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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
Though the game on SaturdayBetween the Florida PanthersAnd Toronto Maple LeafsThe playoff races won’t be affected much by this — the Panthers have won the division title and the No. 6 points ahead of the No. 3 Tampa Bay LightningWe’ll be closely watching this one to get more information about each club’s potential viability as a Stanley Cup candidate.
Any of the eight East teams could be considered for the Cup Final. Even getting to the Cup Final would be an extraordinary feat for the Leafs and Panthers. The Leafs haven’t made it out of the first round since 2004, and the Panthers aren’t winning a playoff series since 1996. The Panthers’ playoff quest will begin with a matchup against East’s first wild card club, currently the Washington CapitalsThe Maple Leafs currently have the opportunity to take on Lightning, who is the two-time champion. Money PuckThe Panthers have 63% chance to make the second round. The Leafs have 64.2%.
If both teams win the first-round series they will match up with one another. If they beat the other team, the winner will move on to face the Metropolitan Division victor. Overall, the Leafs’ Cup chances are 12.2% and the Panthers’ are 9.6%.
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
Friday’s games
Thursday 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
Tonight’s games
Notice: All times Eastern. All non-NHL Network out-of market games available to stream on ESPN+.
New York IslandersAt Buffalo Sabres, 12:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh PenguinsAt Detroit Red Wings, 12:30 p.m. (NHLN)
Carolina Hurricanesat New Jersey Devils, 12:30 p.m.
New York Rangersat Boston Bruins, 3 p.m. (ABC, ESPN+)
Montreal Canadiensat Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Nashville Predatorsat Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. (NHLN)
Toronto Maple Leafsat Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.
Seattle Krakenat Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.
Chicago BlackhawksAt San Jose Sharks, 8 p.m.
Vancouver CanucksAt Calgary Flames, 10 p.m.
St. Louis Bluesat Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m.
Anaheim Ducksat Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.
Scoreboard for last night
For highlights from all games, watch In the Crease on ESPN+
Ottawa Senators 2, Columbus Blue Jackets 1 (SO)
Minnesota Wild 6, Seattle Kraken 3
Edmonton Oilers 6, Colorado Avalanche 3
Washington Capitals 2, Arizona Coyotes 0
Expansion of standings
Notice: x = clinched playoff slot; y = division title; and z = best conference record;
Atlantic Division
Points: 118
Regulation wins 41
Playoff position A1
Games left: 5
Next gamevs. TO (Saturday).
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 108
Regulation wins 43
Playoff position A2
Games left: 4
Next game@ FLA (Saturday).
Chances of winning the Playoffs 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102
Regulation wins 35
Playoff position A3
Games left: 5
Next gameNSH vs. ASH (Saturday).
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99
Regulation wins 36
Playoff position WC1
Games left: 5
Next gamevs. NYR Saturday
Chances of winning the Playoff: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins 24
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 4
Next gamevs. NYI
Chances of winning the Playoffs 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 70
Regulation wins 19
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 4
Next game vs. PIT (Saturday).
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 67
Regulation wins 24
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 4
Next gameMTL (Saturday).
Chances of winning the Playoffs 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 51
Regulation wins 14
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 4
Next game@ OTT (Saturday).
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic number:E
Metropolitan Division
Points: 108
Regulation wins 44
Playoff position M1
Games left: 4
Next game@ NJ (Saturday).
Chances of winning the Playoff: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 108
Regulation wins 43
Playoff position M2
Games left: 4
Next game @ BOS (Saturday)
Chances of winning the Playoffs 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99
Regulation wins 35
Playoff position M3
Games left: 4
Next game @ DET (Saturday)
Playoff possibilities: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99
Regulation wins 35
Playoff position WC2
Games left: 4
Next gameTOR (Sunday) vs. TOR
Chances of winning the Playoffs 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80
Regulation wins 32
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 5
Next game@ BUF Saturday
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 77
Regulation wins 24
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 4
Next gameEDM (Sunday).
Chances of winning the Playoffs 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 61
Regulation wins 19
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 5
Next game vs. CAR (Saturday).
Chances of winning the Playoffs 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 59
Regulation wins 19
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 4
Next game vs. PIT (Sunday).
Chances of winning the Playoffs 0%
Tragic number:E
Central Division
Points: 116
Regulation wins 45
Playoff position C1
Games left: 4
Next game@ WPG (Sunday).
Chances of winning the Playoffs 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 107
Regulation wins 36
Playoff position C2
Games left: 4
Next game@ NSH Sunday
Chances of winning the Playoffs 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 105
Regulation wins 42
Playoff position C3
Games left: 4
Next game@ ARI (Saturday).
Chances of winning the Playoffs 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93
Regulation wins 35
Playoff position WC1
Games left: 5
Next game@ TB (Saturday).
Chances of winning the Playoff: 98%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91
Regulation wins 29
Playoff position WC2
Games left: 4
Next gameSEA (Saturday).
Chances of winning the Playoffs 77%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 81
Regulation wins 28
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 4
Next gamevs. COL (Sunday).
Playoff possibilities: 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 63
Regulation wins 15
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 4
Next game@ SJ
Chances of winning the Playoffs 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 50
Regulation wins 16
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 4
Next gameSTL vs. STL (Saturday).
Chances of winning the Playoffs 0%
Tragic number:E
Pacific Division
Points: 106
Regulation wins 43
Playoff position P1
Games left: 4
Next gameVAN (Saturday).
Chances of winning the Playoffs 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98
Regulation wins 37
Playoff position P2
Games left: 4
Next game@ CBJ Sunday
Chances of winning the Playoffs >99%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins 33
Playoff position P3
Games left: 3
Next gamevs. ANA
Playoff possibilities: 95%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins 33
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 4
Next gameSJ (Monday).
Chances of winning the Playoffs 28%
Tragic number: 7
Points: 87
Regulation wins 31
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 4
Next game@ CGY Saturday
Chances for the playoff: 2%
Tragic number: 5
Points: 74
Regulation wins 21
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 4
Next gameLA (Saturday).
Chances of winning the Playoffs 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 72
Regulation wins 21
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 5
Next gameCHI vs. CHI (Saturday).
Chances of winning the Playoffs 0%
Tragic number:E
Points: 58
Regulation wins 22
Playoff position N/A
Games left: 5
Next game@ DAL Saturday
Chances of winning the Playoffs 0%
Tragic number:E
The No. Race for the No.
To determine the order of the top round, the NHL uses a draft lottery. The No.1 selection is not guaranteed to 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 is scheduled for May 10.
Points: 50
Regulation wins 16
Points: 51
Regulation wins 14
Points: 58
Regulation wins 22
Points: 59
Regulation wins 19
Points: 61
Regulation wins 19
Points: 63
Regulation wins 15
Points: 67
Regulation wins 24
Points: 70
Regulation wins 19
Points: 71
Regulation wins 24
Points: 72
Regulation wins 21
Points: 74
Regulation wins 21
Points: 77
Regulation wins 24
Points: 80
Regulation wins 32
Points: 81
Regulation wins 28
Points: 87
Regulation wins 31
Points: 89
Regulation wins 33
Notes about conditionally traded picks that impact the top 16
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Chicago will pick Columbus’s first-round selection if Chicago does NOT win one of the two 2022 draft lottery draws. Otherwise, the pick is deferred to 2023.
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If Buffalo is not among the top 10, Vegas will pick Buffalo’s first round pick. If it is not in the top 10, then the pick will be deferred to 2023.