The National Hockey League regular season is nearing its end, culminating on April 17th. As the season concludes, the playoff races are intensifying across all divisions and for the crucial wild card positions.
In this critical final stretch, every point becomes vital for teams vying for optimal playoff seeding. Hockey enthusiasts will be closely monitoring the standings in the coming weeks as the Stanley Cup Playoffs approach.
Following their victory against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, the Winnipeg Jets have secured a playoff berth, joining the Capitals as the only teams to clinch so far. Washington currently leads Winnipeg by a single point in the competition for the Presidents` Trophy.
Given the dynamic nature of the playoff landscape, CBS Sports is providing daily updates with our NHL playoff race tracker. This tracker will reflect the current standings of each team in playoff contention as the postseason draws closer.
NHL Playoff Seeding Explained
Here`s a reminder of the NHL playoff seeding structure:
- 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-place teams within each division will play against each other in the first round.
*Regulation wins serve as the primary tiebreaker, followed by regulation plus overtime wins as the secondary tiebreaker. Shootout wins are not considered in regulation plus overtime wins.
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
Torin Vale 
Elton Marrow