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 DivisionWashington CapitalsPoints: 68
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. PIT (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Pittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 67
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: E2
Games left: 6
Next game: @ WSH (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A New York IslandersPoints: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: E3
Games left: 7
Next game: @ NYR (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 95.6%
Tragic number: N/A Boston BruinsPoints: 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 RangersPoints: 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 FlyersPoints: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: @ NJ (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 3 New Jersey DevilsPoints: 37
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. PHI (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E Buffalo SabresPoints: 33
Regulation wins: 10
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Next game: @ BOS (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central DivisionCarolina Hurricanes - xPoints: 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 - xPoints: 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 - xPoints: 68
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. DAL (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Nashville PredatorsPoints: 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 StarsPoints: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: @ TB (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 40.8%
Tragic number: 12 Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 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 WingsPoints: 43
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: @ CAR (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 42
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: @ CAR (May 1)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
North DivisionToronto Maple LeafsPoints: 65
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N1
Games left: 8
Next game: @ MTL (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Edmonton OilersPoints: 58
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N2
Games left: 10
Next game: @ WPG (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Winnipeg JetsPoints: 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 CanadiensPoints: 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 FlamesPoints: 45
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Next game: @ EDM (Apr. 29)
Playoff chances: 8.5%
Tragic number: 10 Vancouver CanucksPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Next game: @ OTT (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 2.7%
Tragic number: 18 Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 40
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. VAN (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 3
West DivisionVegas Golden Knights - xPoints: 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 - xPoints: 66
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: W2
Games left: 10
Next game: @ VGS (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Minnesota Wild - xPoints: 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 BluesPoints: 48
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: W4
Games left: 10
Next game: @ MIN (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 68.7%
Tragic number: N/A Arizona CoyotesPoints: 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 SharksPoints: 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 KingsPoints: 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 DucksPoints: 35
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: @ LA (Apr. 28)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 1
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 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: 33
Regulation wins: 10 2. Anaheim DucksPoints: 35
Regulation wins: 9 3. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 37
Regulation wins: 12 4. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 40
Regulation wins: 14 5. Vancouver CanucksPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 13 6. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 42
Regulation wins: 11 7. Los Angeles KingsPoints: 42
Regulation wins: 16 8. San Jose SharksPoints: 43
Regulation wins: 13 9. Detroit Red WingsPoints: 43
Regulation wins: 15 10. Calgary FlamesPoints: 45
Regulation wins: 18 11. Arizona CoyotesPoints: 47
Regulation wins: 17 12. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 49
Regulation wins: 14 13. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 51
Regulation wins: 14 14. Dallas StarsPoints: 54
Regulation wins: 16 15. New York RangersPoints: 58
Regulation wins: 23
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