When do the 2021 NHL playoffs start? In the North and East Divisions, it's pretty clear who the top four teams are in each. Here is a refresher on what the divisions will look like this season. Bleacher Report - Jake Rill • 57m. On Sunday afternoon, the league made a joint announcement with the players' union stating that it will play a 56-game season starting Jan. 13, 2021. Check out our standings … Gerry Broome/Associated Press. 2021 Standings; GP W L OL PTS PTS% GF GA SRS SOS RPt% RW RgRec RgPt% Central Division: Carolina Hurricanes That run could put Pittsburgh in contention for the top seed. 4 spot with 44 points. The 2020–21 NHL season is the 104th season of operation (103rd season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Montreal Canadiens have a four-point edge on the Calgary Flames and have played three fewer games. What teams have clinched a playoff spot or have been eliminated from the playoffs? After that stretch, Carolina does not play either top-seed rival. 2 likes • 4 shares. Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton will qualify for the playoffs. The center will spend two weeks with the taxi squad before he's ready to join the lineup, GM Jim Nill said. Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. Bleacher Report - Jake Rill • 1h. 0. 1 seeds after Wednesday's games. One of the tightest playoff races is in the West Division, in which the Blues hold the No. Expect them to cool off during that difficult stretch, which will lead to them missing the playoffs for the third time in four years. The Avalanche and Golden Knights are the only divisional duo with 60 or more points entering Thursday, and the Avs lead the league with 64. This produces 8 first round matchups. Bleacher Report - While playing the 2020-21 season amid the coronavirus pandemic, the NHL has had to make some changes. And after the regular season has only featured intradivision play, so will the first two rounds of the postseason. Another week has gone by for the NHL’s season, and here’s how the Eastern division standings look as of 3/21. It's as simple as that, no wild-card teams. … After two games against the Red Wings later this week, the Blackhawks' next nine games will be against the four teams ahead of them in the Central Division standings. Unfortunately for the NHL, it looks like there will be very little drama in the final weeks of the season as far as which teams will make the playoffs in the Eastern division. Changes To The 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Format Each round of the NHL Playoffs will continue to be a best-of-seven series where the first team to capture four victories will advance. NHL Playoff Standings 2021: Predicting Which Teams Will Fall Short of Postseason. No team has clinched their spot yet, so it's still possible there could be some shakeups in the standings over the next month. This has been an unorthodox NHL season, one in which the divisions have been realigned and the format for the Stanley Cup playoffs has been changed. In the East, the Capitals, Islanders and Penguins are cruising toward the postseason, and the Bruins have a four-point lead over the Rangers for the No. For the 2020-21 season, the NHL was realigned into four divisions: MassMutual East, Discover Central, Honda West and Scotia North, with a 56-game regular season featuring only intradivisional play. The Lightning are 4-6 during that stretch, which allowed the Canes and Panthers to level up in the standings. That means things aren't looking great for the Blackhawks, even though they've won three of their past four games. By Ayub khan On Jan 13, 2021. Whichever franchises emerge will be reseeded by regular-season point total. Bleacher Report - The 2021 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs are going to look much different than they have in previous years. 1 seed. The top four teams from each division will reach the playoffs. That means we could see an Eastern Conference team face a Western Conference team prior to the Stanley Cup Final. NHL Playoff Picture 2021: Updated Standings and Bracket Outlook Joe Tansey @JTansey90. All three franchises have comparable home and away records, so there is not much of an advantage regarding the arena they play in come the postseason. NHL Stanley Cup playoff chances and projected standings. 0 of 4. 5 teams. Tampa Bay is 15-4-0 inside its own arena and 13-8-2 away from it. But it seems unlikely that anything drastic is going to happen in either of these divisions over the next month. NHL Playoff Picture 2021: Latest Standings and Postseason Predictions. Related Posts. Sports. 0 of 4Gerry Broome/Associated PressWhile playing the 2020-21 season amid the coronavirus pandemic, the NHL has had to make some changes. And here’s the matrix of what happened on … The 2021 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs are going to look much different than they have in previous years. The playoffs starts four days later on Wednesday May 12. Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers are lurking in third place. 0 of 4Gerry Broome/Associated PressWhile playing the 2020-21 season amid the coronavirus pandemic, the NHL has had to make some changes. Here's a look at the current NHL standings, followed by predictions for which teams will end up falling short of the postseason. But there are several teams close behind them, as the Coyotes (43), Sharks (40) and Kings (38) are all looking to push their way into the postseason. Dodgers fans won’t let Red Sox forget Mookie Betts… Mar 23, 2021. Sixteen of the 31 league teams make the playoffs, four from each of the four division. Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton are all in strong positions to reach the playoffs out of the North, and it would be a surprising collapse for any of the three to miss the postseason. I’m having a hard time distinguishing the 2021 Blackhawks from the ‘18-19 and ‘19-20 versions of the team. All season long the debate in the West has been whether the Colorado Avalanche or Vegas Golden Knights will emerge as the division's Stanley Cup contender. Minnesota will attempt to play spoiler to the dream matchup, It is 7-7 against Colorado and Vegas, with four of those victories coming over the Golden Knights. While it could come down to the final days, the Blues will edge the Coyotes by a few points and earn the final playoff spot out of the West in a battle that comes down to the wire. This has been an unorthodox NHL season, one in which the divisions have been realigned and the format for the Stanley Cup playoffs has been changed. As well as the league's 31 teams having to play shortened, 56-game regular-season … The Flames won Wednesday's meeting 4-1. Montreal and Calgary have four games left against each other in April. 