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 competing for the coveted trophy. With almost all playoff spots locked in, and first-round matchups finalized, anticipation is building.
In the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals have secured the top seed and were initially expected to face the Montreal Canadiens in the first round. However, a recent loss by the Canadiens to the Chicago Blackhawks has opened the door for the Columbus Blue Jackets to potentially grab the final Wild Card spot in the East. The Blue Jackets need to win their last game and rely on other results to go their way.
The Western Conference playoff bracket is now complete, with both the Minnesota Wild and Calgary Flames clinching their playoff berths. The Winnipeg Jets will enter the playoffs as the top seed in the West, having won the Presidents` Trophy for the first time in their history.
As the playoff landscape can change quickly, stay tuned to updates for the latest standings and potential matchups as the postseason approaches. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 19th.
NHL Playoff Seeding Explained
- The top three teams from each division automatically qualify for the playoffs.
- Each conference has two Wild Card spots available.
- The top division winner in each conference will face the second Wild Card team, while the other division winner will play against the first Wild Card team.
- The second and third-place teams within each division will compete against each other in the first round.
*Tiebreakers are determined first by regulation wins, followed by regulation plus overtime wins. Shootout wins are not included in regulation plus overtime wins. `X` indicates a clinched playoff berth, `Z` denotes clinching the best record in the conference, and `Z*` signifies the President`s Trophy winner.
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture
Atlantic Division
1. Toronto Maple Leafs | 51-26-4 | 106 points – X
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 | 47-28-5 | 99 points – X
Points percentage: .619
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 | 39-31-11 | 89 points
Points percentage: .549
Regulation wins: 29
Regulation plus overtime wins: 37
Current first-round matchup: Washington Capitals
Columbus Blue Jackets | 39-33-9 | 87 points
Points percentage: .537
Regulation wins: 29
Regulation plus overtime wins: 33
Western Conference Playoff Picture
Central Division
1. Winnipeg Jets | 55-22-4 | 114 points – Z*
Points percentage: .704
Regulation wins: 43
Regulation plus overtime wins: 53
First-round matchup: St. Louis Blues
2. Dallas Stars | 50-25-6 | 106 points – X
Points percentage: .654
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 | 49-22-10 | 108 points-X
Points percentage: .667
Regulation wins: 45
Regulation plus overtime wins: 48
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 | 47-29-5 | 99 points – X
Points percentage: .611
Regulation wins: 35
Regulation plus overtime wins: 47
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
