It's a full day of action around the NHL on Saturday, with 11 games on the schedule. The drama begins at 12:30 p.m. ET with the Pittsburgh Penguins hosting the New Jersey Devils, and won't end until the two 10 p.m. ET games (Ottawa Senators-Vancouver Canucks and Arizona Coyotes-Los Angeles Kings) are complete. But perhaps the most intriguing matchups occur in between those bookends: a trio of division leaders taking on fellow playoff contenders, with the Carolina Hurricanes visiting the Florida Panthers, the Toronto Maple Leafs making a house call to the Winnipeg Jets, and the Washington Capitals squaring off against the host New York Islanders. All three games begin at 7 p.m. ET. And of those three, we're most intrigued by the latest clash between Barry Trotz's current team (the Isles) and his former team (the Caps). On Thursday, these two were deadlocked at zero through regulation and overtime, needing a shootout to decide that the Caps would get the W that evening. Tonight's matchup also streams live on ESPN+. 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. Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Race for No. 1 pick East DivisionWashington CapitalsPoints: 64
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: E1
Games left: 9
Next game: @ NYI (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A Pittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: E2
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. NJ (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A New York IslandersPoints: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: E3
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. WSH (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 99.2%
Tragic number: N/A Boston BruinsPoints: 60
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: E4
Games left: 10
Next game: @ PIT (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 97.1%
Tragic number: N/A New York RangersPoints: 54
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Next game: vs. BUF (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 3.8%
Tragic number: 11 Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. NJ (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 7 New Jersey DevilsPoints: 34
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ PIT (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E Buffalo SabresPoints: 33
Regulation wins: 10
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Next game: @ NYR (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central DivisionCarolina HurricanesPoints: 67
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 10
Next game: @ FLA (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Florida PanthersPoints: 65
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 8
Next game: vs. CAR (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Tampa Bay LightningPoints: 64
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. CBJ (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Nashville PredatorsPoints: 54
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: C4
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. FLA (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 61.4%
Tragic number: N/A Dallas StarsPoints: 50
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: @ DET (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 37.1%
Tragic number: 16 Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 49
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 8
Next game: vs. TB (Apr. 27)
Playoff chances: 1.6%
Tragic number: 11 Detroit Red WingsPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: vs. DAL (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 1 Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 39
Regulation wins: 11
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 7
Next game: @ TB (Apr. 25)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
North DivisionToronto Maple LeafsPoints: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N1
Games left: 9
Next game: @ WPG (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Winnipeg JetsPoints: 57
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N2
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. TOR (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A Edmonton OilersPoints: 56
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N3
Games left: 11
Next game: @ WPG (Apr. 26)
Playoff chances: 99.5%
Tragic number: N/A Montreal CanadiensPoints: 49
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N4
Games left: 11
Next game: @ CGY (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 82.9%
Tragic number: N/A Calgary FlamesPoints: 43
Regulation wins: 17
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. MTL (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 12.9%
Tragic number: 14 Vancouver CanucksPoints: 39
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Next game: vs. OTT (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 4.9%
Tragic number: 22 Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 38
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: @ VAN (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 7
West DivisionVegas Golden Knights - xPoints: 68
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: W1
Games left: 10
Next game: @ ANA (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Colorado Avalanche - xPoints: 66
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: W2
Games left: 12
Next game: @ STL (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Minnesota WildPoints: 63
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: W3
Games left: 10
Next game: @ SJ (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A Arizona CoyotesPoints: 45
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: W4
Games left: 9
Next game: @ LA (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 27%
Tragic number: N/A St. Louis BluesPoints: 44
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: vs. COL (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 45.3%
Tragic number: 23 San Jose SharksPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 10
Next game: vs. MIN (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 8.2%
Tragic number: 16 Los Angeles KingsPoints: 40
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Next game: vs. ARI (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 19.5%
Tragic number: 19 Anaheim DucksPoints: 35
Regulation wins: 9
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 9
Next game: vs. VGS (Apr. 24)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: 8
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 Winnipeg Jets vs. No. 3 Edmonton Oilers West DivisionNo. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 4 Arizona Coyotes
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. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 34
Regulation wins: 11 3. Anaheim DucksPoints: 35
Regulation wins: 9 4. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 38
Regulation wins: 13 5. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 39
Regulation wins: 11 6. Vancouver CanucksPoints: 39
Regulation wins: 12 7. Los Angeles KingsPoints: 40
Regulation wins: 15 8. San Jose SharksPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 12 9. Detroit Red WingsPoints: 41
Regulation wins: 15 10. Calgary FlamesPoints: 43
Regulation wins: 17 11. St. Louis BluesPoints: 44
Regulation wins: 13 12. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 49
Regulation wins: 14 13. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 49
Regulation wins: 14 14. Dallas StarsPoints: 50
Regulation wins: 16 15. New York RangersPoints: 54
Regulation wins: 21
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