As the NHL regular season approaches its conclusion on April 17th, the playoff races are intensifying across all divisions and wild card spots. With each game carrying significant weight, teams are battling for crucial playoff seeding. Hockey enthusiasts are closely monitoring the standings as we enter the final weeks leading up to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Following their victory against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, the Winnipeg Jets have secured their playoff berth, joining the Capitals as the only teams to have clinched a spot so far. Washington currently leads Winnipeg by a single point in the competition for the Presidents` Trophy.
The playoff landscape is dynamic and changes daily. Stay updated with our NHL playoff race tracker, providing daily updates on the standings of each team vying for a playoff position as the postseason nears.
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.
- The second and third-placed teams within each division will play against each other in the first round.
*Regulation wins are the primary tiebreaker, followed by regulation and overtime wins combined. Shootout wins are not included in the regulation and overtime wins count.
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture
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 Picture
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
