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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
Unlike previous nights, Thursday’s action around the NHL did not result in any teams clinching a playoff berth or any others being eliminated. But that could change Friday, with all eight teams of the West Division taking the ice:
Having reached the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check in on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2021 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Money Puck. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta of the NHL.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Race for No. 1 pick
East Division
1:08
Jeff Carter lights the lamp four times in Pittsburgh’s 8-4 win over Buffalo.
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 1
Next game: vs. BUF (May 8)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 73
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: E2
Games left: 3
Next game: vs. PHI (May 7)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: E3
Games left: 3
Next game: vs. NYR (May 8)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: E4
Games left: 2
Next game: vs. NJ (May 8)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Next game: @ BOS (May 8)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 53
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Next game: @ WSH (May 7)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Next game: @ NYI (May 8)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 37
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Next game: @ PIT (May 8)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
0:30
Alex DeBrincat’s wrist shot beats Hurricanes goalie Petr Mrazek in the Blackhawks’ 2-1 victory.
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 2
Next game: @ NSH (May 8)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 3
Next game: vs. DAL (May 7)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 2
Next game: vs. TB (May 8)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: C4
Games left: 2
Next game: vs. CAR (May 8)
Playoff chances: 96%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Next game: @ TB (May 7)
Playoff chances: 4%
Tragic number: 2
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Next game: vs. DAL (May 9)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 46
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Next game: vs. DET (May 7)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Next game: @ CBJ (May 7)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
North Division
0:21
Auston Matthews nets his 40th goal of the season in Toronto’s 5-2 win over Montreal.
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N1
Games left: 3
Next game: vs. MTL (May 8)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N2
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. VAN (May 8)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N3
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. OTT (May 8)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N4
Games left: 3
Next game: @ TOR (May 8)
Playoff chances: 99.1%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: vs. OTT (May 9)
Playoff chances: 0.9%
Tragic number: 1
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Next game: @ WPG (May 8)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 43
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Next game: @ EDM (May 8)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 3
West Division
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: W1
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. STL (May 7)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 72
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: W2
Games left: 5
Next game: @ LA (May 7)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: W3
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. ANA (May 7)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: W4
Games left: 5
Next game: @ VGS (May 7)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Next game: @ SJ (May 7)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: vs. COL (May 7)
Playoff chances: 0.4%
Tragic number: 3
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Next game: vs. ARI (May 7)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 41
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Next game: @ MIN (May 7)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Current playoff matchups
East Division
No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 4 New York Islanders
No. 2 Washington Capitals vs. No. 3 Boston Bruins
Central Division
No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 4 Nashville Predators
No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. No. 3 Florida Panthers
North Division
No. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 4 Montreal Canadiens
No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Winnipeg Jets
West Division
No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 4 St. Louis Blues
No. 2 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 3 Minnesota Wild
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order at the top of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. New for 2021, a team may move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here.
Points: 37
Regulation wins: 11
Points: 41
Regulation wins: 11
Points: 43
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 46
Regulation wins: 12
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 17
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 53
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 16
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 23