NHL teams
Tim Kavanagh, ESPN.com 3y

NHL Playoff Watch Daily: Busy Saturday highlighted by Washington Capitals-New York Islanders

NHL, Washington Capitals, New York Islanders

It's a full day of action around the NHL on Saturday, with 11 games on the schedule. The drama begins at 12:30 p.m. ET with the Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the New Jersey Devils, and won't end until the two 10 p.m. ET games (Ottawa Senators-Vancouver Canucks and Arizona Coyotes-Los Angeles Kings) are complete.

But perhaps the most intriguing matchups occur in between those bookends: a trio of division leaders taking on fellow playoff contenders, with the Carolina Hurricanes visiting the Florida Panthers, the Toronto Maple Leafs making a house call to the Winnipeg Jets, and the Washington Capitals squaring off against the host New York Islanders. All three games begin at 7 p.m. ET.

And of those three, we're most intrigued by the latest clash between Barry Trotz's current team (the Isles) and his former team (the Caps). On Thursday, these two were deadlocked at zero through regulation and overtime, needing a shootout to decide that the Caps would get the W that evening. Tonight's matchup also streams live on ESPN+.

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: 64
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 9
Next game: @ NYI (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 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 Islanders

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: E3
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. WSH (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 99.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Boston Bruins

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: E4
Games left: 10
Next game: @ PIT (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 97.1%
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: 3.8%
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: 10
Next game: @ PIT (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Buffalo Sabres

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


Central Division

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 10
Next game: @ FLA (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 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 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: 61.4%
Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ DET (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 37.1%
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: 1.6%
Tragic number: 11

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. DAL (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 1

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: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N1
Games left: 9
Next game: @ WPG (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 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 Oilers

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N3
Games left: 11
Next game: @ WPG (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 99.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N4
Games left: 11
Next game: @ CGY (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 82.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 43
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. MTL (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 12.9%
Tragic number: 14

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 39
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Next game: vs. OTT (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 4.9%
Tragic number: 22

Ottawa Senators

Points: 38
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: @ VAN (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 7


West Division

Vegas Golden Knights - x

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: W1
Games left: 10
Next game: @ ANA (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche - x

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: W2
Games left: 12
Next game: @ STL (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: W3
Games left: 10
Next game: @ SJ (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 45
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: W4
Games left: 9
Next game: @ LA (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 27%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: vs. COL (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 45.3%
Tragic number: 23

San Jose Sharks

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. MIN (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 8.2%
Tragic number: 16

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 40
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: vs. ARI (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 19.5%
Tragic number: 19

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 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 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. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 39
Regulation wins: 12

7. Los Angeles Kings

Points: 40
Regulation wins: 15

8. San Jose Sharks

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 12

9. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 15

10. Calgary Flames

Points: 43
Regulation wins: 17

11. St. Louis Blues

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13

12. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 14

13. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 14

14. Dallas Stars

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 16

15. New York Rangers

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 21

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