NHL Playoff Watch Daily: Showdown Thursday in the Central

Tim Kavanagh, ESPN.comApr 15, 2021, 11:42 AM
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After a night off for all eight teams in the Central Division on Wednesday, they'll all return to action on Thursday.

Perhaps more tantalizingly, the schedule has blessed us with a showdown among the four clubs currently in playoff position. Both contests begin at 7 p.m. ET, so you'll want to deploy two screens minimum tonight.

The Nashville Predators -- as of a few weeks ago, seemingly one of the teams likely to be most active trading players away at the trade deadline -- travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, to take on the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes have won all four previous games in the season series, but the Preds come in hot following their 7-2 dismantling of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.

Speaking of the Lightning, they'll host their cross-state rival Florida Panthers at Amalie Arena tonight. This season series stands at 2-2, and they'll play again on Saturday.

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.

East Division

Washington Capitals

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 13
Next game: vs. BUF (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: E2
Games left: 14
Next game: @ BOS (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 98.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: E3
Games left: 14
Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 98.4%
Tragic number: N/A

Boston Bruins

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: E4
Games left: 16
Next game: vs. NYI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 77.3%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 46
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Next game: vs. NJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 20%
Tragic number: 25

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Next game: @ PIT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 6.3%
Tragic number: 22

New Jersey Devils

Points: 34
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Next game: @ NYR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 14

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 27
Regulation wins: 7
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Next game: @ WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 5

Central Division

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 15
Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 14
Next game: vs. FLA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 58
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 13
Next game: @ TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: C4
Games left: 12
Next game: @ CAR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 62.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 45
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Next game: @ DET (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 9.4%
Tragic number: 22

Dallas Stars

Points: 42
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Next game: vs. CBJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 29.1%
Tragic number: 23

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 39
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: @ DAL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 14

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 36
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 11

North Division

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N1
Games left: 13
Next game: vs. WPG (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 55
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N2
Games left: 13
Next game: vs. EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N3
Games left: 14
Next game: @ VAN (Friday)
Playoff chances: 96.4%
Tragic number: N/A

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 45
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N4
Games left: 16
Next game: vs. CGY (Friday)
Playoff chances: 80.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 41
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Next game: @ MTL (Friday)
Playoff chances: 19.6%
Tragic number: 22

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 35
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 19
Next game: vs. EDM (Friday)
Playoff chances: 3.5%
Tragic number: 28

Ottawa Senators

Points: 32
Regulation wins: 10
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 11

West Division

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: W1
Games left: 13
Next game: vs. LA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: W2
Games left: 14
Next game: @ ANA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 53
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: W3
Games left: 15
Next game: vs. SJ (Friday)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: W4
Games left: 14
Next game: @ ARI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 41.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 43
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: vs. STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 33%
Tragic number: 24

San Jose Sharks

Points: 40
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Next game: @ MIN (Friday)
Playoff chances: 17.1%
Tragic number: 24

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 38
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Next game: @ COL (Friday)
Playoff chances: 8.1%
Tragic number: 23

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 35
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: vs. VGS (Friday)
Playoff chances: 0.4%
Tragic number: 15

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. 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.