NHL teams
Tim Kavanagh, ESPN.com 3y

NHL Playoff Watch Daily: Wild West showdown as Vegas Golden Knights take on Colorado Avalanche

NHL, Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota Wild, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Vegas Golden Knights

There have been many surprises during the 2021 NHL season, a campaign that has been quite different than usual because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, one reality on April 28 that shocks no one is that the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche are fighting for position atop the West Division standings.

Wednesday night's contest is the seventh of eight in the season series, with each team winning three games thus far and the Avs holding a 13-12 edge in total goals. The Golden Knights have a four-point edge in the standings heading into the contest, but the Avs have a game in hand on the schedule, and one additional regulation win thus far.

The two teams meet again on May 10 -- and could very well be the ones facing off in the West Division finals come playoff time 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 Division

Washington Capitals

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. PIT (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: E2
Games left: 6
Next game: @ WSH (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: E3
Games left: 7
Next game: @ NYR (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 95.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Boston Bruins

Points: 62
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: E4
Games left: 8
Next game: vs. BUF (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 98.3%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Next game: vs. NYI (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 6.1%
Tragic number: 9

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: @ NJ (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 3

New Jersey Devils

Points: 37
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. PHI (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 33
Regulation wins: 10
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Next game: @ BOS (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E


Central Division

Carolina Hurricanes - x

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. DET (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers - x

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 5
Next game: @ CHI (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning - x

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. DAL (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: C4
Games left: 5
Next game: vs. DAL (May 1)
Playoff chances: 58.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: @ TB (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 40.8%
Tragic number: 12

Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. FLA (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 0.7%
Tragic number: 7

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 43
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: @ CAR (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 42
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: @ CAR (May 1)
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

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N2
Games left: 10
Next game: @ WPG (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N3
Games left: 8
Next game: vs. EDM (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N4
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. TOR (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 89.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 45
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Next game: @ EDM (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 8.5%
Tragic number: 10

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Next game: @ OTT (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 2.7%
Tragic number: 18

Ottawa Senators

Points: 40
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. VAN (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 3


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: 10
Next game: @ VGS (Apr. 28)
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

St. Louis Blues

Points: 48
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: W4
Games left: 10
Next game: @ MIN (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 68.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: @ SJ (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 21.4%
Tragic number: 13

San Jose Sharks

Points: 43
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Next game: vs. ARI (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 3%
Tragic number: 11

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 42
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. ANA (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 6.9%
Tragic number: 14

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 35
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: @ LA (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 1


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 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: 33
Regulation wins: 10

2. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 35
Regulation wins: 9

3. New Jersey Devils

Points: 37
Regulation wins: 12

4. Ottawa Senators

Points: 40
Regulation wins: 14

5. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 13

6. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 42
Regulation wins: 11

7. Los Angeles Kings

Points: 42
Regulation wins: 16

8. San Jose Sharks

Points: 43
Regulation wins: 13

9. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 43
Regulation wins: 15

10. Calgary Flames

Points: 45
Regulation wins: 18

11. Arizona Coyotes

Points: 47
Regulation wins: 17

12. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 14

13. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 14

14. Dallas Stars

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 16

15. New York Rangers

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 23

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