With the end of the season approaching, the NHL has offered us a treat: Saturday's schedule includes 15 games -- everyone but the Winnipeg Jets will be in action -- including a number of matchups on which we'll be keeping a close watch for playoff ramifications.

The New York Rangers' playoff hopes are still flickering, and they can put more fuel on that fire with a win in their game against the New York Islanders. The Isles will be extra motivated because this is the final time these two rivals will play at Nassau Coliseum before the club moves to UBS Arena for 2021-22. Elsewhere in the East, the No. 1-seeded Washington Capitals will host the No. 2-seeded Pittsburgh Penguins for the final game in their season series. Both clubs have clinched a playoff berth, but they remain in contention for that top spot.

The critical matchup in the Central today pits the Nashville Predators against the Dallas Stars (streaming live on ESPN+). Dallas is two points behind Nashville for the final postseason slot and needs the win to tie the season series for tiebreaker purposes down the line as well.

The Calgary Flames' playoff chances took a hit on Friday night with the Montreal Canadiens' win over the Jets, and they'll hope to make up some ground in the final game of the 2021 Battle of Alberta series. The host Edmonton Oilers lead the series 5-4.

In the West, we're getting close to do-or-die time for teams chasing the St. Louis Blues for the No. 4 spot. The Blues themselves will take on the No. 3-seeded Minnesota Wild (streaming live on ESPN+), while the Arizona Coyotes host the Vegas Golden Knights and the San Jose Sharks visit the Colorado Avalanche.

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 matchupsRace for No. 1 pick

Points: 69Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: E1Games left: 6Next game: vs. PIT (May 1)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 69Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: E2Games left: 5Next game: @ WSH (May 1)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 65Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: E3Games left: 6Next game: vs. NYR (May 1)Playoff chances: 99.7%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 64Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: E4Games left: 7Next game: vs. BUF (May 1)Playoff chances: 99.8%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 58Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 5Next game: @ NYI (May 1)Playoff chances: 0.5%Tragic number: 5

Points: 51Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Next game: vs. NJ (May 1)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E

Points: 39Regulation wins: 13Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Next game: @ PHI (May 1)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E

Points: 33Regulation wins: 10Playoff position: N/AGames left: 5Next game: @ BOS (May 1)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E

Points: 73Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: C1Games left: 6Next game: vs. CBJ (May 1)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 71Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: C2Games left: 4Next game: @ CHI (May 1)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 70Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: C3Games left: 6Next game: @ DET (May 1)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 56Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: C4Games left: 5Next game: vs. DAL (May 1)Playoff chances: 68.4%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 54Regulation wins: 16Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Next game: @ NSH (May 1)Playoff chances: 31%Tragic number: 10

Points: 50Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Next game: vs. FLA (May 1)Playoff chances: 0.6%Tragic number: 6

Points: 43Regulation wins: 15Playoff position: N/AGames left: 4Next game: vs. TB (May 1)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E

Points: 42Regulation wins: 11Playoff position: N/AGames left: 5Next game: @ CAR (May 1)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E

Points: 69Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N1Games left: 6Next game: vs. VAN (May 1)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 60Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N2Games left: 8Next game: vs. CGY (May 1)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 57Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N3Games left: 6Next game: @ OTT (May 3)Playoff chances: 98.4%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 53Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N4Games left: 7Next game: vs. OTT (May 1)Playoff chances: 86.3%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 47Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 7Next game: @ EDM (May 1)Playoff chances: 14.6%Tragic number: 8

Points: 42Regulation wins: 15Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Next game: @ MTL (May 1)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: 1

Points: 41Regulation wins: 13Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Next game: @ TOR (May 1)Playoff chances: 0.8%Tragic number: 12

Points: 72Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: W1Games left: 7Next game: @ ARI (May 1)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 68Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: W2Games left: 8Next game: vs. SJ (May 1)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 66Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: W3Games left: 7Next game: vs. STL (May 1)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 52Regulation wins: 16Playoff position: W4Games left: 8Next game: @ MIN (May 1)Playoff chances: 90.6%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 49Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 5Next game: vs. VGS (May 1)Playoff chances: 7.3%Tragic number: 7

Points: 45Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Next game: @ COL (May 1)Playoff chances: 0.4%Tragic number: 5

Points: 44Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Next game: @ ANA (May 1)Playoff chances: 1.7%Tragic number: 8

Points: 37Regulation wins: 10Playoff position: N/AGames left: 5Next game: vs. LA (May 1)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E

No. 1 Washington Capitals vs. No. 4 Boston BruinsNo. 2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 3 New York Islanders

No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 4 Nashville PredatorsNo. 2 Florida Panthers vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning

No. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 4 Montreal CanadiensNo. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Winnipeg Jets

No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 4 St. Louis BluesNo. 2 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 3 Minnesota Wild

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.

Points: 33Regulation wins: 10

Points: 37Regulation wins: 10

Points: 39Regulation wins: 13

Points: 41Regulation wins: 13

Points: 42Regulation wins: 11

Points: 42Regulation wins: 15

Points: 43Regulation wins: 15

Points: 44Regulation wins: 17

Points: 45Regulation wins: 14

Points: 47Regulation wins: 19

Points: 49Regulation wins: 18

Points: 50Regulation wins: 14

Points: 51Regulation wins: 14

Points: 54Regulation wins: 16

Points: 58Regulation wins: 23