The NHL regular season is nearing its end on April 17th, and the playoff races are intensifying for division titles and wild card berths.
With the Stanley Cup Playoffs approaching in just three weeks, every game and point becomes crucial for teams vying for playoff positioning. Hockey fans are closely monitoring the NHL standings.
So far, the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, and Washington Capitals have secured their playoff spots. The Jets are currently slightly ahead of the Capitals in the competition for the Presidents` Trophy.
The playoff landscape is dynamic and changes daily. This NHL playoff race tracker will provide daily updates on the standings of potential playoff teams as the postseason approaches.
NHL Playoff Seeding Explained
- The top three teams from each division automatically qualify for the playoffs.
- Each conference is allocated two wild card spots.
- The top division winner in each conference will face the second wild card team, while the other division winner will compete against the first wild card team.
- Second and third-place divisional teams will play against each other in the first round.
*Regulation wins are the primary tiebreaker, followed by regulation and overtime wins. Shootout wins are not considered in regulation and overtime wins.
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture
Atlantic Division
1. Toronto Maple Leafs | 45-24-4 | 94 points
Points percentage: .635
Regulation wins: 37
Regulation plus overtime wins: 44
Current first-round matchup: Ottawa Senators
2. Tampa Bay Lightning | 43-25-5 | 91 points
Points percentage: .623
Regulation wins: 37
Regulation plus overtime wins: 41
Current first-round matchup: Florida Panthers
3. Florida Panthers | 44-26-3 | 91 points
Points percentage: .623
Regulation wins: 35
Regulation plus overtime wins: 39
Current first-round matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1. Washington Capitals | 47-17-9 | 103 points
Points percentage: .705
Regulation wins: 40
Regulation plus overtime wins: 46
Current first-round matchup: Montreal Canadiens
2. Carolina Hurricanes | 45-24-4 | 94 points
Points percentage: .644
Regulation wins: 40
Regulation plus overtime wins: 45
Current first-round matchup: New Jersey Devils
3. New Jersey Devils | 39-29-7 | 85 points
Points percentage: .567
Regulation wins: 35
Regulation plus overtime wins: 38
Current first-round matchup: Carolina Hurricanes
Wild Card
WC1. Ottawa Senators | 39-28-6 | 84 points
Points percentage: .575
Regulation wins: 30
Regulation plus overtime wins: 38
Current first-round matchup: Toronto Maple Leafs
WC2. Montreal Canadiens | 34-30-9 | 77 points
Points percentage: .527
Regulation wins: 25
Regulation plus overtime wins: 32
Current first-round matchup: Washington Capitals
New York Rangers | 35-32-7 | 77 points
Points percentage: .520
Regulation wins: 32
Regulation plus overtime wins: 34
Columbus Blue Jackets | 33-30-9 | 75 points
Points percentage: .521
Regulation wins: 23
Regulation plus overtime wins: 27
Detroit Red Wings | 34-33-6 | 74 points
Points percentage: .507
Regulation wins: 26
Regulation plus overtime wins: 31
New York Islanders | 32-31-10 | 74 points
Points percentage: .507
Regulation wins: 25
Regulation plus overtime wins: 30
Pittsburgh Penguins | 30-34-11 | 71 points
Points percentage: .473
Regulation wins: 20
Regulation plus overtime wins: 29
Western Conference Playoff Picture
Central Division
1. Winnipeg Jets | 51-19-4 | 106 points
Points percentage: .716
Regulation wins: 40
Regulation plus overtime wins: 50
Current first-round matchup: St. Louis Blues
2. Dallas Stars | 48-21-4 | 100 points
Points percentage: .685
Regulation wins: 39
Regulation plus overtime wins: 46
Current first-round matchup: Colorado Avalanche
3. Colorado Avalanche | 45-26-3 | 93 points
Points percentage: .628
Regulation wins: 38
Regulation plus overtime wins: 43
Current first-round matchup: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights | 45-20-8 | 98 points
Points percentage: .671
Regulation wins: 42
Regulation plus overtime wins: 44
Current first-round matchup: Minnesota Wild
2. Los Angeles Kings | 41-23-9 | 91 points
Points percentage: .623
Regulation wins: 36
Regulation plus overtime wins: 40
Current first-round matchup: Edmonton Oilers
3. Edmonton Oilers | 42-26-5 | 89 points
Points percentage: .610
Regulation wins: 30
Regulation plus overtime wins: 42
Current first-round matchup: Los Angeles Kings
Wild Card
WC1. Minnesota Wild | 41-28-5 | 87 points
Points percentage: .588
Regulation wins: 33
Regulation plus overtime wins: 38
Current first-round matchup: Vegas Golden Knights
WC2. St. Louis Blues | 40-28-7 | 87 points
Points percentage: .580
Regulation wins: 30
Regulation plus overtime wins: 36
Current first-round matchup: Winnipeg Jets
Vancouver Canucks | 34-27-13 | 81 points
Points percentage: .547
Regulation wins: 26
Regulation plus overtime wins: 31
Calgary Flames | 34-26-12 | 80 points
Points percentage: .556
Regulation wins: 26
Regulation plus overtime wins: 31
Utah Hockey Club | 33-29-12 | 78 points
Points percentage: .527
Regulation wins: 25
Regulation plus overtime wins: 32
