Heading into Monday's slate of action around the NHL -- featuring 14 games, nine of which started at 7 p.m. ET for some reason -- we knew there would be significant fallout in the playoff races. And there certainly was.
Thanks to their win over the New Jersey Devils, the Boston Bruins clinched a playoff spot; with the New York Islanders losing to the Buffalo Sabres, Boston jumps into the No. 3 seed in the East Division. Everyone in the East is chasing the Washington Capitals, who won a controversy-filled game against the New York Rangers. Our four East teams are set; now it's just a matter of determining seeding. The Bruins will take on the Devils again Tuesday, while the Isles get a rematch against the Sabres.
Our other clinchers from Monday are the Edmonton Oilers after their win over the Vancouver Canucks. The Toronto Maple Leafs are all but set in the No. 1 spot in the North, and Edmonton is distancing itself in the No. 2 position. As for the other two, the Winnipeg Jets and Montreal Canadiens seem all but destined to make the playoffs, but they are tied in the points column after Monday (57); Winnipeg holds the head-to-head and regulation-wins tiebreakers over Montreal currently.
There were some eliminations from the playoff races Monday, as we officially said goodbye to the Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks. All three clubs have some encouraging trends to build on, so we hope to see them back in the thick it in 2021-22.
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: 71Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: E1Games left: 4Next game: @ NYR (May 5)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 71Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: E2Games left: 3Next game: @ PHI (May 4)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 68Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: E3Games left: 5Next game: @ NJ (May 4)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 67Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: E4Games left: 4Next game: @ BUF (May 4)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 58Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 3Next game: vs. WSH (May 5)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 53Regulation wins: 15Playoff position: N/AGames left: 4Next game: vs. PIT (May 4)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 41Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 4Next game: vs. BOS (May 4)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 35Regulation wins: 11Playoff position: N/AGames left: 3Next game: vs. NYI (May 4)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 77Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: C1Games left: 4Next game: vs. CHI (May 4)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 75Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: C2Games left: 2Next game: vs. TB (May 8)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 73Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: C3Games left: 4Next game: vs. DAL (May 5)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 60Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: C4Games left: 3Next game: @ CBJ (May 5)Playoff chances: 91.2%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 56Regulation wins: 16Playoff position: N/AGames left: 4Next game: @ TB (May 5)Playoff chances: 8.8%Tragic number: 4
Points: 50Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 4Next game: @ CAR (May 4)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 45Regulation wins: 15Playoff position: N/AGames left: 2Next game: @ CBJ (May 7)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 44Regulation wins: 11Playoff position: N/AGames left: 3Next game: vs. NSH (May 5)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 72Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N1Games left: 4Next game: vs. MTL (May 6)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 64Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: N2Games left: 6Next game: @ VAN (May 4)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 57Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N3Games left: 5Next game: @ CGY (May 5)Playoff chances: 99.2%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 57Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N4Games left: 5Next game: @ OTT (May 5)Playoff chances: 95.3%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 47Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Next game: vs. WPG (May 5)Playoff chances: 5.4%Tragic number: 2
Points: 45Regulation wins: 16Playoff position: N/AGames left: 4Next game: vs. MTL (May 5)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 41Regulation wins: 13Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Next game: @ EDM (May 6)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: 4
Points: 74Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: W1Games left: 5Next game: @ MIN (May 5)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 72Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: W2Games left: 6Next game: @ SJ (May 5)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 70Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: W3Games left: 5Next game: vs. VGS (May 5)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 55Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: W4Games left: 6Next game: vs. ANA (May 5)Playoff chances: 99.5%Tragic number: N/A
Points: 50Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 3Next game: vs. LA (May 5)Playoff chances: 0.3%Tragic number: 2
Points: 46Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 6Next game: @ ARI (May 5)Playoff chances: 0.2%Tragic number: 4
Points: 46Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 4Next game: vs. COL (May 5)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
Points: 39Regulation wins: 11Playoff position: N/AGames left: 3Next game: @ STL (May 5)Playoff chances: 0%Tragic number: E
No. 1 Washington Capitals vs. No. 4 New York IslandersNo. 2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 3 Boston Bruins
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: 35Regulation wins: 11
Points: 39Regulation wins: 11
Points: 41Regulation wins: 13
Points: 41Regulation wins: 14
Points: 44Regulation wins: 11
Points: 45Regulation wins: 15
Points: 45Regulation wins: 16
Points: 46Regulation wins: 14
Points: 46Regulation wins: 18
Points: 47Regulation wins: 19
Points: 50Regulation wins: 14
Points: 50Regulation wins: 18
Points: 53Regulation wins: 15
Points: 56Regulation wins: 16
Points: 58Regulation wins: 23
