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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
On Wednesday on this house, we contemplated whether or not any of the West Division groups would spoil a matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche within the second spherical of the playoffs — i.e., the “division championship.”
Based mostly on what we’re seeing recently from the St. Louis Blues, the 2019 Stanley Cup champs are able to make some noise.
The Blues’ newest win — a 4-3 edging of the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday evening — pushes them three factors away from the Arizona Coyotes, with three video games in hand; their playoff possibilities, per Cash Puck, at the moment are at a wholesome 89.2%. Nevertheless it’s not simply the victories themselves, however the model factors too. Two of their latest wins got here in opposition to the mighty Avs.
Although the Wild’s 15-point lead over the Blues at No. three within the standings might be safe, the No. 1 vs. No. Four matchup out West seems it’s going to be much less of a breeze than what many had urged in latest weeks. Minnesota and St. Louis will square off again Thursday night, and again on Saturday (streaming live on ESPN+).
Having reached 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.
Observe: Playoff chances are high through 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: 68
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: E1
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: vs. PIT (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 67
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: E2
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: @ WSH (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: E3
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: @ NYR (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: 95.eight%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 62
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: E4
Video games left: eight
Subsequent sport: vs. BUF (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: 98.three%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 58
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: vs. NYI (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: 5.9%
Tragic quantity: 9
Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: @ NJ (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: three
Factors: 37
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: vs. PHI (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 33
Regulation wins: 10
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: @ BOS (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Central Division
Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: C1
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: vs. DET (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: C2
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: @ CHI (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 68
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: C3
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: vs. DAL (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 56
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: C4
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: vs. DAL (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: 59%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: @ TB (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: 40.three%
Tragic quantity: 12
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: vs. FLA (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: zero.7%
Tragic quantity: 7
Factors: 43
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: @ CAR (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 42
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: @ CAR (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: E
North Division
zero:41
Auston Matthews will increase his league-leading purpose whole to 35 with a fairly one as Toronto clinches a playoff spot with a Four-1 win over Montreal.
Factors: 67
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: N1
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: vs. VAN (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 60
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: N2
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: vs. CGY (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N3
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: @ MTL (Apr. 30)
Playoff possibilities: 99.5%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N4
Video games left: eight
Subsequent sport: vs. WPG (Apr. 30)
Playoff possibilities: 85.2%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 45
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: eight
Subsequent sport: @ EDM (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: 12.9%
Tragic quantity: 10
Factors: 42
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: @ MTL (Might 1)
Playoff possibilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: three
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 13
Subsequent sport: @ TOR (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: 2.5%
Tragic quantity: 16
West Division
zero:32
Max Pacioretty scores a pair of objectives because the Golden Knights beat the Avalanche in a battle of the West Division’s finest.
Factors: 72
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: W1
Video games left: eight
Subsequent sport: @ ARI (Apr. 30)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 66
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: W2
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: vs. SJ (Apr. 30)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 65
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: W3
Video games left: eight
Subsequent sport: vs. STL (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 50
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: W4
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: @ MIN (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: 89.2%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 47
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: vs. VGS (Apr. 30)
Playoff possibilities: 6.5%
Tragic quantity: 9
Factors: 45
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: @ COL (Apr. 30)
Playoff possibilities: 2.6%
Tragic quantity: 9
Factors: 42
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: @ ANA (Apr. 30)
Playoff possibilities: 1.7%
Tragic quantity: 10
Factors: 37
Regulation wins: 10
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: vs. LA (Apr. 30)
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 crew that finishes in final place will not 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: 33
Regulation wins: 10
Factors: 37
Regulation wins: 10
Factors: 37
Regulation wins: 12
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: 45
Regulation wins: 18
Factors: 47
Regulation wins: 17
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Factors: 58
Regulation wins: 23