NHL playoff watch: Will the Panthers or Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup?

8:00 AM ET

Tim KavanaghESPN.com
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Although the game Saturday between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs won’t make much of an impact on the playoff races — the Panthers have clinched the division title as well as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, and the Maple Leafs are six points ahead of the No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning — we’ll be watching this one closely to decipher more clues on each club’s viability as a Stanley Cup contender.

A case can be made for any of the East’s eight teams to make the Cup Final. For the Panthers and Leafs, even getting that far would be a remarkable accomplishment; the Leafs haven’t gotten out of the first round since the 2004 playoffs, and the Panthers haven’t won a playoff series since 1996. The Panthers’ playoff journey will start with a matchup against the East’s first wild-card club, currently the Washington Capitals; the Maple Leafs are currently positioned to take on the two-time defending champion Lightning. Money Puck gives the Panthers a 63% chance of making the second round and the Leafs a 64.2% chance.

If both teams win that first-round series, they’ll match up with each other, with the winner moving on to face the survivor of the Metropolitan Division portion of the bracket, and then on to the Stanley Cup Final if they win against that team. Overall, the Panthers’ Cup chances this year are 9.6%, while the Leafs’ chances are 12.2%.

As we enter the final stretch of the 2021-22 regular season, it’s time to check in on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2022 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via FiveThirtyEight. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta of the NHL.

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

Note: All times Eastern. All out-of-market, non-NHL Network games available to stream on ESPN+.

New York Islanders at Buffalo Sabres, 12:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit Red Wings, 12:30 p.m. (NHLN)
Carolina Hurricanes at New Jersey Devils, 12:30 p.m.
New York Rangers at Boston Bruins, 3 p.m. (ABC, ESPN+)
Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. (NHLN)
Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.
Seattle Kraken at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at San Jose Sharks, 8 p.m.
Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames, 10 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.

Last night’s scoreboard

Watch In the Crease on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.

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

Expanded standings

Note: x = clinched playoff spot; y = clinched division title; z = clinched best conference record; e = eliminated

Atlantic Division

Points: 118
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 5
Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 108
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 4
Next game: @ FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 102
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 5
Next game: vs. NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 5
Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. NYI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. PIT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Next game: @ OTT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Metropolitan Division

Points: 108
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 4
Next game: @ NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 108
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 4
Next game: @ BOS (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 4
Next game: @ DET (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. TOR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: @ BUF (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. EDM (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 61
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 59
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. PIT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

Points: 116
Regulation wins: 45
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 4
Next game: @ WPG (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 107
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 4
Next game: @ NSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 4
Next game: @ ARI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 5
Next game: @ TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 98%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 91
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 77%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. COL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Points: 106
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. VAN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 4
Next game: @ CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 3
Next game: vs. ANA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 95%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. SJ (Monday)
Playoff chances: 28%
Tragic number: 7

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Next game: @ CGY (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 2%
Tragic number: 5

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

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. As of 2021, a team might 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. The 2022 draft lottery will be held on 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 on conditionally traded picks impacting the top 16:

Columbus will receive Chicago’s first-round pick if Chicago does not win either of the two draws in the 2022 draft lottery. Otherwise, the pick defers to 2023.
Buffalo will receive Vegas’ first-round pick if it is outside the top 10 selections. Otherwise, the pick defers to 2023.

This article was originally published by Espn.com. Read the original article here.