NHL playoff watch standings update: The path for the Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers to meet ...

Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon are two of the best hockey players in the world. Neither has come close to winning the Stanley Cup yet, but if things break a certain way this postseason, one of them could be guaranteed a spot in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Avs have clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and are in the mix for the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top team overall this regular season. They'll face the West's No. 2 wild card (currently the Dallas Stars) in the first round, followed by the winner of the St. Louis Blues-Minnesota Wild series in the second round in order to get to the conference finals. Per Money Puck, the Avs have a 43.4% chance of making it that far.

As for the Oilers, they've got a series forthcoming against the No. 3 seed in the Pacific Division, currently the Los Angeles Kings. Win that one, and they'll face the winner of the series pitting the Calgary Flames against the West's No. 1 wild card (currently the Nashville Predators). Money Puck gives the Oilers a 24.6% chance of getting to the conference finals.

The still-raging Western wild-card race will have much to do with both teams' paths to another showdown. But we'll be keeping a close eye on their game Friday night (9 ET, streaming live ESPN+ for out-of-market subscribers) to get a preview of this possible future matchup.

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/>Friday's gamesbr/>Thursday night's scoresbr/>Expanded standingsbr/>Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Tonight's games

Note: All times Eastern. All out-of-market, non-NHL Network games available to stream on ESPN+.

Last night's scoreboard

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

Expanded standings

Note: x = clinched playoff spot; y = clinched division title; z = clinched best conference record; e = eliminated

Atlantic Division

z - Florida Panthers

Points: 118