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NHL playoff watch standings update: Will the Stanley Cup return to Canada this year?

ByTim Kavanagh ESPN logo

Monday, April 11, 2022

Tonight is one of the lightest slates on the NHL regular-season calendar, with just one game on tap. The Winnipeg Jets -- who maintain a nonzero but insubstantial playoff chance -- are visiting the Montreal Canadiens, who were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs back on March 26. So while that contest will have some impact on our race for the draft lottery, let's instead ponder the chances the Stanley Cup will be won by a Canadian team, ending a drought that goes back to the Habs winning in 1993.

It appears highly likely that three Canadian teams will make the playoff field: The Toronto Maple Leafs have clinched a spot, while the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers appear to have things well in hand out in the Pacific Division. One other good sign for Leafs and Flames fans is that both clubs have a strong record against fellow top teams this season, as Adam Gretz noted recently. (The Oilers, not so much.) According to the projections over at FiveThirtyEight, the Flames have an 8% chance of winning the Cup (fourth best in the NHL), followed by the Leafs at 7% (fifth) and the Oilers at 3% (12th).

Complicating matters for the Leafs is that they might face the Boston Bruins in the first round, a team that has given them fits in recent playoff series. But maybe they'll follow the path of the 2018 Washington Capitals, whofinallybeat the Pittsburgh Penguins in a playoff series en route to their first Stanley Cup. The Atlantic Division also features the dominant Florida Panthers (who they'd have to face in the second round), as well as the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning, who are also in the mix as a first-round opponent. Fun stuff!

The path for the Flames and Oilers might well include a date with one another, but ultimately they'd have to get through the Colorado Avalanche, a team that looks poised for a big run this postseason after disappointing showings in recent playoffs.

Finally, we all know a playoff hockey team is going to go only as far as its goalie will take it, and one of these teams should feel better about that than the other two.

As we enter the final stretch of the 2021-22 regular season, it's time to check in on all the playoff races -- along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2022 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via FiveThirtyEight. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta of the NHL.

Jump ahead:br/>Current playoff matchupsbr/>Today's gamesbr/>Last night's scoresbr/>Expanded standingsbr/>Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC2 Washington Capitals

>A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning

>M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Boston Bruins

>M2 New York Rangers vs. M3 Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Dallas Stars

>C2 Minnesota Wild vs. C3 St. Louis Blues

>P1 Calgary Flames vs. WC1 Nashville Predators

>P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings

Today's games

Note: All times Eastern.

Winnipeg Jets at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m. (NHL Network)

Last night's scoreboard

Watch In the Crease on ESPN+ for highlights from every game.

Washington Capitals 4, Boston Bruins 2

>Pittsburgh Penguins 3, Nashville Predators 2 (OT)

>Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Buffalo Sabres 0

>Minnesota Wild 6, Los Angeles Kings 3

>Carolina Hurricanes 5, Anaheim Ducks 2

>Dallas Stars 6, Chicago Blackhawks 4

>Winnipeg Jets 4, Ottawa Senators 3

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

x - Florida Panthers

Points: 108

>Regulation wins: 38

>Playoff position: A1

>Games left: 10

>Next game: vs. ANA (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 100

>Regulation wins: 40

>Playoff position: A2

>Games left: 10

>Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 96

>Regulation wins: 33

>Playoff position: A3

>Games left: 10

>Next game: @ DAL (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

Boston Bruins

Points: 95

>Regulation wins: 35

>Playoff position: WC1

>Games left: 10

>Next game: vs. STL (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

e - Detroit Red Wings

Points: 66

>Regulation wins: 17

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 10

>Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Buffalo Sabres

Points: 63

>Regulation wins: 20

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 8

>Next game: @ TOR (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Ottawa Senators

Points: 58

>Regulation wins: 22

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 10

>Next game: @ DET (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Montreal Canadiens

Points: 51

>Regulation wins: 14

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 10

>Next game: vs. WPG (Monday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

Metropolitan Division

x - Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 102

>Regulation wins: 41

>Playoff position: M1

>Games left: 9

>Next game: @ NYR (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

x - New York Rangers

Points: 100

>Regulation wins: 39

>Playoff position: M2

>Games left: 9

>Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 94

strong>Regulation wins: 33

>Playoff position: M3

>Games left: 8

>Next game: @ NYI (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 90

>Regulation wins: 31

>Playoff position: WC2

>Games left: 10

>Next game: vs. PHI (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 75

>Regulation wins: 31

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 11

>Next game: vs. PIT (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: <1%

>Tragic number: 7

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 74

>Regulation wins: 23

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 9

>Next game: vs. MTL (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: <1%

>Tragic number: 2

e - Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 57

>Regulation wins: 18

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 10

>Next game: @ WSH (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - New Jersey Devils

Points: 56

>Regulation wins: 17

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 10

>Next game: @ ARI (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

Central Division

x - Colorado Avalanche

Points: 110

>Regulation wins: 42

>Playoff position: C1

>Games left: 10

>Next game: vs. LA (Wednesday)

>Playoff chances: 100%

>Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 94

>Regulation wins: 32

>Playoff position: C2

>Games left: 11

>Next game: vs. EDM (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

St. Louis Blues

Points: 94

>Regulation wins: 38

>Playoff position: C3

>Games left: 10

>Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 87

>Regulation wins: 34

>Playoff position: WC1

>Games left: 10

>Next game: vs. SJ (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 95%

>Tragic number: N/A

Dallas Stars

Points: 86

>Regulation wins: 27

>Playoff position: WC2

>Games left: 10

>Next game: vs. TB (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 85%

>Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 79

>Regulation wins: 27

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 9

>Next game: @ MTL (Monday)

>Playoff chances: <1%

>Tragic number: 11

e - Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 59

>Regulation wins: 15

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 10

>Next game: vs. LA (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

e - Arizona Coyotes

Points: 49

>Regulation wins: 16

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 10

>Next game: vs. NJ (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Calgary Flames

Points: 97

>Regulation wins: 39

>Playoff position: P1

strong>Games left: 10

>Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: >99%

>Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 90

>Regulation wins: 33

>Playoff position: P2

>Games left: 9

>Next game: @ MIN (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 98%

>Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 86

>Regulation wins: 29

>Playoff position: P3

>Games left: 8

>Next game: @ CHI (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 58%

>Tragic number: N/A

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 84

>Regulation wins: 32

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 9

>Next game: @ VAN (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 55%

>Tragic number: 16

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 80

>Regulation wins: 29

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 9

>Next game: vs. VGK (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 9%

>Tragic number: 12

e - Anaheim Ducks

Points: 70

>Regulation wins: 20

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 8

>Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

San Jose Sharks

Points: 67

>Regulation wins: 20

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 11

>Next game: @ NSH (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: <1%

>Tragic number: 3

e - Seattle Kraken

Points: 52

>Regulation wins: 20

>Playoff position: N/A

>Games left: 10

>Next game: @ CGY (Tuesday)

>Playoff chances: 0%

>Tragic number: E

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. As of 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.