NHL teams
Tim Kavanagh, ESPN.com 3y

NHL Playoff Watch Daily: Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins take center stage in East Division clash

NHL, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins

Saturday's action around the NHL resulted in another team clinching a playoff berth -- the Minnesota Wild, who are postseason-bound for the eighth time in nine seasons -- and Sunday's slate could result in some standings shuffling in the East Division.

Sunday's headlining matchup features the Boston Bruins visiting the Pittsburgh Penguins at 3 p.m. ET. For the Bruins, it's a chance to continue to seal the deal on the No. 4 seed. But for the Penguins, a win would put them a point ahead of the Washington Capitals for the No. 1 spot in the East.

The Pens enter the game on a three-game home winning streak, though the Bruins are up 4-2 in the season series and won the most recent tilt 7-5. Boston has gone 6-1-0 since the April 12 trade deadline.

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: 66
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 8
Next game: vs. NYI (Apr. 27)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: E2
Games left: 8
Next game: vs. BOS (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: E3
Games left: 8
Next game: @ WSH (Apr. 27)
Playoff chances: 98.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Boston Bruins

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: E4
Games left: 10
Next game: @ PIT (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 97.6%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Next game: vs. BUF (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 4%
Tragic number: 11

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. NJ (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 7

New Jersey Devils

Points: 34
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: @ NYR (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 33
Regulation wins: 10
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Next game: @ PHI (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E


Central Division

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 9
Next game: @ DAL (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 7
Next game: @ NSH (Apr. 26)
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: 54
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: C4
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. FLA (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 56.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. CAR (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 42.5%
Tragic number: 16

Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Next game: vs. TB (Apr. 27)
Playoff chances: 1.3%
Tragic number: 11

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 42
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Next game: @ CBJ (Apr. 27)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

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: E


North Division

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N1
Games left: 8
Next game: @ MTL (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N2
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. EDM (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 99.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N3
Games left: 11
Next game: @ WPG (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N4
Games left: 10
Next game: @ CGY (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 71.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 45
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. MTL (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 22.1%
Tragic number: 14

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Next game: @ OTT (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 6.7%
Tragic number: 22

Ottawa Senators

Points: 38
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Next game: vs. VAN (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 5


West Division

Vegas Golden Knights - x

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: W1
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. COL (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche - x

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: W2
Games left: 11
Next game: @ STL (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild - x

Points: 65
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: W3
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. STL (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: W4
Games left: 8
Next game: @ SJ (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 38%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 46
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. COL (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 50.7%
Tragic number: 21

San Jose Sharks

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. ARI (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 3.6%
Tragic number: 12

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 40
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. ANA (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 7.8%
Tragic number: 15

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 35
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Next game: @ LA (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 4


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: 33
Regulation wins: 10

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. Los Angeles Kings

Points: 40
Regulation wins: 15

7. San Jose Sharks

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 12

8. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 13

9. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 42
Regulation wins: 15

10. Calgary Flames

Points: 45
Regulation wins: 18

11. St. Louis Blues

Points: 46
Regulation wins: 14

12. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 14

13. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 14

14. Dallas Stars

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 16

15. New York Rangers

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 21

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