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Tim KavanaghESPN.com
The Los Angeles Kings have been one of many NHL’s hottest groups lately, incomes not less than one level in every of their previous 12 video games (going 10-0-2 in that stretch), placing themselves two factors and one regulation win behind the Western Convention-leading Vegas Golden Knights heading into tonight’s recreation towards the Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). How probably are they to eclipse the Knights and earn the West’s No. 1 seed?
After tonight’s matchup, they will face the Edmonton Oilers twice, and the Knights, Seattle Kraken and Colorado Avalanche twice. They will additionally twice play the Vancouver Canucks — who’re on a latest heater of their very own, regardless of their spot within the standings — and shut out the season towards the lowly Anaheim Ducks.
It is a robust schedule, however the Knights additionally face a troublesome path; they’ve two video games apiece towards the Minnesota Wild and Kraken, together with the sport towards L.A. and a showdown with the Dallas Stars, together with contests towards the San Jose Sharks and Nashville Predators.
Cash Puck provides Vegas the sting right here, with a 61.0% likelihood to win the Pacific, in contrast with 31.7% for the Kings.
As we enter the ultimate stretch of the common season, it is time to examine all of the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place within the 2023 NHL draft lottery.
Notice: Playoff likelihood is by way of FiveThirtyEight.
Bounce forward:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s games
Last night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Present playoff matchups
Jap Convention
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Pittsburgh Penguins
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 New York Islanders
M2 New Jersey Devils vs. M3 New York Rangers
Western Convention
C1 Minnesota Wild vs. WC1 Seattle Kraken
C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Dallas Stars
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Tuesday’s video games
Notice: All occasions Jap. All video games not on ESPN, TNT or NHL Community can be found by way of NHL Energy Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (native blackout restrictions apply).
Nashville Predators at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers, 7 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
Vancouver Canucks at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.
Dallas Stars at Chicago Blackhawks 8:30 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.
Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)
Winnipeg Jets at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.
Monday’s scoreboard
Watch “In the Crease” on ESPN+ for highlights from each recreation.
Montreal Canadiens 4, Buffalo Sabres 3 (SO)
Ottawa Senators 5, Florida Panthers 2
New York Islanders 5, New Jersey Devils 1
Minnesota Wild 5, Seattle Kraken 1
Colorado Avalanche 5, Anaheim Ducks 1
Edmonton Oilers 5, Arizona Coyotes 4
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Factors: 119
Regulation wins: 49
Playoff place: A1
Video games left: 9
Factors tempo: 134
Subsequent recreation: vs. NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 97
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff place: A2
Video games left: 9
Factors tempo: 109
Subsequent recreation: vs. FLA (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 90
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff place: A3
Video games left: 8
Factors tempo: 100
Subsequent recreation: @ CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 8
Factors tempo: 88
Subsequent recreation: @ TOR (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 21%
Tragic quantity: 14
Factors: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 9
Factors tempo: 87
Subsequent recreation: vs. NYR (Friday)
Playoff probabilities: 5%
Tragic quantity: 14
Factors: 77
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 8
Factors tempo: 85
Subsequent recreation: vs. PHI (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 3%
Tragic quantity: 12
Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 10
Factors tempo: 81
Subsequent recreation: vs. PIT (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities:
Tragic quantity: 10
Factors: 66
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 8
Factors tempo: 73
Subsequent recreation: @ PHI (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities:
Tragic quantity: 1
Metropolitan Division
Factors: 103
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff place: M1
Video games left: 10
Factors tempo: 117
Subsequent recreation: vs. TB (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 100
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff place: M2
Video games left: 8
Factors tempo: 111
Subsequent recreation: vs. NYR (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 96
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff place: M3
Video games left: 9
Factors tempo: 108
Subsequent recreation: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 85
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff place: WC1
Video games left: 7
Factors tempo: 93
Subsequent recreation: @ WSH (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 88%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 82
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: WC2
Video games left: 9
Factors tempo: 92
Subsequent recreation: @ DET (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 82%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 8
Factors tempo: 84
Subsequent recreation: vs. NYI (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 1%
Tragic quantity: 11
Factors: 68
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 10
Factors tempo: 77
Subsequent recreation: vs. MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities:
Tragic quantity: 7
Factors: 53
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 10
Factors tempo: 60
Subsequent recreation: @ NYR (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Central Division
Factors: 95
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: C1
Video games left: 8
Factors tempo: 105
Subsequent recreation: @ COL (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 94
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: C2
Video games left: 9
Factors tempo: 106
Subsequent recreation: vs. MIN (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 92
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff place: C3
Video games left: 9
Factors tempo: 103
Subsequent recreation: @ CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 85
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: WC2
Video games left: 8
Factors tempo: 94
Subsequent recreation: @ SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 79%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 10
Factors tempo: 91
Subsequent recreation: @ BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 9%
Tragic quantity: 16
Factors: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 9
Factors tempo: 81
Subsequent recreation: vs. VAN (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities:
Tragic quantity: 6
Factors: 67
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 7
Factors tempo: 73
Subsequent recreation: vs. DAL (Friday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 9
Factors tempo: 61
Subsequent recreation: vs. DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Pacific Division
Factors: 98
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff place: P1
Video games left: 9
Factors tempo: 110
Subsequent recreation: vs. EDM (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 96
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff place: P2
Video games left: 9
Factors tempo: 108
Subsequent recreation: @ CGY (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 93
Regulation wins: 38
Playoff place: P3
Video games left: 8
Factors tempo: 103
Subsequent recreation: @ VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 88
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: WC1
Video games left: 9
Factors tempo: 99
Subsequent recreation: vs. ANA (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 99%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Factors: 81
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 8
Factors tempo: 90
Subsequent recreation: vs. LA (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 14%
Tragic quantity: 13
Factors: 73
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 9
Factors tempo: 82
Subsequent recreation: @ STL (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities:
Tragic quantity: 7
Factors: 56
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 8
Factors tempo: 62
Subsequent recreation: @ SEA (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Factors: 53
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 9
Factors tempo: 60
Subsequent recreation: vs. WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E
Y — Clinched division; X — Clinched playoff berth; E — Eradicated from playoff competition
Race for the No. 1 decide
The NHL makes use of a draft lottery to find out the order of the primary spherical, so the workforce that finishes in final place is just not assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a workforce may 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. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer time is Connor Bedard, who has been lauded as a generational expertise.
Factors: 53
Regulation wins: 14
Factors: 53
Regulation wins: 15
Factors: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Factors: 56
Regulation wins: 13
Factors: 66
Regulation wins: 20
Factors: 67
Regulation wins: 20
Factors: 68
Regulation wins: 25
Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Factors: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Factors: 73
Regulation wins: 22
Factors: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Factors: 77
Regulation wins: 27
Factors: 77
Regulation wins: 29
Factors: 79
Regulation wins: 31
Factors: 80
Regulation wins: 26
Factors: 81
Regulation wins: 27
*Notes on traded picks impacting the highest 16: