NHL playoff watch daily: Playoff chances, ‘Lose for Hughes’ projections and more
Which teams have the best shot at locking up a spot in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs? Who’s earning a better chance at the No. 1 overall pick?
Here are the latest projections for both, along with critical matchups to watch today.
Updated April 5.
Skip ahead: Playoff projections | Current matchups
Lose for Hughes standings | Tragic numbers
Playoff chance projections are from Money Puck, Sports Club Stats and Dom Luszczyszyn at The Athletic. Click through to the sites to learn more about their methodology.
Note: All times ET. Playoff teams in bold.
Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers, 7 p.m. Streaming on ESPN+
Dallas Stars at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. Streaming on ESPN+
Eastern Conference
Tampa Bay Lightning (Atlantic No. 1) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (WC No. 2)
Boston Bruins (Atlantic No. 2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (Atlantic No. 3)
Washington Capitals (Metro No. 1) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (WC No. 1)
New York Islanders (Metro No. 2) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (Metro No. 3)
Western Conference
Nashville Predators (Central No. 1) vs. Dallas Stars (WC No. 1)
Winnipeg Jets (Central No. 2) vs. St. Louis Blues (Central No. 3)
Calgary Flames (Pacific No. 1) vs. Colorado Avalanche (WC No. 2)
San Jose Sharks (Pacific No. 2) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (Pacific No. 3)
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. However, whoever does win the draft lottery has a chance to select the next generational American forward, Jack Hughes.
Find out more about Hughes here, and be sure to read up on the rest of the top 50 draft prospects. There’s also a table of every team’s picks in the 2019 draft and Chris Peters’ first mock draft of the season, from Feb. 19.
Note: Ottawa’s first-round pick belongs to Colorado.
Teams currently in position for a wild card are denoted as such. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta. Teams are eliminated when their tragic number hits zero, and will be denoted with an “E” in the table.
Note: All times ET. Lottery teams in bold.
Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers, 7 p.m. Streaming on ESPN+
Dallas Stars at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m. Streaming on ESPN+
Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.