The most exciting time of the hockey season is almost upon us. The Stanley Cup playoffs are set to kick off this weekend, featuring 16 teams vying for the most prestigious trophy in hockey. The playoff teams are finalized, and the first-round matchups are now determined.
In the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals have secured the top seed and will face the Montreal Canadiens in the first round. The Canadiens clinched the final Wild Card spot in the East by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Wednesday.
Over in the Western Conference, both the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues secured their playoff spots on Tuesday. The Winnipeg Jets, after achieving the Presidents` Trophy for the first time in their history, will be the top seed in the West and will play against the Blues in the opening round.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are scheduled to begin on Saturday.
NHL Playoff Seeding Rules: A Reminder
- The top three teams from each division automatically qualify for a playoff spot.
- Each conference is allocated two wild-card spots.
- The top division winner in each conference will compete against the second wild card team, while the other division winner will face the first wild card team.
- The teams that finished second and third in each division will play against each other in the first round.
*Regulation wins are the primary tiebreaker, followed by regulation and overtime wins as the secondary tiebreaker. Shootout wins are not included in the regulation and overtime wins count. X indicates a clinched playoff berth. Z signifies clinching the best record in the conference. Z* denotes the President`s Trophy winner.
Eastern Conference Playoff Bracket
Atlantic Division
1. Toronto Maple Leafs | 51-26-4 | 106 points – Y
Points percentage: .654
Regulation wins: 41
Regulation plus overtime wins: 50
Current first-round matchup: Ottawa Senators
2. Tampa Bay Lightning | 47-26-8 | 102 points – X
Points percentage: .630
Regulation wins: 41
Regulation plus overtime wins: 45
First-round matchup: Florida Panthers
3. Florida Panthers | 47-31-4 | 98 points – X
Points percentage: .598
Regulation wins: 37
Regulation plus overtime wins: 41
First-round matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1. Washington Capitals | 51-21-9 | 111 points – Z
Points percentage: .685
Regulation wins: 43
Regulation plus overtime wins: 49
First-round matchup: Montreal Canadiens
2. Carolina Hurricanes | 47-29-5 | 99 points – X
Points percentage: .611
Regulation wins: 42
Regulation plus overtime wins: 47
First-round matchup: New Jersey Devils
3. New Jersey Devils | 42-32-7 | 91 points – X
Points percentage: .562
Regulation wins: 36
Regulation plus overtime wins: 40
First-round matchup: Carolina Hurricanes
Wild Card
WC1. Ottawa Senators | 44-30-7 | 95 points
Points percentage: .586
Regulation wins: 34
Regulation plus overtime wins: 43
First-round matchup: Toronto Maple Leafs
WC2. Montreal Canadiens | 40-31-11 | 91 points – X
Points percentage: .555
Regulation wins: 30
Regulation plus overtime wins: 38
Current first-round matchup: Washington Capitals
Western Conference Playoff Bracket
Central Division
1. Winnipeg Jets | 56-22-4 | 116 points – Z*
Points percentage: .707
Regulation wins: 43
Regulation plus overtime wins: 54
First-round matchup: St. Louis Blues
2. Dallas Stars | 50-26-6 | 106 points – X
Points percentage: .646
Regulation wins: 41
Regulation plus overtime wins: 48
First-round matchup: Colorado Avalanche
3. Colorado Avalanche | 49-29-4 | 102 points – X
Points percentage: .622
Regulation wins: 40
Regulation plus overtime wins: 45
First-round matchup: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights | 50-22-10 | 110 points – Y
Points percentage: .671
Regulation wins: 46
Regulation plus overtime wins: 49
First-round matchup: Minnesota Wild
2. Los Angeles Kings | 48-24-9 | 105 points – X
Points percentage: .648
Regulation wins: 43
Regulation plus overtime wins: 47
First-round matchup: Edmonton Oilers
3. Edmonton Oilers | 48-29-5 | 101 points – X
Points percentage: .616
Regulation wins: 36
Regulation plus overtime wins: 48
First-round matchup: Los Angeles Kings
Wild Card
WC1. Minnesota Wild | 45-30-7 | 97 points
Points percentage: .591
Regulation wins: 33
Regulation plus overtime wins: 42
First-round matchup: Vegas Golden Knights
WC2. St. Louis Blues | 44-30-8 | 96 points
Points percentage: .585
Regulation wins: 32
Regulation plus overtime wins: 40
First-round matchup: Winnipeg Jets
