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 DivisionWashington CapitalsPoints: 64
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 9
Next game: @ NYI (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A Pittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 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 IslandersPoints: 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 BruinsPoints: 60
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: E4
Games left: 11
Next game: @ BUF (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 99%
Tragic number: N/A New York RangersPoints: 52
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. PHI (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 2%
Tragic number: 11 Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 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 DevilsPoints: 34
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ PIT (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E Buffalo SabresPoints: 31
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. BOS (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central DivisionCarolina HurricanesPoints: 67
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 10
Next game: @ FLA (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Florida PanthersPoints: 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 LightningPoints: 64
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. CBJ (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Nashville PredatorsPoints: 52
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: C4
Games left: 8
Next game: @ CHI (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 49.7%
Tragic number: N/A Dallas StarsPoints: 50
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ DET (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 43.6%
Tragic number: 18 Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 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 WingsPoints: 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 JacketsPoints: 39
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: @ TB (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 1
North DivisionToronto Maple LeafsPoints: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N1
Games left: 9
Next game: @ WPG (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Winnipeg JetsPoints: 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 OilersPoints: 56
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N3
Games left: 11
Next game: @ WPG (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 99.4%
Tragic number: N/A Montreal CanadiensPoints: 49
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N4
Games left: 12
Next game: @ CGY (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 88.7%
Tragic number: N/A Calgary FlamesPoints: 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 CanucksPoints: 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 SenatorsPoints: 38
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: @ VAN (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 7
West DivisionVegas Golden Knights - xPoints: 68
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: W1
Games left: 10
Next game: @ ANA (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Colorado Avalanche - xPoints: 66
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: W2
Games left: 12
Next game: @ STL (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Minnesota WildPoints: 61
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: W3
Games left: 11
Next game: @ LA (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Arizona CoyotesPoints: 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 BluesPoints: 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 SharksPoints: 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 KingsPoints: 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 DucksPoints: 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 matchupsEast DivisionNo. 1 Washington Capitals vs. No. 4 Boston Bruins
No. 2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 3 New York Islanders Central DivisionNo. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 4 Nashville Predators
No. 2 Florida Panthers vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning North DivisionNo. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 4 Montreal Canadiens
No. 2 Winnipeg Jets vs. No. 3 Edmonton Oilers West DivisionNo. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 4 Arizona Coyotes
No. 2 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 3 Minnesota Wild
Race for the No. 1 pickThe 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 SabresPoints: 31
Regulation wins: 9 2. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 34
Regulation wins: 11 3. Anaheim DucksPoints: 35
Regulation wins: 9 4. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 38
Regulation wins: 13 5. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 39
Regulation wins: 11 6. Vancouver CanucksPoints: 39
Regulation wins: 12 7. Los Angeles KingsPoints: 40
Regulation wins: 15 8. San Jose SharksPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 12 9. Detroit Red WingsPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 15 10. Calgary FlamesPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 16 11. St. Louis BluesPoints: 44
Regulation wins: 13 12. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 49
Regulation wins: 14 13. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 49
Regulation wins: 14 14. Dallas StarsPoints: 50
Regulation wins: 16 15. New York RangersPoints: 52
Regulation wins: 20
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