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NHL playoff watch daily: Playoff chances, 'Lose for Hughes' projections and more

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

Which teams have the best shot at locking up a spot in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs? Who's earning a better chance at the No. 1 overall pick?

Here are the latest projections for both, along with critical matchups to watch today.

Updated April 6.

Skip ahead: Playoff projections | Current matchups
Lose for Hughes standings | Tragic numbers

Playoff picture

Playoff chance projections are from Money Puck, Sports Club Stats and Dom Luszczyszyn at The Athletic. Click through to the sites to learn more about their methodology.


Playoff teams in action today

Note: All times ET. Playoff teams in bold.

Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins, 1 p.m. Streaming on ESPN+
Vancouver Canucks at St. Louis Blues, 4 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.
New York Islanders at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m. Streaming on ESPN+
Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m. Streaming on ESPN+
Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames, 10 p.m.
Winnipeg Jets at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.
Colorado Avalanche at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m. Streaming on ESPN+


Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

Tampa Bay Lightning (Atlantic No. 1) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (WC No. 2)
Boston Bruins (Atlantic No. 2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (Atlantic No. 3)
Washington Capitals (Metro No. 1) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (WC No. 1)
New York Islanders (Metro No. 2) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (Metro No. 3)

Western Conference

Nashville Predators (Central No. 1) vs. Dallas Stars (WC No. 1)
Winnipeg Jets (Central No. 2) vs. St. Louis Blues (Central No. 3)
Calgary Flames (Pacific No. 1) vs. Colorado Avalanche (WC No. 2)
San Jose Sharks (Pacific No. 2) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (Pacific No. 3)

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. However, whoever does win the draft lottery has a chance to select the next generational American forward, Jack Hughes.

Find out more about Hughes here, and be sure to read up on the rest of the top 50 draft prospects. There's also a table of every team's picks in the 2019 draft and Chris Peters' first mock draft of the season, from Feb. 19.

Note: Ottawa's first-round pick belongs to Colorado.


Tragic numbers

Teams currently in position for a wild card are denoted as such. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta. Teams are eliminated when their tragic number hits zero, and will be denoted with an "E" in the table.


Lottery teams in action today

Note: All times ET. Lottery teams in bold.

Buffalo Sabres at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.
New Jersey Devils at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m.
Vancouver Canucks at St. Louis Blues, 4 p.m.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.
Carolina Hurricanes at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins, 7 p.m.
Chicago Blackhawks at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m. Streaming on ESPN+
Edmonton Oilers at Calgary Flames, 10 p.m.
Winnipeg Jets at Arizona Coyotes, 10 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.