While the playoff races for the No. 4 seeds around the NHL sometimes get more attention, on Thursday night the spotlight will be on the teams vying for the top spot in three of the four divisions. From the East, the New York Islanders will play host to the Washington Capitals, with the home team having won each game in the season series thus far. These teams are knotted at 62 points apiece, though Washington has more regulation wins (24-21), and holds the advantage in head-to-head games (for now, at least). The Central Division clash features the Carolina Hurricanes visiting the Florida Panthers, and this one will stream live on ESPN+. The Canes have had their way with the Cats thus far, leading the season series 5-1, outscoring the Panthers 22-13 in the process. These teams are also tied in standings points (and regulation wins), though Carolina has two games in hand. Finally, the North Division showdown pits the host Winnipeg Jets against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Toronto has a four-point lead in the standings, but Winnipeg has a game in hand. Thursday night will be another occasion to deploy your extra screens, since all three of those matchups -- and seven of the 10 on the slate -- start at 7 p.m. ET. 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 DivisionWashington CapitalsPoints: 62
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 10
Next game: @ NYI (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 99.1%
Tragic number: N/A New York IslandersPoints: 62
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: E2
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. WSH (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 98.4%
Tragic number: N/A Pittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 61
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: E3
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. NJ (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 99.4%
Tragic number: N/A Boston BruinsPoints: 58
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: E4
Games left: 12
Next game: @ BUF (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 96.2%
Tragic number: N/A New York RangersPoints: 52
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. PHI (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 6.8%
Tragic number: 15 Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 47
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: @ NYR (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 0.2%
Tragic number: 11 New Jersey DevilsPoints: 34
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: @ PIT (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E Buffalo SabresPoints: 31
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. BOS (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central DivisionCarolina HurricanesPoints: 65
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 11
Next game: @ FLA (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Florida PanthersPoints: 65
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. CAR (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Tampa Bay LightningPoints: 62
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. CBJ (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Nashville PredatorsPoints: 52
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: C4
Games left: 8
Next game: @ CHI (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 37.5%
Tragic number: N/A Dallas StarsPoints: 50
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: @ DET (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 57.6%
Tragic number: 20 Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. NSH (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 4.9%
Tragic number: 15 Detroit Red WingsPoints: 39
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Next game: vs. DAL (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 3 Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 39
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Next game: @ TB (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 3
North DivisionToronto Maple LeafsPoints: 61
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N1
Games left: 10
Next game: @ WPG (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Winnipeg JetsPoints: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N2
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. TOR (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A Edmonton OilersPoints: 56
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N3
Games left: 11
Next game: @ WPG (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 98.9%
Tragic number: N/A Montreal CanadiensPoints: 49
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N4
Games left: 12
Next game: @ CGY (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 85.3%
Tragic number: N/A Calgary FlamesPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Next game: vs. MTL (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 8.4%
Tragic number: 14 Vancouver CanucksPoints: 39
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Next game: vs. OTT (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 7.6%
Tragic number: 24 Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 36
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ VAN (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 7
West DivisionVegas Golden Knights - xPoints: 68
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: W1
Games left: 10
Next game: @ ANA (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Colorado AvalanchePoints: 64
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: W2
Games left: 13
Next game: @ STL (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Minnesota WildPoints: 61
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: W3
Games left: 11
Next game: @ LA (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Arizona CoyotesPoints: 45
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: W4
Games left: 9
Next game: @ LA (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 21.9%
Tragic number: N/A St. Louis BluesPoints: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Next game: vs. COL (Apr. 22)
Playoff chances: 46.2%
Tragic number: 25 San Jose SharksPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. MIN (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 6.3%
Tragic number: 18 Los Angeles KingsPoints: 40
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Next game: vs. MIN (Apr. 23)
Playoff chances: 25.5%
Tragic number: 21 Anaheim DucksPoints: 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 matchupsEast DivisionNo. 1 Washington Capitals vs. No. 4 Boston Bruins
No. 2 New York Islanders vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 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 Winnipeg Jets vs. No. 3 Edmonton Oilers West DivisionNo. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 4 Arizona Coyotes
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: 31
Regulation wins: 9 2. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 34
Regulation wins: 11 3. Anaheim DucksPoints: 35
Regulation wins: 9 4. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 36
Regulation wins: 12 5. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 39
Regulation wins: 11 6. Vancouver CanucksPoints: 39
Regulation wins: 12 7. Detroit Red WingsPoints: 39
Regulation wins: 14 8. Los Angeles KingsPoints: 40
Regulation wins: 15 9. San Jose SharksPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 12 10. Calgary FlamesPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 16 11. St. Louis BluesPoints: 44
Regulation wins: 13 12. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 47
Regulation wins: 13 13. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 47
Regulation wins: 14 14. Dallas StarsPoints: 50
Regulation wins: 16 15. New York RangersPoints: 52
Regulation wins: 20
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