NHL Playoff Race Heats Up as Regular Season Nears End

NHL News

The National Hockey League`s regular season is approaching its conclusion on April 17th, and the playoff races are intensifying across all divisions and for the coveted wild card positions.

As we enter the final stretch, every single point becomes crucial for teams aiming for optimal playoff seeding. Hockey enthusiasts will be closely monitoring the standings in the coming weeks as the Stanley Cup Playoffs draw closer.

After their recent victory against the Washington Capitals, the Winnipeg Jets have secured their playoff berth, joining the Capitals as the only teams to have officially clinched a spot. Currently, Washington is slightly ahead of Winnipeg in the competition for the Presidents` Trophy.

The playoff landscape is dynamic and subject to daily changes. This tracker will provide daily updates on the standings of each team contending for a playoff position as the postseason approaches.

Understanding NHL Playoff Seeding

  • 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.
  • The teams finishing second and third in each division will play against each other in the first round.

*Regulation wins serve as the primary tiebreaker, followed by regulation and overtime wins combined as the secondary tiebreaker. Shootout wins are not considered in regulation plus overtime wins.

Eastern Conference Playoff Standings

Atlantic Division

1. Toronto Maple Leafs | 43-25-3 | 89 points

Points percentage: .627
Regulation wins: 35
Regulation plus overtime wins: 42
Current first-round matchup: Ottawa Senators

2. Florida Panthers | 43-25-3 | 89 points

Points percentage: .627
Regulation wins: 35
Regulation plus overtime wins: 38
Current first-round matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning

3. Tampa Bay Lightning | 41-25-5 | 87 points

Points percentage: .613
Regulation wins: 35
Regulation plus overtime wins: 39
Current first-round matchup: Florida Panthers

Metropolitan Division

1. Washington Capitals | 47-15-9 | 103 points

Points percentage: .725
Regulation wins: 40
Regulation plus overtime wins: 46
Current first-round matchup: Montreal Canadiens

2. Carolina Hurricanes | 43-24-4 | 90 points

Points percentage: .634
Regulation wins: 44
Regulation plus overtime wins: 46
Current first-round matchup: New Jersey Devils

3. New Jersey Devils | 37-28-7 | 81 points

Points percentage: .563
Regulation wins: 33
Regulation plus overtime wins: 36
Current first-round matchup: Carolina Hurricanes

Wild Card

WC1. Ottawa Senators | 37-28-5 | 79 points

Points percentage: .564
Regulation wins: 28
Regulation plus overtime wins: 36
Current first-round matchup: Toronto Maple Leafs

WC2. Montreal Canadiens | 33-28-9 | 75 points

Points percentage: .536
Regulation wins: 24
Regulation plus overtime wins: 31
Current first-round matchup: Washington Capitals

New York Islanders | 32-28-10 | 74 points

Points percentage: .529
Regulation wins: 25
Regulation plus overtime wins: 30

New York Rangers | 34-32-6 | 74 points

Points percentage: .514
Regulation wins: 31
Regulation plus overtime wins: 33

Columbus Blue Jackets | 32-29-9 | 73 points

Points percentage: .521
Regulation wins: 23
Regulation plus overtime wins: 27

Detroit Red Wings | 33-32-6 | 72 points

Points percentage: .507
Regulation wins: 25
Regulation plus overtime wins: 30

Boston Bruins | 30-33-9 | 69 points

Points percentage: .479
Regulation wins: 23
Regulation plus overtime wins: 30

Pittsburgh Penguins | 29-33-11 | 69 points

Points percentage: .473
Regulation wins: 20
Regulation plus overtime wins: 28

Western Conference Playoff Standings

Central Division

1. Winnipeg Jets | 49-19-4 | 102 points

Points percentage: .708
Regulation wins: 38
Regulation plus overtime wins: 48
Current first-round matchup: St. Louis Blues

2. Dallas Stars | 45-21-4 | 94 points

Points percentage: .671
Regulation wins: 36
Regulation plus overtime wins: 43
Current first-round matchup: Colorado Avalanche

3. Colorado Avalanche | 44-25-3 | 91 points

Points percentage: .632
Regulation wins: 37
Regulation plus overtime wins: 42
Current first-round matchup: Dallas Stars

Pacific Division

1. Vegas Golden Knights | 43-20-8 | 94 points

Points percentage: .662
Regulation wins: 40
Regulation plus overtime wins: 42
Current first-round matchup: Minnesota Wild

2. Los Angeles Kings | 40-29-9 | 89 points

Points percentage: .636
Regulation wins: 35
Regulation plus overtime wins: 39
Current first-round matchup: Edmonton Oilers

3. Edmonton Oilers | 41-24-5 | 87 points

Points percentage: .621
Regulation wins: 30
Regulation plus overtime wins: 41
Current first-round matchup: Los Angeles Kings

Wild Card

WC1. Minnesota Wild | 40-27-5 | 85 points

Points percentage: .590
Regulation wins: 32
Regulation plus overtime wins: 37
Current first-round matchup: Vegas Golden Knights

WC2. St. Louis Blues | 38-28-7 | 83 points

Points percentage: .568
Regulation wins: 28
Regulation plus overtime wins: 34
Current first-round matchup: Winnipeg Jets

Calgary Flames | 34-25-11 | 79 points

Points percentage: .564
Regulation wins: 26
Regulation plus overtime wins: 31

Vancouver Canucks | 33-26-12 | 78 points

Points percentage: .549
Regulation wins: 25
Regulation plus overtime wins: 30

Utah Hockey Club | 32-28-11 | 75 points

Points percentage: .528
Regulation wins: 24
Regulation plus overtime wins: 31

Gideon Brant
Gideon Brant

Say hello to Gideon Brant, a dedicated writer based in Leeds, England. Specializing in sports news, he dives into rugby, boxing, and more with grit and flair. Gideon’s love for competition fuels his work, capturing the drama of every match.

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