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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
The NHL’s 15-game slate on Saturday was simply as wild as we might hoped, with six video games requiring additional time or a shootout to resolve the victor. And like a motion-sensing highlight in an alley, the outcomes of these video games supplied fairly a little bit of readability to the entire playoff races.
The New York Islanders punched their ticket to the postseason with a win over the New York Rangers, 3-0. This was the ultimate common season matchup between the golf equipment at Nassau Memorial Coliseum, and Semyon Varlamov placed on a present for the restricted capability crowd, stopping all 28 pictures he confronted.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, the Ottawa Senators at the moment are formally eradicated from the playoffs after an overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Although nonetheless within the midst of turning the roster over to a brand new wave of younger gamers, the Sens have been a troublesome out for the remainder of the North Division this season, so the longer term is vibrant.
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:40
Penguins’ Bryan Rust scores the primary two targets for the Penguins main them to the Three-Zero win over the Capitals.
Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: E1
Video games left: Four
Subsequent sport: @ PHI (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: E2
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: @ NYR (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 67
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: E3
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: @ BUF (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 66
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: E4
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: @ NJ (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 58
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: Four
Subsequent sport: vs. WSH (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: 1
Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: vs. PIT (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: vs. BOS (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 33
Regulation wins: 10
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: Four
Subsequent sport: vs. NYI (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Central Division
Zero:38
Erik Haula’s aim in additional time is the lone aim of the sport because the Predators clean the Stars 1-Zero.
Factors: 75
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: C1
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: vs. CHI (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 73
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: C2
Video games left: Three
Subsequent sport: vs. DAL (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: C3
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: @ DET (Might 2)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 58
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: C4
Video games left: Four
Subsequent sport: @ CBJ (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 82.2%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 55
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: @ FLA (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 17.eight%
Tragic quantity: 7
Factors: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: @ CAR (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: 2
Factors: 45
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: Three
Subsequent sport: vs. TB (Might 2)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 43
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: Four
Subsequent sport: vs. NSH (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
North Division
Zero:21
Connor McDavid scores the primary aim of the sport for the Oilers and Edmonton by no means seems again.
Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: N1
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: @ MTL (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 62
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: N2
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: @ VAN (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N3
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: @ OTT (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 99.5%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 55
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N4
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: vs. TOR (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 95.Three%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 47
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: vs. WPG (Might 5)
Playoff possibilities: 5%
Tragic quantity: Four
Factors: 43
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: vs. EDM (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 11
Subsequent sport: vs. WPG (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: Zero.2%
Tragic quantity: eight
West Division
Zero:30
Kevin Fiala’s aim in additional time propels the Wild to a Four-Three win.
Factors: 74
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: W1
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: @ MIN (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 70
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff place: W2
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: @ SJ (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 68
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: W3
Video games left: 6
Subsequent sport: vs. VGS (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 53
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: W4
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: vs. ANA (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 94%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 50
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: Four
Subsequent sport: vs. LA (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: 5.5%
Tragic quantity: 5
Factors: 45
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent sport: vs. COL (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: Zero.1%
Tragic quantity: 2
Factors: 44
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent sport: @ ARI (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: Zero.5%
Tragic quantity: 5
Factors: 39
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: Four
Subsequent sport: @ STL (Might Three)
Playoff possibilities: Zero%
Tragic quantity: E
Present playoff matchups
East Division
No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. Four Boston Bruins
No. 2 Washington Capitals 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 staff that finishes in final place just isn’t assured the No. 1 choice. New for 2021, a staff 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: 39
Regulation wins: 11
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Factors: 41
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 43
Regulation wins: 11
Factors: 43
Regulation wins: 15
Factors: 44
Regulation wins: 17
Factors: 45
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 45
Regulation wins: 15
Factors: 47
Regulation wins: 19
Factors: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 50
Regulation wins: 18
Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 55
Regulation wins: 16
Factors: 58
Regulation wins: 23