2021 World Men's Curling Championship: Canada 6, China 5 2021 World Men's Curling Championship: South Korea 10, Canada 9 Canada hammers USA but gets edged by South Korea at curling worlds The NHL regular season ends Saturday May 8, 2021. NHL 2021 season update: Schedule, divisions, playoff format, COVID-19 protocols and more NHL Power Rankings: Playoff races getting close in West, Central: The playoff races are starting to get really close in the Central and West Divisions. Statistics obtained from NHL.com. The Preds can create separation during their three-game set with Chicago next week. How the NHL playoffs 2021 will work is the top four teams in each division will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where each round will be best-of-7. Welcome to our NHL projections and probabilities page where you … I'm Nathan, and Today I'm Discussing My FINAL 2021 NHL Standings / Stanley CupPlayoff Predictions, & Awards Winners! The Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers could all make a case they are the best team in hockey, but only one will receive the Central's No. WEDNESDAY'S GAMES. While playing the 2020-21 season amid the coronavirus pandemic, the NHL has had to make some changes. That advantage could blossom before April 24 since the Penguins have six games against the Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres. View NHL Standings between any two dates or filter standings by home / road games. The Chicago Blackhawks have had some tough stretches this season. The Nashville Predators are four points clear of the Chicago Blackhawks for the Central's final playoff berth. As well as the league's 31 teams having to play shortened, 56-game regular-season schedules, the league also realigned the divisions for the season and changed how berths for the Stanley Cup playoffs are decided.There… The Coyotes are currently on a four-game losing streak, while the Blues have won three in a row, so they could be trending in opposite directions. The West Division leader built a dynamic offense around a superstar in Nathan... Read more on bleacherreport.com. Cricket news, Uproar after Kyle Jamieson denied seemingly… Mar 23, 2021. However, this race is likely to come down to St. Louis and Arizona, as San Jose and Los Angeles will likely fade down the stretch. Home-ice advantage means the most to the Islanders, who are 18-2-2 at home and just 9-9-2 on their travels. 4 spot. How many teams make the playoff? NHL Standings 2020-2021, Wild Card, Division and Conference splits. NHL Playoff Standings 2021: Latest Stanley Cup Title Odds Ahead of Postseason. If Minnesota wins those games, we could talk about it as a serious third player in the West. NHL predictions 2021: Final standings, awards, playoff projections, Stanley Cup pick. As well as the league's 31 teams having to play shortened, 56-game regular-season schedules, the league also realigned the divisions for the season and changed how berths for the Stanley Cup playoffs are decided.There… But the winner of the North still needs to win one more playoff series to have a chance at ending the country's title drought, which dates back to 1993. Watch live games and get the NHL schedule, scores, standings, rumors, fantasy games and more on NBCSports.com. NHL Playoff Picture 2021: Latest Standings and Postseason Predictions; NHL Playoff Picture 2021: Latest Standings and Postseason Predictions. While playing the 2020-21 season amid the coronavirus pandemic, the NHL … Predicting the five NHL players most likely to be dealt over the shower ➡️, The Lightning are creating an Airbnb in an Amalie Arena private suite decked out with food, champagne and Lord Stanley. Sixteen of the 31 league teams make the playoffs, four from each of the four division. St. Louis and Arizona only have one game against each other remaining, so the final spot will be decided by who fares the best against the rest of the West Division teams down the stretch. The top four teams from each of the four divisions will qualify for the postseason, and the the first two rounds of the postseason will be intradivisional. Whichever franchises emerge will be reseeded by regular-season point total. Hello Guys Welcome Back! After some uncertainty, the 2021 NHL season officially is here and the puck will drop on a 56-game, 116-day sprint to the Stanley Cup playoffs. The top four teams from each of the four divisions will qualify for the postseason, and the the first two rounds of the postseason … By Dom Luszczyszyn Apr 13, 2021 980 . 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs start date to be determined by NHL Regular-season schedule extended to May 16 after Canucks COVID-19 outbreak w: Clinched wild card: y: Clinched division: x: Clinched playoff berth: c: Clinched conference: z: Clinched Presidents' Trophy (Best Regular-Season Record) Two of those contests will be hosted by New York. NHL Standings 2020-2021, Wild Card, Division and Conference splits. How many teams make the playoff? Minnesota 5, Arizona 2 . By Dom Luszczyszyn Apr 15, 2021 995 The 2020–21 NHL season is the 104th season of operation (103rd season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The top battles between now and the middle of May will be for home-ice advantage in the first two rounds. 