There have been some incredibly busy nights on the NHL schedule recently, with many playoff contenders battling it out for those precious points. Tonight is not one of those nights.

Six of the eight teams in action are in draft lottery positions right now, and while two of them -- the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals -- can almost see a pathway to a wild card if they squint their eyes a certain way, the other four have a combined playoff chance percentage of about 4%. But that just means it's time for another dive into the NHL draft lottery projections!

For those who haven't been paying close attention to draft prospects yet, a franchise-altering forward named Connor Bedard is tearing up the WHL this season, and will be the first name off the board this June. Unlike some other leagues, the worst team doesn't automatically get the first pick; instead, a weighted lottery occurs, where teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots via two draws. In other words, any team that finishes 11th or worse has a crack at drafting Bedard, thus accelerating their rebuild/retool.

Tonight's slate features two of the bottom four teams -- the Columbus Blue Jackets (49 points, 15 regulation wins in 67 games) and Anaheim Ducks (54, 12 in 68) -- squaring off in SoCal. Meanwhile, the aforementioned Sabres and Capitals will play the Philadelphia Flyers (59, 22 in 67) and the St. Louis Blues (63, 21 in 67), respectively.

There could be movement in the Bedard standings by tomorrow morning, and be sure to set your calendar for May 8 at 7 p.m. ET, when the draft lottery will be broadcast live on ESPN.

As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, it's time to check all the playoff races -- along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2023 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via FiveThirtyEight.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today's games
Last night's scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 New York Islanders
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Pittsburgh Penguins
M2 New Jersey Devils vs. M3 New York Rangers

Western Conference

C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC1 Seattle Kraken
C2 Minnesota Wild vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Friday's games

Note: All times Eastern. All games not on ESPN, TNT or NHL Network are available via NHL Power Play, which is included in an ESPN+ subscription (local blackout restrictions apply).

Buffalo Sabres at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.
Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. (NHLN)
St. Louis Blues at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.

Thursday's scoreboard

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

Florida Panthers 9, Montreal Canadiens 5
New York Rangers 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 2
Tampa Bay Lightning 4, New Jersey Devils 3 (SO)
Colorado Avalanche 5, Ottawa Senators 4
Chicago Blackhawks 2, Nashville Predators 1
Boston Bruins 3, Winnipeg Jets 0
Edmonton Oilers 4, Dallas Stars 1
Arizona Coyotes 3, Vancouver Canucks 2
Calgary Flames 7, Vegas Golden Knights 2
Los Angeles Kings 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 1
Seattle Kraken 2, San Jose Sharks 1 (OT)

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

x - Boston Bruins

Points: 107
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 15
Points pace: 131
Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Toronto Maple Leafs

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 15
Points pace: 109
Next game: vs. CAR (Friday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 13
Points pace: 105
Next game: vs. MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Florida Panthers

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 52%
Tragic number: 25

Buffalo Sabres

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 88
Next game: @ PHI (Friday)
Playoff chances: 13%
Tragic number: 24

Ottawa Senators

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 84
Next game: vs. TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 2%
Tragic number: 20

Detroit Red Wings

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 85
Next game: vs. COL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 2%
Tragic number: 21

Montreal Canadiens

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 71
Next game: @ TB (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 8

Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 16
Points pace: 119
Next game: @ TOR (Friday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

New Jersey Devils

Points: 95
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 115
Next game: @ FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Rangers

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 14
Points pace: 106
Next game: vs. PIT (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 94
Next game: @ NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 70%
Tragic number: N/A

New York Islanders

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 91
Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 50%
Tragic number: N/A

Washington Capitals

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 87
Next game: vs. STL (Friday)
Playoff chances: 12%
Tragic number: 21

Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 72
Next game: vs. BUF (Friday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 11

Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 15
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 60
Next game: @ ANA (Friday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 1

Central Division

Dallas Stars

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 103
Next game: @ CGY (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Minnesota Wild

Points: 86
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 104
Next game: vs. BOS (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 99%
Tragic number: N/A

Colorado Avalanche

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 15
Points pace: 103
Next game: @ DET (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Winnipeg Jets

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 94
Next game: @ NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 59%
Tragic number: N/A

Nashville Predators

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 93
Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 26%
Tragic number: 28

St. Louis Blues

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 77
Next game: @ WSH (Friday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 14

Arizona Coyotes

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 75
Next game: vs. CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 10

Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 16
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 65
Next game: @ ARI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 3

Pacific Division

Vegas Golden Knights

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 107
Next game: vs. CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Los Angeles Kings

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 106
Next game: vs. VAN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: >99%
Tragic number: N/A

Edmonton Oilers

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 13
Points pace: 100
Next game: @ SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 98%
Tragic number: N/A

Seattle Kraken

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 100
Next game: vs. EDM (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 93%
Tragic number: N/A

Calgary Flames

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 90
Next game: vs. DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 26%
Tragic number: 23

Vancouver Canucks

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 77
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 14

Anaheim Ducks

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 12
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 65
Next game: vs. CBJ (Friday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 3

e - San Jose Sharks

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 62
Next game: vs. NYI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team might 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. Sitting No. 1 on the draft board for this summer is Connor Bedard, who has been lauded as a generational talent.

1. Columbus Blue Jackets

Points: 49
Regulation wins: 15

2. San Jose Sharks

Points: 52
Regulation wins: 14

3. Anaheim Ducks

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 12

4. Chicago Blackhawks

Points: 54
Regulation wins: 16

5. Philadelphia Flyers

Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22

6. Montreal Canadiens

Points: 60
Regulation wins: 18

7. Vancouver Canucks

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 18

8. Arizona Coyotes

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 19

9. St. Louis Blues

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 21

10. Detroit Red Wings

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 24

11. Ottawa Senators

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 26

12. Buffalo Sabres

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 25

13. Washington Capitals

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25

14. Nashville Predators

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25

15. Florida Panthers*

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 29

16. Calgary Flames

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 25

Notes on traded picks impacting the top 16:

• Montreal will receive Florida's first-round pick as a result of the trade last season that sent Ben Chiarot to the Panthers.