The most exciting time of the hockey season is almost upon us. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to kick off this weekend, with 16 teams vying for the most coveted trophy in hockey. The playoff bracket is now finalized, and the first-round matchups are locked in.
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, the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues both secured their playoff spots on Tuesday. The Winnipeg Jets, after an outstanding season and winning the Presidents` Trophy for the first time in franchise history, will be the top seed in the West and will play against the Blues in the opening round.
The puck drops on the Stanley Cup Playoffs this Saturday.
NHL Playoff Seeding Explained
- The top three teams from each division automatically qualify for the playoffs.
- Each conference is also 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 play the first Wild Card team.
- The teams finishing second and third in each division will face each other in the first round.
*Regulation wins are the primary tiebreaker, followed by regulation plus overtime wins as the secondary tiebreaker. Shootout wins are not included in regulation plus overtime wins. X indicates clinched playoff berth. Z indicates clinched best record in conference. Z* indicates 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
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
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
