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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
We have made it to the ultimate day of the common season — save for a make-up sport between the lottery-bound Winnipeg Jets and Seattle Kraken on Sunday — with quite a lot of questions remaining to be answered. Certain, we all know all 16 Stanley Cup playoff groups, however solely half of them are locked into place heading into the 15 video games arising tonight.
Here is a rundown of what is on the road (and a reminder which you could stream all however considered one of these video games out-of-market via ESPN+):
Chicago Blackhawks at Buffalo Sabres, 7 ET
An inauspicious begin to the slate, as these two golf equipment are lottery-bound. Chicago is locked into their spot at sixth, whereas the Sabres (ninth) could be “handed” by the Senators and Crimson Wings in the event that they lose and people groups win. An vital notice on Chicago's decide: It is going to be despatched to the Blue Jackets (as a part of the Seth Jones commerce) if they don't win both of the draft lottery attracts.
Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 ET
Right here we go! The Bruins are one level again of the Lightning for the No. 3 seed within the Atlantic, and maintain a two-game edge within the regulation wins column. So a win of any sort right here, plus a lack of any sort for the Lightning, and so they'll tackle these similar Maple Leafs within the first spherical; in any other case, they will tackle the Carolina Hurricanes because the East's first wild card. Will there be an additional push from the Leafs to ensure they do not get their playoff nemesis in Spherical 1?
Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens, 7 ET
The Panthers locked up the Presidents' Trophy as the highest regular-season staff final night time, so that they'll have home-ice benefit in any postseason sequence whatever the consequence right here. Montreal is at the moment within the prime spot of the draft lottery, and even a win would maintain them there as they're two regulation wins behind the Coyotes. However, they will all nonetheless play this sport.
Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils, 7 ET
As famous above, a win by the Crimson Wings might transfer them past the Sabres within the draft lottery; at the moment they're eighth. The Devils are fifth, and a loss right here coupled with a win by the Flyers would imply they'd transfer as much as fourth.
Washington Capitals at New York Rangers, 7 ET
The Rangers have clinched their spot because the No. 2 seed within the Metro. The Capitals are one level and one regulation win behind the Penguins for the No. 3 seed… a staff that may face these very Rangers in Spherical 1. Observe that ought to the Capitals and Penguins tie in factors and RW, the subsequent tiebreaker provides time beyond regulation wins into the combo, and the Penguins have an insurmountable lead there. So a Caps win on this one coupled with a Penguins regulation loss means we get Rangers-Capitals; anything and it is Rangers-Penguins
Ottawa Senators at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 ET
Humorous how quite a lot of these lottery groups are enjoying one another tonight. On this matchup, each golf equipment can transfer up within the standings and down within the draft lottery order with a win; the Flyers (4th) are two factors again of the Devils whereas the Senators (seventh) are one level again of the Crimson Wings and two factors behind the Sabres.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 ET
A win of any sort or an time beyond regulation/shootout loss for the Penguins locks them in to the Metro's No. 3 seed and a first-round matchup towards the Rangers. The Blue Jackets are locked in to the No. 12 spot within the draft lottery, however as famous above, they might have one other increased decide this July as properly.
Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Islanders, 7:30 ET
The 2-time defending champion Lightning are hoping to shut it out stronger than their effort final night time (a 5-2 loss to Columbus), which might give them a matchup towards the Maple Leafs in Spherical 1; ought to they lose in any trend to the Isles, and the Bruins win towards the Leafs, the Lightning will as an alternative tackle the Hurricanes in Spherical 1.
Vegas Golden Knights at St. Louis Blues, 8 ET (NHLN)
Observe that this NHL Community telecast is the lone contest not obtainable to out-of-market ESPN+ subscribers. The Blues are in search of home-ice benefit of their first-round sequence towards the Wild; they want a win of any sort right here, plus a Wild loss in regulation, for that to occur. The Knights have been the ultimate staff knocked out of playoff competition this week, and they're at the moment the No. 16 staff within the draft lottery order. A regulation loss right here coupled with a Canucks win means they will transfer to No. 15. In fact, ought to this decide stay outdoors the highest 10, it is going to be despatched to the Sabres as a part of the Jack Eichel commerce.
Colorado Avalanche at Minnesota Wild, 8 ET
Colorado missed out on the Presidents' Trophy because of a shootout loss final night time, however they continue to be the No. 1 seed within the West. They are going to be taking over whichever of the Predators or Stars finishes within the second wild-card place. The Wild might be skating towards the Blues in Spherical 1, and a win or regulation/shootout loss on this sport will assure them home-ice benefit in that sequence.
Calgary Flames at Winnipeg Jets, 8 ET
Because the No. 1 seed within the Pacific, the primary spherical matchup for the Flames would be the West's first wild-card staff (at the moment the Predators, however probably the Stars). As for the Jets, they're within the No. 14 slot within the draft lottery order; ought to the Islanders win tonight, and the Jets lose this sport and their finale on Sunday, Winnipeg will transfer into the No. 13 spot.
Anaheim Ducks at Dallas Stars, 8:30 ET
Regardless of some early- to mid-season thrills, the Geese simply weren't fairly playoff-caliber this season. They will bolster their younger core with a excessive draft decide; they at the moment sit at No. 10, although they are going to transfer to No. 11 with a win on this sport and a regulation loss by the Sharks. The Stars are playoff-caliber this season. A win of any sort on this sport coupled with a regulation loss by the Predators will give them the West's first wild card (and a matchup with Calgary in Spherical 1); some other pairing of outcomes makes them the No. 2 wild card, which implies a sequence towards the Avalanche.
Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers, 9 ET
Connor McDavid & Co. are locked in to the No. 2 spot within the Pacific, and can face the Los Angeles Kings within the first spherical. The Canucks fought valiantly however got here up simply in need of the playoffs this week, and are at the moment within the No. 15 spot within the draft lottery order. A win towards Edmonton, and a regulation loss by the Golden Knights means they might transfer to the No. 16 spot. Another consequence would maintain these two groups' locations intact.
San Jose Sharks at Seattle Kraken, 10 ET
The Sharks, at the moment eleventh within the draft lottery order, will transfer to No. 10 with a regulation loss to the Kraken and a Geese win of any selection tonight. In the meantime, the Kraken are at the moment No. 3 within the draft lottery order, and might transfer to No. 4: This state of affairs would require them to win this sport and their remaining sport on Sunday, plus the Flyers must lose in regulation or time beyond regulation/shootout tonight.
Nashville Predators at Arizona Coyotes, 10:30 ET
Sure, we'll all be ready up late to look at this one, because the consequence could decide the ultimate wild-card spot within the West. The Preds are one level forward of the Stars within the wild-card shuffle, and maintain the regulation wins tiebreaker no matter tonight's motion. A win right here or an time beyond regulation/shootout loss clinches their place as WC1 (and a matchup with the Flames in Spherical 1); a regulation loss coupled with a Stars win means they'd be WC2 and tackle the Avs as an alternative. The Stars-Geese sport in all probability will not be over by opening puck drop, however ought to the Stars lose in regulation, that clinches WC1 for the Preds. As for the Coyotes, that is their remaining sport at Gila River Enviornment earlier than a move to the new Arizona State facility subsequent season. They're locked in to the No. 2 spot within the draft lottery order.
And now, let's examine in on the present playoff matchups, together with expanded standings and the total lottery order.
Observe: Playoff likelihood is by way of FiveThirtyEight. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta of the NHL.
Soar forward:
Current playoff matchups
Last night's scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Present playoff matchups
Japanese Convention
A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
M2 New York Rangers vs. M3 Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Convention
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Dallas Stars
C2 Minnesota Wild vs. C3 St. Louis Blues
P1 Calgary Flames vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
Final night time's scoreboard
Watch Within the Crease on ESPN+ for highlights from each sport.
Boston Bruins 5, Buffalo Sabres 0
Florida Panthers 4, Ottawa Senators 0
Carolina Hurricanes 6, New Jersey Devils 3
New York Islanders 5, Washington Capitals 1
Columbus Blue Jackets 5, Tampa Bay Lightning 2
Minnesota Wild 3, Calgary Flames 2 (OT)
Nashville Predators 5, Colorado Avalanche 4 (SO)
Edmonton Oilers 5, San Jose Sharks 4 (OT)
Vancouver Canucks 3, Los Angeles Kings 2 (OT)
Expanded standings
Observe: x = clinched playoff spot; y = clinched division title; z = clinched finest convention report; p = clinched Presidents' Trophy; e = eradicated
Atlantic Division
Factors: 122
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff place: A1
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: @ MTL (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 113
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff place: A2
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: vs. BOS (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 108
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff place: A3
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: @ NYI (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 107
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff place: WC1
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: @ TOR (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: vs. CHI (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 72
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: @ NJ (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: @ PHI (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 53
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: vs. FLA (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Metropolitan Division
Factors: 116
Regulation wins: 47
Playoff place: M1
Video games left: 0
Subsequent sport: N/A
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 108
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff place: M2
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: vs. WSH (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 101
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff place: M3
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: vs. CBJ (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 100
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff place: WC2
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: @ NYR (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 84
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: vs. TB (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 81
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: @ PIT (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 63
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: vs. DET (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 61
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: vs. OTT (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Central Division
Factors: 119
Regulation wins: 46
Playoff place: C1
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: @ MIN (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 111
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff place: C2
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: vs. COL (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 109
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff place: C3
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: vs. VGK (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 97
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff place: WC1
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: @ ARI (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 96
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff place: WC2
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: vs. ANA (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 85
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 2
Subsequent sport: vs. CGY (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 67
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: @ BUF (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 55
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: vs. NSH (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Pacific Division
Factors: 111
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff place: P1
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: @ WPG (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 102
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff place: P2
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: vs. VAN (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 98
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff place: P3
Video games left: 0
Subsequent sport: N/A
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 92
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: @ STL (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 91
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: @ EDM (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 77
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: @ SEA (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 76
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 1
Subsequent sport: @ DAL (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 58
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 2
Subsequent sport: vs. SJ (Friday)
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
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 will not be assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a staff can 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. The 2022 draft lottery might be held on Could 10.
Factors: 53
Regulation wins: 15
Factors: 55
Regulation wins: 17
Factors: 58
Regulation wins: 22
Factors: 61
Regulation wins: 20
Factors: 63
Regulation wins: 19
Factors: 67
Regulation wins: 16
Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Factors: 72
Regulation wins: 20
Factors: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Factors: 76
Regulation wins: 22
Factors: 77
Regulation wins: 22
Factors: 81
Regulation wins: 26
Factors: 84
Regulation wins: 34
Factors: 85
Regulation wins: 30
Factors: 91
Regulation wins: 32
Factors: 92
Regulation wins: 33
Notes on conditionally traded picks impacting the highest 16:
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Columbus will obtain Chicago's first-round decide if Chicago doesn't win both of the 2 attracts within the 2022 draft lottery. In any other case, the decide defers to 2023.
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Buffalo will obtain Vegas' first-round decide whether it is outdoors the highest 10 picks. In any other case, the decide defers to 2023.
