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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
There have been many surprises through the 2021 NHL season, a marketing campaign that has been fairly totally different than ordinary due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, one actuality on April 28 that shocks nobody is that the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche are preventing for place atop the West Division standings.
Wednesday night’s contest is the seventh of eight within the season collection, with every crew successful three video games to this point and the Avs holding a 13-12 edge in whole targets. The Golden Knights have a four-point edge within the standings heading into the competition, however the Avs have a sport in hand on the schedule, and one further regulation win to this point.
The 2 groups meet again on May 10 — and will very effectively be those going through off within the West Division finals come playoff time as effectively.
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.
Be aware: Playoff likelihood is 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:32
Taylor Corridor will get by Sidney Crosby then lights the lamp within the Bruins’ Three-1 win over the Penguins.
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: 95.6%
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: 6.1%
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
zero:19
The Panthers rally to win with a giant third interval, together with Frank Vatrano’s go-ahead aim, as Florida clinches a playoff spot with a 7-Four win over Nashville.
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 (Could 1)
Playoff possibilities: 58.5%
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.eight%
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 (Could 1)
Playoff possibilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: E
North Division
Factors: 65
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: N1
Video games left: eight
Subsequent sport: @ MTL (Apr. 28)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 58
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N2
Video games left: 10
Subsequent sport: @ WPG (Apr. 28)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N3
Video games left: eight
Subsequent sport: vs. EDM (Apr. 28)
Playoff possibilities: 99.6%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N4
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: vs. TOR (Apr. 28)
Playoff possibilities: 89.Three%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 45
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: eight
Subsequent sport: @ EDM (Apr. 29)
Playoff possibilities: eight.5%
Tragic quantity: 10
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 14
Subsequent sport: @ OTT (Apr. 28)
Playoff possibilities: 2.7%
Tragic quantity: 18
Factors: 40
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: vs. VAN (Apr. 28)
Playoff possibilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: Three
West Division
Factors: 70
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: W1
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: vs. COL (Apr. 28)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 66
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: W2
Video games left: 10
Subsequent sport: @ VGS (Apr. 28)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 65
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: W3
Video games left: 9
Subsequent sport: vs. STL (Apr. 28)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 48
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: W4
Video games left: 10
Subsequent sport: @ MIN (Apr. 28)
Playoff possibilities: 68.7%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 47
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: @ SJ (Apr. 28)
Playoff possibilities: 21.Four%
Tragic quantity: 13
Factors: 43
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: eight
Subsequent sport: vs. ARI (Apr. 28)
Playoff possibilities: Three%
Tragic quantity: 11
Factors: 42
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 10
Subsequent sport: vs. ANA (Apr. 28)
Playoff possibilities: 6.9%
Tragic quantity: 14
Factors: 35
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: @ LA (Apr. 28)
Playoff possibilities: zero%
Tragic quantity: 1
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 choose
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 isn’t 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 choose. Full details on the process can be found here.
Factors: 33
Regulation wins: 10
Factors: 35
Regulation wins: 9
Factors: 37
Regulation wins: 12
Factors: 40
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Factors: 42
Regulation wins: 11
Factors: 42
Regulation wins: 16
Factors: 43
Regulation wins: 13
Factors: 43
Regulation wins: 15
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