As foretold, there were some fireworks in the Washington Capitals-New York Rangers game on Wednesday night, the first game following Tom Wilson's antics that led to Artemi Panarin being sidelined for the remainder of the regular season. (Oh yeah, the Caps won 4-2, which put them in first place in the East Division.) There were also some results that tidied up the playoff races elsewhere, including the Winnipeg Jets punching their postseason ticket with a win over the Calgary Flames, and the Arizona Coyotes being officially eliminated following a regulation loss to the Los Angeles Kings. Looking ahead to Thursday night's six-game slate, we'll see if the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs can move closer to claiming the Central and North Division titles, respectively. The Canes will welcome the Chicago Blackhawks to Raleigh, and will be looking to extend their current five-game winning streak in the final matchup of the season series against Patrick Kane & Co. Meanwhile, the Leafs will also be the home club tonight, hosting the Montreal Canadiens as a continuation of their reinvigorated rivalry; the good news for all hockey fans is that these two iconic clubs appear poised for a first-round playoff matchup as well. 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 DivisionWashington Capitals - xPoints: 73
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 3
Next game: vs. PHI (May 7)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Pittsburgh Penguins - xPoints: 73
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: E2
Games left: 2
Next game: vs. BUF (May 6)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Boston Bruins - xPoints: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: E3
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. NYR (May 6)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A New York Islanders - xPoints: 68
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: E4
Games left: 3
Next game: vs. NJ (May 6)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A New York RangersPoints: 58
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Next game: @ BOS (May 6)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 53
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Next game: @ WSH (May 7)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E New Jersey DevilsPoints: 43
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Next game: @ NYI (May 6)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E Buffalo SabresPoints: 37
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Next game: @ PIT (May 6)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central DivisionCarolina Hurricanes - xPoints: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 3
Next game: vs. CHI (May 6)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Tampa Bay Lightning - xPoints: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 3
Next game: vs. DAL (May 7)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Florida Panthers - xPoints: 75
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 2
Next game: vs. TB (May 8)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Nashville PredatorsPoints: 60
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: C4
Games left: 2
Next game: vs. CAR (May 8)
Playoff chances: 94.9%
Tragic number: N/A Dallas StarsPoints: 56
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Next game: @ TB (May 7)
Playoff chances: 5.1%
Tragic number: 2 Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Next game: @ CAR (May 6)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 46
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Next game: vs. DET (May 7)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E Detroit Red WingsPoints: 45
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Next game: @ CBJ (May 7)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
North DivisionToronto Maple Leafs - xPoints: 72
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N1
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. MTL (May 6)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Edmonton Oilers - xPoints: 66
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N2
Games left: 5
Next game: vs. VAN (May 6)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Winnipeg Jets - xPoints: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N3
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. OTT (May 8)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Montreal CanadiensPoints: 57
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N4
Games left: 4
Next game: @ TOR (May 6)
Playoff chances: 99.5%
Tragic number: N/A Calgary FlamesPoints: 47
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: vs. OTT (May 9)
Playoff chances: 0.5%
Tragic number: 1 Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 47
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Next game: @ WPG (May 8)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E Vancouver CanucksPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: @ EDM (May 6)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 3
West DivisionVegas Golden Knights - xPoints: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: W1
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. STL (May 7)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Colorado Avalanche - xPoints: 72
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: W2
Games left: 5
Next game: @ LA (May 7)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Minnesota Wild - xPoints: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: W3
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. ANA (May 7)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A St. Louis BluesPoints: 56
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: W4
Games left: 5
Next game: @ VGS (May 7)
Playoff chances: 99.5%
Tragic number: N/A Arizona CoyotesPoints: 50
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Next game: @ SJ (May 7)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E Los Angeles KingsPoints: 48
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: vs. COL (May 7)
Playoff chances: 0.5%
Tragic number: 3 San Jose SharksPoints: 48
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Next game: vs. ARI (May 7)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E Anaheim DucksPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Next game: @ MIN (May 7)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Current playoff matchupsEast DivisionNo. 1 Washington Capitals vs. No. 4 New York Islanders
No. 2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 3 Boston Bruins Central DivisionNo. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 4 Nashville Predators
No. 2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. No. 3 Florida Panthers North DivisionNo. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 4 Montreal Canadiens
No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Winnipeg Jets West DivisionNo. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 4 St. Louis Blues
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: 37
Regulation wins: 11 2. Anaheim DucksPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 11 3. Vancouver CanucksPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 13 4. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 43
Regulation wins: 14 5. Detroit Red WingsPoints: 45
Regulation wins: 15 6. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 46
Regulation wins: 12 7. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 47
Regulation wins: 17 8. Calgary FlamesPoints: 47
Regulation wins: 19 9. San Jose SharksPoints: 48
Regulation wins: 15 10. Los Angeles KingsPoints: 48
Regulation wins: 19 11. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 50
Regulation wins: 14 12. Arizona CoyotesPoints: 50
Regulation wins: 18 13. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 53
Regulation wins: 15 14. Dallas StarsPoints: 56
Regulation wins: 16 15. New York RangersPoints: 58
Regulation wins: 23
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