NHL playoff watch: Will the Panthers or Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup?

Though the sport Saturday between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs will not make a lot of an influence on the playoff races — the Panthers have clinched the division title in addition to the No. 1 seed within the Jap Convention, and the Maple Leafs are six factors forward of the No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning — we’ll be watching this one carefully to decipher extra clues on every membership’s viability as a Stanley Cup contender.

A case may be made for any of the East’s eight groups to make the Cup Last. For the Panthers and Leafs, even getting that far could be a exceptional accomplishment; the Leafs have not gotten out of the primary spherical because the 2004 playoffs, and the Panthers have not received a playoff sequence since 1996. The Panthers’ playoff journey will begin with a matchup towards the East’s first wild-card membership, at present the Washington Capitals; the Maple Leafs are at present positioned to tackle the two-time defending champion Lightning. Cash Puck offers the Panthers a 63% probability of constructing the second spherical and the Leafs a 64.2% probability.

If each groups win that first-round sequence, they’re going to match up with one another, with the winner transferring on to face the survivor of the Metropolitan Division portion of the bracket, after which on to the Stanley Cup Last in the event that they win towards that crew. General, the Panthers’ Cup probabilities this yr are 9.6%, whereas the Leafs’ likelihood is 12.2%.

As we enter the ultimate stretch of the 2021-22 common season, it is time to test in on all of the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place within the 2022 NHL draft lottery.

Observe: Playoff likelihood is by way of FiveThirtyEight. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta of the NHL.

Soar forward:
Present playoff matchups
Friday’s video games
Thursday night time’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 choose

Present playoff matchups

Jap Convention

A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
M2 New York Rangers vs. M3 Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Convention

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Dallas Stars
C2 Minnesota Wild vs. C3 St. Louis Blues
P1 Calgary Flames vs. WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Tonight’s video games

Observe: All instances Jap. All out-of-market, non-NHL Community video games accessible to stream on ESPN+.

New York Islanders at Buffalo Sabres, 12:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit Purple Wings, 12:30 p.m. (NHLN)
Carolina Hurricanes at New Jersey Devils, 12:30 p.m.
New York Rangers at Boston Bruins, 3 p.m. (ABC, ESPN+)
Montreal Canadiens at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m. (NHLN)
Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.
Seattle Kraken at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at San Jose Sharks, 8 p.m.
Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames, 10 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m.
Anaheim Geese at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.

Final night time’s scoreboard

Watch Within the Crease on ESPN+ for highlights from each recreation.

Ottawa Senators 2, Columbus Blue Jackets 1 (SO)
Minnesota Wild 6, Seattle Kraken 3
Edmonton Oilers 6, Colorado Avalanche 3
Washington Capitals 2, Arizona Coyotes 0

Expanded standings

Observe: x = clinched playoff spot; y = clinched division title; z = clinched finest convention file; e = eradicated

Atlantic Division

Factors: 118
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff place: A1
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: vs. TOR (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 108
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff place: A2
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: @ FLA (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 102
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff place: A3
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: vs. NSH (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 99
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff place: WC1
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: vs. NYR (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: vs. NYI (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 70
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: vs. PIT (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 67
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: vs. MTL (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: @ OTT (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Metropolitan Division

Factors: 108
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff place: M1
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: @ NJ (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 108
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff place: M2
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: @ BOS (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 99
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff place: M3
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: @ DET (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 99
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff place: WC2
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: vs. TOR (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 80
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: @ BUF (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 77
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: vs. EDM (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 61
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: vs. CAR (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 59
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: vs. PIT (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Central Division

Factors: 116
Regulation wins: 45
Playoff place: C1
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: @ WPG (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 107
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff place: C2
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: @ NSH (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 105
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff place: C3
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: @ ARI (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 93
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff place: WC1
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: @ TB (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 98%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 91
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff place: WC2
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: vs. SEA (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 77%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 81
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: vs. COL (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 63
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: @ SJ (Saturday
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 50
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: vs. STL (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Pacific Division

Factors: 106
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff place: P1
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: vs. VAN (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 100%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 98
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff place: P2
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: @ CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff probabilities: >99%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 94
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff place: P3
Video games left: 3
Subsequent recreation: vs. ANA (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 95%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Factors: 89
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: vs. SJ (Monday)
Playoff probabilities: 28%
Tragic quantity: 7

Factors: 87
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: @ CGY (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 2%
Tragic quantity: 5

Factors: 74
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 4
Subsequent recreation: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 72
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: vs. CHI (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Factors: 58
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Video games left: 5
Subsequent recreation: @ DAL (Saturday)
Playoff probabilities: 0%
Tragic quantity: E

Race for the No. 1 choose

The NHL makes use of a draft lottery to find out the order on the high of the primary spherical, so the crew that finishes in final place is just not assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a crew may transfer up a most of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so solely 11 groups are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 choose. Full particulars on the method may be discovered right here. The 2022 draft lottery can be held on Might 10.

Factors: 50
Regulation wins: 16

Factors: 51
Regulation wins: 14

Factors: 58
Regulation wins: 22

Factors: 59
Regulation wins: 19

Factors: 61
Regulation wins: 19

Factors: 63
Regulation wins: 15

Factors: 67
Regulation wins: 24

Factors: 70
Regulation wins: 19

Factors: 71
Regulation wins: 24

Factors: 72
Regulation wins: 21

Factors: 74
Regulation wins: 21

Factors: 77
Regulation wins: 24

Factors: 80
Regulation wins: 32

Factors: 81
Regulation wins: 28

Factors: 87
Regulation wins: 31

Factors: 89
Regulation wins: 33

Notes on conditionally traded picks impacting the highest 16:

• Columbus will obtain Chicago’s first-round choose if Chicago doesn’t win both of the 2 attracts within the 2022 draft lottery. In any other case, the choose defers to 2023.

• Buffalo will obtain Vegas’ first-round choose whether it is outdoors the highest 10 choices. In any other case, the choose defers to 2023.