As expected, Saturday's busy schedule produced a lot of progress in the standings. The Pittsburgh Penguins clinched the East Division crown, and the Toronto Maple Leafs did the same in the North Division. The Nashville Predators are now officially playoff-bound after they defeated the Carolina Hurricanes -- whom they'll play once more this week, then in the first round of the playoffs.
We now know the identity of 15 out of 16 playoff teams, with the No. 4 seed in the North remaining to be settled. The Montreal Canadiens are idle Sunday, but they hold a 10-point lead on the Calgary Flames, who'll need a win against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday (a game that will be streaming live on ESPN+) and a lot of help. The Vancouver Canucks have seven games left, so they are technically alive in the race, too, but they also need a considerable amount of help to catch Montreal.
In the upcoming final days, we'll also be keeping an eye on the seeding races in all four divisions, as well as the battle for the Presidents' Trophy. This season's playoffs will be intradivisional for the first two rounds, then the final four teams will be re-bracketed based on their regular-season records. That means the final stretch of games is still meaningful even for the teams that already have clinched their divisions. As of Sunday, the Vegas Golden Knights hold an edge over the Hurricanes for the overall top spot, with two extra regulation wins thus far.
Having reached 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
Sheary nets OT winner for Capitals
Conor Sheary sends the Capitals past the Flyers with a goal in overtime.
Pittsburgh Penguins - y
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Washington Capitals - x
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: E2
Games left: 1
Next game: vs. BOS (May 11)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Boston Bruins - x
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: E3
Games left: 2
Next game: vs. NYI (May 10)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
New York Islanders - x
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: E4
Games left: 1
Next game: @ BOS (May 10)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
New York Rangers
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Next game: vs. NJ (May 10)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
New Jersey Devils
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Next game: @ PHI (May 10)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Buffalo Sabres
Points: 37
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Wennberg records hat trick in Panthers' win
Alex Wennberg scores three goals for the hat trick as he leads the Panthers to a 5-1 win over the Lightning.
Carolina Hurricanes - y
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 1
Next game: @ NSH (May 10)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Florida Panthers - x
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 1
Next game: vs. TB (May 10)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Tampa Bay Lightning - x
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 1
Next game: @ FLA (May 10
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Nashville Predators - x
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: C4
Games left: 1
Next game: vs. CAR (May 10)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Dallas Stars
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Next game: @ CHI (May 9)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Next game: vs. DAL (May 9)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Detroit Red Wings
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
North Division
McDavid records 100th career point with assist to Draisaitl
Connor McDavid sets up Leon Draisaitl for a goal to give him his 100th career point.
Toronto Maple Leafs - y
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N1
Games left: 2
Next game: @ OTT (May 12)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Edmonton Oilers - x
Points: 68
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: N2
Games left: 3
Next game: @ MTL (May 10)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Winnipeg Jets - x
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N3
Games left: 3
Next game: vs. VAN (May 10)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Montreal Canadiens
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N4
Games left: 2
Next game: vs. EDM (May 10)
Playoff chances: 97.9%
Tragic number: N/A
Ottawa Senators
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Next game: @ CGY (May 9)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Calgary Flames
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: vs. OTT (May 9)
Playoff chances: 2.1%
Tragic number: 1
Vancouver Canucks
Points: 43
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: @ WPG (May 10)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 1
West Division
Reilly Smith records hat trick vs. Blues
Reilly Smith shreds the Blues for three goals as his performance lifts the Golden Knights to the 4-1 win.
Vegas Golden Knights - x
Points: 80
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: W1
Games left: 2
Next game: vs. COL (May 10)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Colorado Avalanche - x
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: W2
Games left: 3
Next game: @ VGS (May 10)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Minnesota Wild - x
Points: 75
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: W3
Games left: 2
Next game: @ STL (May 12)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
St. Louis Blues - x
Points: 57
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: W4
Games left: 3
Next game: @ LA (May 10)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Arizona Coyotes
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
San Jose Sharks
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Next game: vs. VGS (May 12)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Los Angeles Kings
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Next game: vs. STL (May 10)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Anaheim Ducks
Points: 43
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Current playoff matchups
East Division
No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 4 New York Islanders
No. 2 Washington Capitals vs. No. 3 Boston Bruins
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 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Winnipeg Jets
West Division
No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 4 St. Louis Blues
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.
1. Buffalo Sabres
Points: 37
Regulation wins: 11
2. Anaheim Ducks
Points: 43
Regulation wins: 11
3. Vancouver Canucks
Points: 43
Regulation wins: 14
4. New Jersey Devils
Points: 45
Regulation wins: 15
5. Calgary Flames
Points: 47
Regulation wins: 19
6. Columbus Blue Jackets
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 12
7. Detroit Red Wings
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 16
8. Los Angeles Kings
Points: 48
Regulation wins: 19
9. San Jose Sharks
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 15
10. Ottawa Senators
Points: 49
Regulation wins: 18
11. Chicago Blackhawks
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 14
12. Arizona Coyotes
Points: 54
Regulation wins: 19
13. Philadelphia Flyers
Points: 56
Regulation wins: 16
14. Dallas Stars
Points: 58
Regulation wins: 17
15. New York Rangers
Points: 60
Regulation wins: 24
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