NHL . playoff watch rankings update

With a short draw on Wednesday night, there wasn’t much movement in the playoff races (or “race” for the draft lottery). But Thursday night promises to be quite different.

Thursday night’s 10-game schedule will require multiple screens to return, as seven of those 10 will kick off at 7, 7:30 or 8 p.m. ET. But one of those contests was of particular interest to us: Dallas Stars visit Hurricane Carolina.

Dallas has a solid hold on second wild card spot in the West, one point ahead Vegas Golden Knights (with four games in hand); three ago Winnipeg Jets (with two games in hand); and three before Vancouver Canucks (with three games in hand). Thursday’s game isn’t a must-win – given the game’s advantage – but anything to boost that stepping stone would help. On the other side, the Hurricanes are at the top of the Urban Division, with a two-point and two-game advantage over Pittsburgh Penguins; they tie the knot at 90 points with Florida Panthers seeded for a total of 1 in the East, and had 4 more wins under the rules for that tiebreak.

As arch-enemies, the two teams have played just once before this season, winning 4-1 for the Dallas Stars following a hattrick from Roope Hintz. Canes lost 4 of the last 5 matches, while the Stars won 3 of the last 4 matches.

As we enter the post-season deadline of the 2021-22 regular season, it’s time to check out all the playoff races – alongside the teams jockeying for a spot in the 2022 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Chance to kick playoff is passed FiveThirtyEight. The tragic numbers are thanks to Damian Echevarrieta of the NHL.

Jump forward:
Current playoff matches
Today’s Game
Expanded leaderboard
Race for 1st place

Current playoff matches

Eastern Conference

A1 Florida Panthers compared to WC1 Boston Bruins
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning compared to A3 Toronto Maple Leafs
M1 Hurricane Carolina compared to WC2 Washington Capitals
M2 Pittsburgh Penguins compared to M3 New York Ranger

Western Conference

C1 Colorado Avalanche compared to WC2 Dallas Stars
C2 St. Louis Blues compared to C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 The Calgary Flame compared to WC1 Nashville Predators
P2 Los Angeles Kings compared to P3 Edmonton Oilers

Today’s Game

Note: All Eastern time. All games on the market available on ESPN+

Tampa Bay Lightning in Boston Bruins7 pm
Florida Panthers in Montreal Canada7 pm
Dallas Stars in Hurricane Carolina7 p.m. (ESPN)
Detroit Red Wings in New York Islanders7:30 pm
Philadelphia Flyers in St. Louis Blues8 p.m. (ESPN+)
Vancouver Canucks in Minnesota Wild8pm
Senator from Ottawa in Winnipeg Jets8pm
San Jose Sharks in Edmonton Oilers9 pm
Nashville Predators in Vegas Golden Knights10 give me
Chicago Blackhawks in Los Angeles Kings10 p.m. (ESPN+)

Expanded leaderboard

Atlantic Division

Point: 90
Winning Rules: 32
Playoff position: A1
Remaining games: 20
Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff: > 99%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: 84
Winning Rules: 30
Playoff position: A2
Remaining games: 20
Next game: @ BOS (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff: > 99%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: 85
Winning Rules: 34
Playoff position: A3
Remaining games: 19
Next game: @ MTL (Saturday)
Chance to kick playoff: > 99%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: 83
Winning Rules: thirty first
Playoff position: WC1
Remaining games: 19
Next game: vs TB (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff: > 99%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: 59
Winning Rules: 15
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 19
Next game: @ NYI (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff:
Tragic numbers: 17

Point: 54
Winning Rules: 17
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 18
Next game: vs WSH (Friday)
Chance to kick playoff:
Tragic numbers: ten

Point: 49
Winning Rules: 18
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 19
Next game: @ WPG (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff:
Tragic numbers: 7

Point: 44
Winning Rules: twelfth
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 19
Next game: vs. FLA (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff:
Tragic numbers: 2

