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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
We are familiar with the identities of eight teams in the NHL’s Eastern Conference playoffs. This has been true for some time, though not officially until recent. But how will they finish? We will get another set of clues from tonight’s games.
The Florida PanthersTake on the Detroit Red Wings (7 ET on ESPN+, HuluThey are still far enough ahead of the rest that even a loss tonight would not affect their chances at finishing first in this conference. The matchup between the Toronto Maple LeafsFor the Tampa Bay Lightning (8 ET on ESPN), as these two are currently poised to square off in the No. 2 vs. No. 3 series in Atlantic
The However, Boston BruinsThey are only one point behind Lightning so a win tonight and a loss to the Lightning would see them advance to the matchup with the Leafs. The team Boston is facing — Pittsburgh Penguins— is tied to the Washington CapitalsFor the No. The No. 3 spot in the Metro Division. The team that wins in ThatRace squares off against the New York Rangers(The current No. (the current No. Carolina Hurricanes(should the Rangers win). The team who doesn’t win a wildcard will face either the Metro winner, or the Panthers.
Oh, and the Rangers (7:30 ET against the New York Islanders) and the Hurricanes (7 ET vs. the Winnipeg JetsTonight, the Canes (also known as ) will be in action. Both teams are tied in Metro lead standings points, but the Canes lead the regulation wins column by one win (the first tiebreaker).
All that you need?
As we reach the end of the 2021-22 season, it’s time check in on the playoff races.
Notable: Playoff opportunities are via FiveThirtyEight. Tragic numbers are the result of Damian EchevarrietaNHL
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Wednesday’s games
Tuesday night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
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 Conference
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
Today’s games
Notice: All times Eastern. All out-of-market games available to stream on ESPN+.
Philadelphia FlyersAt Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Detroit Red WingsAt Florida Panthers, 7 p.m. (ESPN+, Hulu)
Buffalo SabresAt New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m.
Boston BruinsAt Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.
Winnipeg JetsAt Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
New York RangersAt New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m.
Toronto Maple LeafsAt Tampa Bay Lightning, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Vancouver CanucksAt Minnesota Wild, 8 p.m.
Dallas StarsAt Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.
Chicago BlackhawksAt Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.
St. Louis BluesAt San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.
Scoreboard for last night
Highlights from every game can be seen on ESPN+, Watch In the Crease
Edmonton Oilers 5, Dallas Stars 2
Chicago Blackhawks 4, Arizona Coyotes 3 (OT)
Vegas Golden Knights 4, Washington Capitals 3 (OT)
Seattle Kraken 3, Colorado Avalanche 2
Increased standings
Note: x = clinched playoff spot; z = clinched best conference record; e = eliminated
Atlantic Division
Points: 116
Regulation wins 40
Playoff position A1
Games left: 6
Next game: vs. DET (Thursday)
Chances of winning the Playoffs 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 108
Regulation wins 43
Playoff position A2
Games left: 5
Next game:@ TB (Thursday).
Chances of winning the Playoff: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 100
Regulation wins 34
Playoff position A3
Games left: 6
Next game:vs.TOR (Thursday).
Chances for the playoffs: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99
Regulation wins 36
Playoff position WC1
Games left: 6
Next game:@ PIT (Thursday).
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 70
Regulation wins 19
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 5
Next game:@ FLA Thursday
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 69
Regulation wins 23
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 4
Next game:@ NJ (Thursday).
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 65
Regulation wins 24
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 5
Next game:@ CBJ (Friday).
Chances of winning the Playoff: 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 51
Regulation wins 14
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 5
Next game:vs. PHI
Chances of winning the Playoff: 0%
Tragic number:E
Metropolitan Division
Points: 106
Regulation wins 43
Playoff position M1
Games left: 5
Next game:WPG vs. SV (Thursday).
