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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
With the NHL playoff discipline solidifying over the ultimate two weeks of the common season, we are able to start to get enthusiastic about dream Stanley Cup Final matchups. One sort of matchup that’s all the time fascinating is a rematch of a latest Cup Closing conflict, and one of many prospects of that archetype this time round is operating again the 2019 sequence between the St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins.
Tuesday night time, we’ll get a potential preview of that Cup Final combo as Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and the B’s head to St. Louis to tackle Ryan O’Reilly, Robert Thomas and the Blues. The Blues won 4-2 within the first matchup this season between the groups (April 12 in Boston) on the energy of a two-goal outing from Vladimir Tarasenko.
Taking a peek on the standings, the Blues are battling with the Minnesota Wild for home-ice benefit within the No. 2 vs. No. 3 Central Division sequence; the Wild will square off with the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night time. The Bruins are presently the primary wild card within the Jap Convention, which might doubtless earn them an opening-round matchup in opposition to the Metropolitan Division champions (the Carolina Hurricanes presently lead the New York Rangers by two factors).
As we enter the ultimate stretch of the 2021-22 common season, it is time to verify in on all of the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place within the 2022 NHL draft lottery.
Be aware: Playoff likelihood is through FiveThirtyEight. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta of the NHL.
Leap forward:
Current playoff matchups
Tuesday’s games
Monday night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Present playoff matchups
Jap 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 St. Louis Blues vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Calgary Flames vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
At the moment’s video games
Be aware: All occasions Jap. All out-of-market video games available to stream on ESPN+.
Philadelphia Flyers at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Detroit Red Wings at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.
Winnipeg Jets at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
Florida Panthers at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
Boston Bruins at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m. (ESPN+, Hulu)
Calgary Flames at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m. (ESPN)
Ottawa Senators at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.
Final night time’s scoreboard
Watch In the Crease on ESPN+ for highlights from each recreation.
Calgary Flames 5, Chicago Blackhawks 2
Washington Capitals 3, Colorado Avalanche 2
Carolina Hurricanes 5, Arizona Coyotes 3
New Jersey Devils 3, Vegas Golden Knights 2
Seattle Kraken 4, Ottawa Senators 2
Vancouver Canucks 6, Dallas Stars 2
Expanded standings
Be aware: x = clinched playoff spot; z = clinched greatest Convention document; e = eradicated
Atlantic Division
Factors: 114
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff place: A1
Video games left: 7
Subsequent recreation: @ NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 106
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff place: A2
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: vs. PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 100
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff place: A3
Video games left: 7
Subsequent recreation: vs. DET (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 97
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff place: WC1
Video games left: 7
Subsequent recreation: @ STL (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: @ NJ (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 68
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ TB (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 63
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ VAN (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: vs. MIN (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Metropolitan Division
Factors: 106
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff place: M1
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: vs. WPG (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 104
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff place: M2
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: vs. WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 97
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff place: M3
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: vs. BOS (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 96
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff place: WC2
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ VGK (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent recreation: vs. FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 76
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 61
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: vs. BUF (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 57
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Central Division
Factors: 116
Regulation wins: 45
Playoff place: C1
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ SEA (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 102
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff place: C2
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: vs. BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 101
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff place: C3
Video games left: 7
Subsequent recreation: @ MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 91
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff place: WC1
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: vs. CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 93%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 91
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff place: WC2
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 93%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 81
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ NYR (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities:
Tragic quantity: 3
Factors: 61
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ ARI (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: vs. CHI (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Pacific Division
Factors: 103
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff place: P1
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: @ NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 94
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff place: P2
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: vs. DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 90
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: P3
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: @ ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 74%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 87
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: vs. WSH (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 21%
Tragic quantity: 8
Factors: 86
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 6
Subsequent recreation: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 19%
Tragic quantity: 9
Factors: 74
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: vs. LA (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 70
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent recreation: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 56
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Subsequent recreation: vs. COL (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
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 isn’t assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a staff 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 choose. Full details on the process can be found here.
Factors: 49
Regulation wins: 16
Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 56
Regulation wins: 21
Factors: 57
Regulation wins: 18
Factors: 61
Regulation wins: 15
Factors: 61
Regulation wins: 19
Factors: 63
Regulation wins: 24
Factors: 68
Regulation wins: 18
Factors: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Factors: 70
Regulation wins: 20
Factors: 74
Regulation wins: 21
Factors: 76
Regulation wins: 24
Factors: 79
Regulation wins: 32
Factors: 81
Regulation wins: 28
Factors: 86
Regulation wins: 31
Factors: 87
Regulation wins: 33
Notes on conditionally traded picks impacting the highest 16:
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Columbus will obtain Chicago’s first-round choose if Chicago doesn’t win both of the 2 attracts within the 2022 draft lottery. In any other case, the choose defers to 2023.
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Buffalo will obtain Vegas’ first-round choose whether it is outdoors the highest 10 picks. In any other case, the choose defers to 2023.