4 Predators. The East and Central Divisions have the tightest races for their No. Featured Columnist April 15, 2021 Comments. NHL Playoff Standings 2021: Predicting Which Teams Will Fall Short of Postseason; NHL Playoff Standings 2021: Predicting Which Teams Will Fall Short of Postseason. And this season, they have a 5-13 record in games against those teams: Carolina, Tampa Bay, Florida and Nashville. The top four teams in each division will qualify for playoffs under this season's temporary realignment. The 2021 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs are going to look much different than they have in previous years. There are no first round byes. Take the “rebuilding” label away for a moment, because we’re going to revisit it. The Colorado Avalanche enter the season as the betting favorite to win the Stanley Cup and by all accounts, the team is embracing it. Florida and Tampa Bay face each other Thursday and Saturday and again May 8 and 10. Those matchups will make up the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Bleacher Report - Jake Rill • 2h. Those final two games could decide the final seed lineup. The top four teams from each of the four divisions will qualify for the postseason, and the the first two rounds of the postseason will be intradivisional. The Stars could use scoring help as they make a late push for a playoff spot. Currently in fifth in the Central Division with 45 points, the Blackhawks are only four points back of the No. Even this close to the trade deadline, the NHL's regular season standings are still shaping how certain GMs will act. Standings for the 2020-21 NHL season. Changes To The 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Format Each round of the NHL Playoffs will continue to be a best-of-seven series where the first team to capture four victories will advance. There are no Eastern and Western Conferences and instead only four divisions (North, East, Central and West), so the push for the postseason looks a bit different this spring. A Canadian team is guaranteed to make the league semifinals this year. The Bruins and New York Rangers are tight in the race for the No. There are no Eastern and Western … They opened the year with seven losses in their first nine games, and they had a period in March in which they lost six of seven. If Chicago is going to reach the playoffs, though, it will have to fare well against some tough competition. Carolina and Florida are both in better form over the past 10 games. Like at all times, hope springs everlasting for all 31 groups and, like earlier seasons, it is totally different for every one. Pittsburgh's three-game winning streak has it six points ahead of the Bruins for the third seed. Yet, they could still play their way into the playoffs over the final month. It has two road clashes left with the Capitals and none remaining with the Islanders. However, the Canadiens have played three fewer games than the Flames. Of course, surprises happen all the time in sports, and teams can get hot or cold at any point during a season. But first, teams still need to make it into the playoffs. Whichever franchises emerge will be reseeded by regular-season point total. David Zalubowski/Associated Press. The Wild play Vegas twice more at the start of May. All of the trade deadline spending in the East set up what should be a fantastic run to end of the regular season. After adding former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall in a deal ahead of the trade deadline, Boston should have no trouble securing a playoff berth, holding off any potential late pushes from the Rangers and/or Flyers. Follow your favorite team through the 2020-21 season. The Central is the most competitive division at the top. So, it should be intriguing to see how it all unfolds once the postseason begins in May. Matthews vs. McDavid in the North Division playoff final would be a great spectacle. 2021 NHL … January 13, 2021 . The top four teams from each of the four divisions will qualify for the postseason, and the the first two rounds of the postseason will be intradivisional. Share. Barring a collapse down the stretch, the two are on a collision course for the West Division final. NHL Playoffs NHL Playoff Standings 2021: Predicting Which Teams Will Fall Short of Postseason Jake Rill Featured Columnist I April 14, 2021 Comments Carolina is 14-3-4 at home and 13-7-0 on the road. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes, Lightning and Panthers each have 58 points atop the standings. After some uncertainty, the 2021 NHL season formally is right here and the puck will drop on a 56-game, 116-day dash to the Stanley Cup playoffs. But this is a talented team, and even though the Blues face some tough competition over the next month, they should continue to play better than they did earlier in the season. What is different in 2021 is that the NHL’s traditional 6 Division format has been narrowed down to 4 Divisions in order to keep travel to a minimum during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially over the Canadian-US border. ... NHL Stanley Cup playoff chances and projected standings. The top four teams in the East, Central, North and West Divisions are starting to become clear, as only one division has fewer than four points between the No. NHL predictions 2021: Final standings, awards, playoff projections, Stanley Cup pick. NHL Playoffs: Looking at the three-team playoff race in the NHL West Division where the Arizona Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, and San Jose Sharks compete. Next week could decide where the Canes stand in the playoff race, as they face a four-game road swing against the Lightning and Panthers. This has been an unorthodox NHL season, one in which the divisions have been realigned and the format for the Stanley Cup playoffs has been changed. The Washington Capitals hold a small edge over the New York Islanders, but they have also played one more game than the second-place team. The NHL regular season ends Saturday May 8, 2021. After some uncertainty, the 2021 NHL season officially is here and the puck will drop on a 56-game, 116-day sprint to the Stanley Cup playoffs. Florida is 14-4-3 on home ice and 13-8-1 on its travels. And while it's possible that something surprising could happen during the final stretch of the regular season and a team outside of a postseason spot sneaks in, don't count on it. Washington received a boost when it acquired Anthony Mantha from the Detroit Red Wings. Our home for NHL Stanley Cup playoff predictions, probabilities, odds, and projected records. With the 2021 NHL season upon us, it’s time for the obligatory predictions. 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