Chances of winning the Playoff: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 106
Regulation wins 42
Playoff position M2
Games left: 5
Next game:@ NYI, Thursday
Chances of winning the Playoff: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 97
Regulation wins 34
Playoff position M3
Games left: 5
Next game: vs. BOS (Thursday)
Chances of winning the Playoff: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 97
Regulation wins 34
Playoff position WC2
Games left: 5
Next game:@ ARI (Friday).
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80
Regulation wins 32
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 6
Next game:vs. NYR Thursday
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 76
Regulation wins 24
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 5
Next game:OTT vs. OTT (Friday).
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 61
Regulation wins 19
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 6
Next game:BUF (Thursday), vs.
Chances of winning the Playoff: 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 57
Regulation wins 18
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 5
Next game:@ MTL (Thursday).
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic number:E
Central Division
Points: 116
Regulation wins 45
Playoff position C1
Games left: 5
Next game:@ EDM (Friday).
Chances for the playoffs: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 103
Regulation wins 34
Playoff position C2
Games left: 6
Next game:VAN (Thursday).
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 103
Regulation wins 41
Playoff position C3
Games left: 5
Next game:@ SJ (Thursday).
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins 35
Playoff position WC1
Games left: 5
Next game:@ TB Saturday
Playoff possibilities: 97%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91
Regulation wins 29
Playoff position WC2
Games left: 5
Next game:@ CGY, Thursday
Playoff possibilities: 84%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81
Regulation wins 28
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 5
Next game:@ CAR Thursday
Playoff possibilities:
Tragic number: 1
Points: 63
Regulation wins 15
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 5
Next game:LA (Thursday).
Chances of winning the Playoffs 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 50
Regulation wins 16
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 5
Next game:WSH (Friday).
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic number:E
Pacific Division
Points: 104
Regulation wins 42
Playoff position P1
Games left: 5
Next game:DAL (Thursday), vs.
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 96
Regulation wins 36
Playoff position P2
Games left: 5
Next game:vs. COL (Friday)
Chances for the playoffs: >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92
Regulation wins 32
Playoff position P3
Games left: 4
Next game:CHI (Thursday).
Chances of winning the Playoff: 86%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins 33
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 4
Next game:SJ (Monday) vs. SV
Playoff possibilities: 25%
Tragic number: 7
Points: 87
Regulation wins 31
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 5
Next game:@ MIN (Thursday).
Chances of winning the Playoff: 8%
Tragic number: 7
Points: 74
Regulation wins 21
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 5
Next game:LA (Saturday).
Chances of winning the Playoff: 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 72
Regulation wins 21
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 6
Next game:STL vs. SV (Thursday).
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 58
Regulation wins 22
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 6
Next game:@ MIN (Friday).
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic number:E
The No. The No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery as a way to determine the order of play in the first round. Therefore, the No. 1 pick is not guaranteed for the team that finishes last. 1 selection. If a team wins the lottery in 2021, it can move up a maximum 10 spots. This means that only 11 teams will be eligible for the draw to win the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. The 2022 draft lottery will take place on May 10.
Points: 50
Regulation wins 16
Points: 51
Regulation wins 14
Points: 58
Regulation wins 22
Points: 57
Regulation wins 18
Points: 63
Regulation wins 15
Points: 61
Regulation wins 19
Points: 65
Regulation wins 24
Points: 69
Regulation wins 23
Points: 70
Regulation wins 19
Points: 72
Regulation wins 21
Points: 74
Regulation wins 21
Points: 76
Regulation wins 24
Points: 80
Regulation wins 32
Points: 81
Regulation wins 28
Points: 87
Regulation wins 31
Points: 89
Regulation wins 33
Notes on the impact of conditionally traded picks on the top 16
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If Chicago doesn’t win the two draft lottery draws for 2022, Columbus will be Chicago’s first round pick. The pick will be deferred to 2023 if Chicago does not win either of the two draws in the 2022 draft lottery.
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If Buffalo isn’t among the top 10, Vegas will get Buffalo’s first-round selection. The pick is deferred to 2023 if the pick falls outside of the top 10.