Urban subdivision

Point: 90
Winning Rules: 36
Playoff position: M1
Remaining games: 19
Next game: against DAL (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff: > 99%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: 88
Winning Rules: 32
Playoff position: M2
Remaining games: 17
Next game: @ NYR (Friday)
Chance to kick playoff: > 99%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: 85
Winning Rules: 34
Playoff position: M3
Remaining games: 18
Next game: vs. PIT (Friday)
Chance to kick playoff: > 99%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: 80
Winning Rules: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Remaining games: 17
Next game: @ BUF (Friday)
Chance to kick playoff: 98%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: sixty seven
Winning Rules: 22
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 18
Next game: @ WPG (Friday)
Chance to kick playoff:
Tragic numbers: 23

Point: 63
Winning Rules: 25
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 21
Next game: vs. DET (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff: first%
Tragic numbers: 25

Point: 51
Winning Rules: 16
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 19
Next game: @ STL (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff:
Tragic numbers: 9

Point: 51
Winning Rules: 16
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 18
Next game: @ WSH (Saturday)
Chance to kick playoff:
Tragic numbers: 7

Central Division

Point: 95
Winning Rules: 37
Playoff position: C1
Remaining games: 18
Next game: versus PHI (Friday)
Chance to kick playoff: > 99%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: 79
Winning Rules: 32
Playoff position: C2
Remaining games: 20
Next game: vs PHI (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff: 98%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: 78
Winning Rules: 28
Playoff position: C3
Remaining games: 21
Next game: VAN (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff: 98%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: 78
Winning Rules: 30
Playoff position: WC1
Remaining games: 18
Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff: ninety four%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: seventy three
Winning Rules: 23
Playoff position: WC2
Remaining games: 20
Next game: @ CAR (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff: 77%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: 70
Winning Rules: 26
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 18
Next game: vs. OTT (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff: 16%
Tragic numbers: 33

Point: 55
Winning Rules: 15
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 18
Next game: @ LA (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff:
Tragic numbers: 18

Point: 44
Winning Rules: 15
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 19
Next game: @ CGY (Friday)
Chance to kick playoff:
Tragic numbers: 9

Pacific Division

Point: 84
Winning Rules: 33
Playoff position: P1
Remaining games: 19
Next game: versus ARI (Friday)
Chance to kick playoff: > 99%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: 78
Winning Rules: 27
Playoff position: P2
Remaining games: 17
Next game: vs CHI (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff: 88%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: 75
Winning Rules: 29
Playoff position: P3
Remaining games: 18
Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff: 79%
Tragic numbers: N / A

Point: 72
Winning Rules: 28
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 16
Next game: vs. NSH (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff: 35%
Tragic numbers: thirty first

Point: 70
Winning Rules: 25
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 17
Next game: @ MIN (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff: 15%
Tragic numbers: thirty first

Point: 65
Winning Rules: 18
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 16
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)
Chance to kick playoff:
Tragic numbers: 24

Point: sixty four
Winning Rules: 19
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 19
Next game: @EDM (Thursday)
Chance to kick playoff:
Tragic numbers: 29

Point: forty six
Winning Rules: 17
Playoff position: N / A
Remaining games: 18
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Chance to kick playoff:
Tragic numbers: 9

Race for 1st place

The NHL uses a draw to determine the top order of the first round, so the team that finishes last is not guaranteed the first choice. As of 2021, a team can move move up to a maximum of 10 slots if they win the draw, so only 11 teams qualify for the draw for pick 1. Full details of the process can be found here.

Point: 44
Winning Rules: twelfth

Point: 44
Winning Rules: 15

Point: forty six
Winning Rules: 17

Point: 49
Winning Rules: 18

Point: 51
Winning Rules: 16

Point: 51
Winning Rules: 16

Point: 52
Winning Rules: 17

Point: 55
Winning Rules: 15

Point: 59
Winning Rules: 15

Point: 63
Winning Rules: 25

Point: sixty four
Winning Rules: 19

Point: 65
Winning Rules: 18

Point: sixty seven
Winning Rules: 22

Point: 70
Winning Rules: 25

Point: 70
Winning Rules: 26

Point: 72
Winning Rules: 28