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 47
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: @ EDM (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: 20.2%
Tragic quantity: 10
Factors: 42
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: @ MTL (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: Three
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 12
Subsequent sport: @ TOR (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: 1.1%
Tragic quantity: 14
West Division
Zero:36
Ryan O’Reilly sneaks by way of on a breakaway to attain the go-ahead additional time objective and seal a 5-Four win towards the Wild.
Factors: 72
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: W1
Video games left: eight
Subsequent sport: @ ARI (April 30)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 66
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: W2
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: vs. SJ (April 30)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 66
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: W3
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: vs. STL (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 52
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: W4
Video games left: eight
Subsequent sport: @ MIN (Might 1)
Playoff probabilities: 94.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 47
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: vs. VGS (April 30)
Playoff probabilities: Three%
Tragic quantity: 7
Factors: 45
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: @ COL (April 30)
Playoff probabilities: 1.Three%
Tragic quantity: 7
Factors: 42
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: @ ANA (April 30)
Playoff probabilities: Zero.9%
Tragic quantity: eight
Factors: 37
Regulation wins: 10
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: vs. LA (April 30)
Playoff probabilities: 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: 42
Regulation wins: 16
Factors: 43
Regulation wins: 15
Factors: 45
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 47
Regulation wins: 17
Factors: 47
Regulation wins: 19
Factors: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Factors: 58
Regulation wins: 23