(Update: The NHL decided to “pause” the 2019-20 season, so Thursday’s games have been canceled. Read more.)
Push for the Playoffs will run every morning through the end of the 2019-20 NHL season, barring a pause. We’ll highlight the current playoff picture in both conferences, take a look at what the first-round matchups might look like, see who’s leading the race for the best odds in the draft lottery and more.
As discussed in Thursday’s Morning Skate, it’s difficult to ignore the elephant in the room. While the NHL pushed the decision back on Wednesday, they’ll need to make the call soon. Will they put the season (and thus the Push for the Playoffs) on pause because of the coronavirus, much like the NBA, or will there be another solution? Could we see each team play multiple games in empty arenas?
A lot is unknown as of this writing.
Given the uncertainty regarding next steps regarding the coronavirus, Clubs are advised not to conduct morning skates, practices or team meetings today.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 12, 2020
Frankly, there’s also a lot to settle when it comes to various playoff races. If Thursday’s 10 games do take place, they will have serious implications for the standings.
Teams in dogfights for playoff spots cannot allow distractions to disrupt their games. That’s easier said than done, but teams like the Hurricanes, Panthers, Predators, Islanders, Coyotes, and others have little choice but to battle until the league blows the whistle to pause the Push for the Playoffs ... you know, or not.
IF PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Bruins vs. Blue Jackets
Capitals vs. Hurricanes
Lightning vs. Maple Leafs
Flyers vs. Penguins
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Blues vs. Predators
Golden Knights vs. Jets
Avalanche vs. Stars
Oilers vs. Flames
TODAY’S GAMES WITH PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
Games canceled, season put on hold.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
PLAYOFF PERCENTAGES (via Hockey Reference)
Bruins - 100 percent
Lightning - 100 percent
Capitals - 99.9
Flyers - 99.4
Penguins - 95.5
Hurricanes - 79.3
Maple Leafs - 73.9
Islanders - 53.2
Panthers - 43.6
Blue Jackets - 33
Rangers - 22.2
Canadiens - 0
Sabres - 0
Senators - 0
Devils - 0
Red Wings - OUT
WESTERN CONFERENCE
PLAYOFF PERCENTAGES (via Hockey Reference)
Blues - 100 percent
Avalanche - 100
Golden Knights - 99
Stars - 95.6
Oilers - 93.3
Canucks - 67.9
Flames - 65
Jets - 56.8
Predators - 54.7
Wild - 49.6
Coyotes - 15.5
Blackhawks - 2.6
Ducks - 0
Kings - 0
Sharks - 0
THE DRAFT LOTTERY PICTURE
Detroit Red Wings -- 18.5 percent
Ottawa Senators -- 13.5 percent
Ottawa Senators* -- 11.5 percent
Los Angeles Kings -- 9.5 percent
Anaheim Ducks -- 8.5 percent
New Jersey Devils -- 7.5 percent
Buffalo Sabres -- 6.5 percent
Montreal Canadiens -- 6 percent
Chicago Blackhawks -- 5 percent
New Jersey Devils** -- 3.5 percent
Minnesota Wild -- 3 percent
Winnipeg Jets -- 2.5 percent
New York Rangers -- 2 percent
Florida Panthers -- 1.5 percent
Columbus Blue Jackets -- 1 percent
(* SJ’s 2020 first-round pick owned by OTT)
(** ARZ’s lottery-protected 2020 first-round pick owned by NJ. If top three, moves to 2021)
ART ROSS TROPHY RACE
Leon Draisaitl, Oilers - 110 points
Connor McDavid, Oilers - 97 points
David Pastrnak, Bruins - 95 points
Artemi Panarin, Rangers - 95 points
Nathan MacKinnon, Avalanche - 93 points
ROCKET RICHARD RACE
David Pastrnak, Bruins - 48 goals
Alex Ovechkin, Capitals - 48 goals
Auston Matthews, Maple Leafs - 47 goals
Leon Draisaitl, Oilers - 43 goals
Mika Zibanejad, Rangers - 41 goals
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James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.