-
Tim KavanaghESPN.com
For weeks, it appeared that the East Division playoff slots were all but secured, but the New York Rangers have continued to lurk in that fifth position. Tonight, they’ll look to claw one step closer.
It’s the rival New York Islanders across the ice from the Blueshirts in tonight’s game, and the Long Island denizens lead the season series, 3-2. Meanwhile, the team that the Rangers are primarily chasing, the Boston Bruins, gets the Buffalo Sabres, an opponent to whom it has not lost this season in three prior games.
To make the challenge even more lofty, the Bruins have two games in hand on the Rangers heading into tonight’s contests. But, we’ve seen stranger things happen in the NHL, so perhaps with a few breaks, the Rangers will become the latest surprise playoff team.
As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, it’s time to check in on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2021 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Money Puck. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta of the NHL.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Race for No. 1 pick
East Division
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 10
Next game: @ NYI (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 98.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: E2
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. NYR (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 92.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: E3
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. NJ (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 97%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: E4
Games left: 13
Next game: @ BUF (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 90%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: @ NYI (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 21.3%
Tragic number: 19
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: @ NYR (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 0.4%
Tragic number: 13
Points: 34
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: @ PIT (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 2
Points: 31
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. BOS (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
0:38
Yanni Gourde’s first shot is stopped, but he jumps on the rebound and scores in overtime to propel Tampa Bay past Carolina.
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 12
Next game: @ TB (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. CBJ (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. CAR (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 51
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: C4
Games left: 9
Next game: @ CHI (Apr. 21)
Playoff chances: 44.3%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: vs. DET (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 49.6%
Tragic number: 21
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. NSH (Apr. 21)
Playoff chances: 6.1%
Tragic number: 16
Points: 39
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: @ DAL (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 6
Points: 39
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: @ FLA (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 6
North Division
0:36
Connor McDavid weaves through the defense to put the Oilers ahead of the Canadiens for good.
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N1
Games left: 11
Next game: @ VAN (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N2
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. TOR (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N3
Games left: 12
Next game: vs. MTL (Apr. 21)
Playoff chances: 99.7%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N4
Games left: 13
Next game: @ EDM (Apr. 21)
Playoff chances: 81.6%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 41
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. MTL (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 13%
Tragic number: 16
Points: 37
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 18
Next game: vs. TOR (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 5.7%
Tragic number: 26
Points: 36
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ VAN (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 9
West Division
0:32
Kirill Kaprizov starts the scoring for the Wild as they beat the Coyotes 5-2.
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: W1
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. SJ (Apr. 21)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: W2
Games left: 13
Next game: @ STL (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: W3
Games left: 12
Next game: @ ARI (Apr. 21)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: W4
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. MIN (Apr. 21)
Playoff chances: 34.4%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Next game: vs. COL (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 42.7%
Tragic number: 25
Points: 41
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: @ VGS (Apr. 21)
Playoff chances: 10.4%
Tragic number: 18
Points: 38
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Next game: vs. ANA (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 12.5%
Tragic number: 21
Points: 35
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ LA (Apr. 20)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 10
Current playoff matchups
East Division
No. 1 Washington Capitals vs. No. 4 Boston Bruins
No. 2 New York Islanders vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh Penguins
Central Division
No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 4 Nashville Predators
No. 2 Florida Panthers vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning
North Division
No. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 4 Montreal Canadiens
No. 2 Winnipeg Jets vs. No. 3 Edmonton Oilers
West Division
No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 4 Arizona Coyotes
No. 2 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 3 Minnesota Wild
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order at the top of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. New for 2021, a team may move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here.
Points: 31
Regulation wins: 9
Points: 34
Regulation wins: 11
Points: 35
Regulation wins: 9
Points: 36
Regulation wins: 12
Points: 37
Regulation wins: 11
Points: 38
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 39
Regulation wins: 11
Points: 39
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 41
Regulation wins: 12
Points: 41
Regulation wins: 16
Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 13
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 15
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 20