The field for the Stanley Cup Playoffs is almost finalized. With less than a week of the regular season remaining, only four playoff spots are still undecided. The seeding is also highly contested, with many first-round matchups still uncertain.
In the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals have secured the top seed. They are waiting to see who their first-round opponent will be, but it`s likely to be the Montreal Canadiens, one of the league`s hottest teams. The New York Rangers and a couple of other teams still have a slim chance to overtake the Canadiens for the final playoff spot.
The Western Conference situation is slightly different, with four teams competing for the remaining two spots. The Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, and Calgary Flames are all in contention for wild card positions. While the Flames are considered a longshot, they did achieve a victory over the Wild in their recent head-to-head game on Friday.
The playoff picture is expected to change daily. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 19.
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, and 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.
*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 a clinched playoff berth. Z indicates securing the best record in the conference.
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture
Atlantic Division
1. Toronto Maple Leafs | 48-26-4 | 100 points – X
Points percentage: .641
Regulation wins: 39
Regulation plus overtime wins: 47
Current first-round matchup: Ottawa Senators
2. Tampa Bay Lightning | 45-26-8 | 98 points – X
Points percentage: .620
Regulation wins: 39
Regulation plus overtime wins: 43
Current first-round matchup: Florida Panthers
3. Florida Panthers | 46-29-4 | 96 points – X
Points percentage: .608
Regulation wins: 37
Regulation plus overtime wins: 41
Current first-round matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1. Washington Capitals | 50-19-9 | 109 points – Z
Points percentage: .699
Regulation wins: 42
Regulation plus overtime wins: 48
Current first-round matchup: Montreal Canadiens
2. Carolina Hurricanes | 46-27-5 | 97 points – X
Points percentage: .622
Regulation wins: 41
Regulation plus overtime wins: 46
Current first-round matchup: New Jersey Devils
3. New Jersey Devils | 41-31-7 | 89 points – X
Points percentage: .563
Regulation wins: 36
Regulation plus overtime wins: 39
Current first-round matchup: Carolina Hurricanes
Wild Card
WC1. Ottawa Senators | 43-30-6 | 92 points
Points percentage: .582
Regulation wins: 34
Regulation plus overtime wins: 42
Current first-round matchup: Toronto Maple Leafs
WC2. Montreal Canadiens | 39-31-9 | 87 points
Points percentage: .551
Regulation wins: 29
Regulation plus overtime wins: 37
Current first-round matchup: Washington Capitals
Columbus Blue Jackets | 36-33-9 | 81 points
Points percentage: .519
Regulation wins: 26
Regulation plus overtime wins: 30
New York Rangers | 37-35-7 | 81 points
Points percentage: .513
Regulation wins: 33
Regulation plus overtime wins: 36
Detroit Red Wings | 37-35-7 | 81 points
Points percentage: .513
Regulation wins: 28
Regulation plus overtime wins: 33
New York Islanders | 34-33-11 | 79 points
Points percentage: .506
Regulation wins: 27
Regulation plus overtime wins: 32
Western Conference Playoff Picture
Central Division
1. Winnipeg Jets | 54-21-4 | 112 points – X
Points percentage: .709
Regulation wins: 43
Regulation plus overtime wins: 53
Current first-round matchup: St. Louis Blues
2. Dallas Stars | 50-23-6 | 106 points – X
Points percentage: .671
Regulation wins: 41
Regulation plus overtime wins: 48
Current first-round matchup: Colorado Avalanche
3. Colorado Avalanche | 48-28-4 | 100 points – X
Points percentage: .625
Regulation wins: 39
Regulation plus overtime wins: 44
Current first-round matchup: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights | 48-22-9 | 105 points-X
Points percentage: .660
Regulation wins: 43
Regulation plus overtime wins: 46
Current first-round matchup: Minnesota Wild
2. Los Angeles Kings | 45-24-9 | 99 points – X
Points percentage: .635
Regulation wins: 40
Regulation plus overtime wins: 44
Current first-round matchup: Edmonton Oilers
3. Edmonton Oilers | 46-28-5 | 97 points
Points percentage: .614
Regulation wins: 33
Regulation plus overtime wins: 45
Current first-round matchup: Los Angeles Kings
Wild Card
WC1. Minnesota Wild | 43-30-7 | 93 points
Points percentage: .581
Regulation wins: 33
Regulation plus overtime wins: 40
Current first-round matchup: Vegas Golden Knights
WC2. St. Louis Blues | 43-30-7 | 93 points
Points percentage: .581
Regulation wins: 31
Regulation plus overtime wins: 39
Current first-round matchup: Winnipeg Jets
Calgary Flames | 38-27-13 | 89 points
Points percentage: .570
Regulation wins: 28
Regulation plus overtime wins: 33
