NHL teams
Tim Kavanagh, ESPN.com 3y

NHL Playoff Watch Daily: Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Calgary Flames in critical matchups

NHL, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames

As the end of April nears, many teams around the NHL are down to a single-digit number of games remaining on the schedule. In other words, time is running out for clubs currently on the bubble to make a glorious run into playoff position. Three such teams chasing that dream will take the ice on Friday night, in the Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers and Calgary Flames.

The Blackhawks are three points behind the No. 4-seeded Nashville Predators, a team they'll face Friday night at the United Center (streaming live on ESPN+). The bad news is that Nashville leads the season series 6-1; the good news is that the "1" came Wednesday night.

Chances for a playoff appearance by the Blueshirts are a little slimmer, as they're eight points behind the Boston Bruins, and the B's have two games in hand. But if such a run is possible, it'll likely have to include a win Friday night against the Philadelphia Flyers. Philly is up 4-3 in the season series against New York, and tonight's game is at Madison Square Garden, where the Flyers won 3-2 on Thursday night.

For the Flames, it's a home matchup against the Montreal Canadiens, against whom they lead the season series 4-2. Similar to the Rangers' situation, the Flames are eight points behind the Habs, so a win tonight is extra critical.

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

Washington Capitals

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 9
Next game: @ NYI (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: E2
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. NJ (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: E3
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. WSH (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 99.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Boston Bruins

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: E4
Games left: 11
Next game: @ BUF (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 99%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. PHI (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 2%
Tragic number: 11

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ NYR (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 0.2%
Tragic number: 9

New Jersey Devils

Points: 34
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ PIT (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 31
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. BOS (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E


Central Division

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 10
Next game: @ FLA (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 8
Next game: vs. CAR (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. CBJ (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: C4
Games left: 8
Next game: @ CHI (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 49.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ DET (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 43.6%
Tragic number: 18

Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. NSH (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 6.7%
Tragic number: 15

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. DAL (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 3

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 39
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: @ TB (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 1


North Division

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N1
Games left: 9
Next game: @ WPG (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N2
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. TOR (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N3
Games left: 11
Next game: @ WPG (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 99.4%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N4
Games left: 12
Next game: @ CGY (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 88.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. MTL (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 8.5%
Tragic number: 14

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 39
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Next game: vs. OTT (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 3.5%
Tragic number: 22

Ottawa Senators

Points: 38
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: @ VAN (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 7


West Division

Vegas Golden Knights - x

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: W1
Games left: 10
Next game: @ ANA (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche - x

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: W2
Games left: 12
Next game: @ STL (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 61
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: W3
Games left: 11
Next game: @ LA (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 45
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: W4
Games left: 9
Next game: @ LA (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 20.2%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: vs. COL (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 39.7%
Tragic number: 23

San Jose Sharks

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. MIN (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 6.3%
Tragic number: 16

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 40
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Next game: vs. MIN (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 33.8%
Tragic number: 21

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 35
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. VGS (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 8


Current playoff matchups

East Division

No. 1 Washington Capitals vs. No. 4 Boston Bruins
No. 2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 3 New York Islanders

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.

1. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 31
Regulation wins: 9

2. New Jersey Devils

Points: 34
Regulation wins: 11

3. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 35
Regulation wins: 9

4. Ottawa Senators

Points: 38
Regulation wins: 13

5. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 39
Regulation wins: 11

6. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 39
Regulation wins: 12

7. Los Angeles Kings

Points: 40
Regulation wins: 15

8. San Jose Sharks

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 12

9. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 15

10. Calgary Flames

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 16

11. St. Louis Blues

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13

12. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 14

13. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 14

14. Dallas Stars

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 16

15. New York Rangers

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 20

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