The all-Canadian North Division has been fun to watch during the 2021 NHL season, featuring some of the NHL's most ancient rivalries that have been rejuvenated with a new collection of players. The top end of the division appears pretty well set right now, with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets pretty much locked in to those top three spots. The Montreal Canadiens -- with a 79.3% chance at the playoffs, per Money Puck -- are currently fourth, and will look to extend their four-point lead over the Calgary Flames on Friday. Friday's contest pits the Habs against the Jets (streaming live on ESPN+), and a win would knock Calgary's tragic number down to eight. The two clubs have finished their season series already, so there will be a lot of scoreboard watching in the next two weeks among those two fan bases. 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 matchups
Race for No. 1 pick East DivisionWashington Capitals - xPoints: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 6
Next game: vs. PIT (May 1)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Pittsburgh Penguins - xPoints: 69
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: E2
Games left: 5
Next game: @ WSH (May 1)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A New York IslandersPoints: 65
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: E3
Games left: 6
Next game: vs. NYR (May 1)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A Boston BruinsPoints: 64
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: E4
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. BUF (May 1)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A New York RangersPoints: 58
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: @ NYI (May 1)
Playoff chances: 0.4%
Tragic number: 5 Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Next game: vs. NJ (May 1)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E New Jersey DevilsPoints: 39
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Next game: @ PHI (May 1)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E Buffalo SabresPoints: 33
Regulation wins: 10
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: @ BOS (May 1)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central DivisionCarolina Hurricanes - xPoints: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 6
Next game: vs. CBJ (May 1)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Florida Panthers - xPoints: 71
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 4
Next game: @ CHI (May 1)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Tampa Bay Lightning - xPoints: 70
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 6
Next game: @ DET (May 1)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Nashville PredatorsPoints: 56
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: C4
Games left: 5
Next game: vs. DAL (May 1)
Playoff chances: 68.6%
Tragic number: N/A Dallas StarsPoints: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Next game: @ NSH (May 1)
Playoff chances: 30.7%
Tragic number: 10 Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Next game: vs. FLA (May 1)
Playoff chances: 0.7%
Tragic number: 6 Detroit Red WingsPoints: 43
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Next game: vs. TB (May 1)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 42
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 5
Next game: @ CAR (May 1)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
North DivisionToronto Maple Leafs - xPoints: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N1
Games left: 6
Next game: vs. VAN (May 1)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Edmonton OilersPoints: 60
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N2
Games left: 8
Next game: vs. CGY (May 1)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Winnipeg JetsPoints: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N3
Games left: 7
Next game: @ MTL (April 30)
Playoff chances: 99.4%
Tragic number: N/A Montreal CanadiensPoints: 51
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N4
Games left: 8
Next game: vs. WPG (April 30)
Playoff chances: 79.3%
Tragic number: N/A Calgary FlamesPoints: 47
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: @ EDM (May 1)
Playoff chances: 20.2%
Tragic number: 10 Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 42
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Next game: @ MTL (May 1)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 3 Vancouver CanucksPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: @ TOR (May 1)
Playoff chances: 1.1%
Tragic number: 14
West DivisionVegas Golden Knights - xPoints: 72
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: W1
Games left: 8
Next game: @ ARI (April 30)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Colorado Avalanche - xPoints: 66
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: W2
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. SJ (April 30)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Minnesota Wild - xPoints: 66
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: W3
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. STL (May 1)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A St. Louis BluesPoints: 52
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: W4
Games left: 8
Next game: @ MIN (May 1)
Playoff chances: 94.9%
Tragic number: N/A Arizona CoyotesPoints: 47
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Next game: vs. VGS (April 30)
Playoff chances: 3%
Tragic number: 7 San Jose SharksPoints: 45
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: @ COL (April 30)
Playoff chances: 1.3%
Tragic number: 7 Los Angeles KingsPoints: 42
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: @ ANA (April 30)
Playoff chances: 0.9%
Tragic number: 8 Anaheim DucksPoints: 37
Regulation wins: 10
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 6
Next game: vs. LA (April 30)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Current playoff matchupsEast DivisionNo. 1 Washington Capitals vs. No. 4 Boston Bruins
No. 2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 3 New York Islanders Central DivisionNo. 1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 4 Nashville Predators
No. 2 Florida Panthers vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Lightning North DivisionNo. 1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 4 Montreal Canadiens
No. 2 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 3 Winnipeg Jets West DivisionNo. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 4 St. Louis Blues
No. 2 Colorado Avalanche vs. No. 3 Minnesota Wild
Race for the No. 1 pickThe 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. 1. Buffalo SabresPoints: 33
Regulation wins: 10 2. Anaheim DucksPoints: 37
Regulation wins: 10 3. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 39
Regulation wins: 13 4. Vancouver CanucksPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 13 5. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 42
Regulation wins: 11 6. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 42
Regulation wins: 15 7. Los Angeles KingsPoints: 42
Regulation wins: 16 8. Detroit Red WingsPoints: 43
Regulation wins: 15 9. San Jose SharksPoints: 45
Regulation wins: 14 10. Arizona CoyotesPoints: 47
Regulation wins: 17 11. Calgary FlamesPoints: 47
Regulation wins: 19 12. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 50
Regulation wins: 14 13. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 51
Regulation wins: 14 14. Dallas StarsPoints: 54
Regulation wins: 16 15. New York RangersPoints: 58
Regulation wins: 23
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