The fight for the Stanley Cup Playoffs is really intensifying. Teams have only a few games left, and everyone is competing for a chance to win the cup. The seeding in each conference could be very interesting this year.
So far, only a few teams have secured their playoff spots: the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, Winnipeg Jets, and Washington Capitals. The Jets are currently slightly ahead of the Capitals for the Presidents` Trophy by just one point.
Many teams are also in close races within their divisions. For example, in the Atlantic Division, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the current champions, the Florida Panthers, are very close in points, making for a potentially exciting first-round series.
The playoff situation is changing almost every day. We are providing an NHL playoff tracker that will be updated daily to show the playoff standings as the postseason approaches.
NHL Playoff Seeding Explained
- The top three teams in each division automatically qualify for the playoffs.
- Each conference has two wild-card spots available.
- The top division winner in each conference will play against the second wild card team, and the other division winner will play the first wild card team.
- The second and third-place teams from each division will play each other in the first round.
*Regulation wins are the primary tiebreaker, followed by regulation and overtime wins. Shootout wins are not included in the regulation and overtime wins count. X indicates a clinched playoff spot.
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture
Atlantic Division
1. Toronto Maple Leafs | 46-25-4 | 96 points
Points percentage: .640
Regulation wins: 38
Regulation plus overtime wins: 45
Projected First Round Matchup: Ottawa Senators
2. Tampa Bay Lightning | 44-25-5 | 93 points
Points percentage: .628
Regulation wins: 38
Regulation plus overtime wins: 42
Projected First Round Matchup: Florida Panthers
3. Florida Panthers | 44-27-4 | 92 points
Points percentage: .613
Regulation wins: 35
Regulation plus overtime wins: 39
Projected First Round Matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1. Washington Capitals | 48-18-9 | 105 points-X
Points percentage: .700
Regulation wins: 41
Regulation plus overtime wins: 47
Projected First Round Matchup: Montreal Canadiens
2. Carolina Hurricanes | 46-24-4 | 96 points-X
Points percentage: .649
Regulation wins: 41
Regulation plus overtime wins: 46
Projected First Round Matchup: New Jersey Devils
3. New Jersey Devils | 40-29-7 | 87 points
Points percentage: .572
Regulation wins: 35
Regulation plus overtime wins: 38
Projected First Round Matchup: Carolina Hurricanes
Wild Card
WC1. Ottawa Senators | 39-29-6 | 84 points
Points percentage: .568
Regulation wins: 30
Regulation plus overtime wins: 38
Projected First Round Matchup: Toronto Maple Leafs
WC2. Montreal Canadiens | 35-30-9 | 79 points
Points percentage: .534
Regulation wins: 25
Regulation plus overtime wins: 33
Projected First Round Matchup: Washington Capitals
New York Rangers | 36-32-7 | 79 points
Points percentage: .527
Regulation wins: 32
Regulation plus overtime wins: 35
Columbus Blue Jackets | 34-30-9 | 77 points
Points percentage: .527
Regulation wins: 24
Regulation plus overtime wins: 28
Detroit Red Wings | 34-33-7 | 75 points
Points percentage: .507
Regulation wins: 26
Regulation plus overtime wins: 31
New York Islanders | 32-32-10 | 74 points
Points percentage: .500
Regulation wins: 25
Regulation plus overtime wins: 30
Western Conference Playoff Picture
Central Division
1. Winnipeg Jets | 51-20-4 | 106 points-X
Points percentage: .707
Regulation wins: 40
Regulation plus overtime wins: 50
Projected First Round Matchup: Minnesota Wild
2. Dallas Stars | 49-21-4 | 102 points-X
Points percentage: .689
Regulation wins: 40
Regulation plus overtime wins: 47
Projected First Round Matchup: Colorado Avalanche
3. Colorado Avalanche | 46-26-4 | 96 points
Points percentage: .627
Regulation wins: 38
Regulation plus overtime wins: 43
Projected First Round Matchup: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights | 45-21-8 | 98 points-X
Points percentage: .662
Regulation wins: 42
Regulation plus overtime wins: 44
Projected First Round Matchup: St. Louis Blues
2. Los Angeles Kings | 42-23-9 | 93 points
Points percentage: .628
Regulation wins: 37
Regulation plus overtime wins: 41
Projected First Round Matchup: Edmonton Oilers
3. Edmonton Oilers | 43-26-5 | 91 points
Points percentage: .615
Regulation wins: 31
Regulation plus overtime wins: 43
Projected First Round Matchup: Los Angeles Kings
Wild Card
WC1. Minnesota Wild | 41-28-7 | 89 points
Points percentage: .586
Regulation wins: 33
Regulation plus overtime wins: 38
Projected First Round Matchup: Winnipeg Jets
WC2. St. Louis Blues | 41-28-7 | 89 points
Points percentage: .586
Regulation wins: 30
Regulation plus overtime wins: 37
Projected First Round Matchup: Vegas Golden Knights
Calgary Flames | 35-27-12 | 82 points
Points percentage: .554
Regulation wins: 26
Regulation plus overtime wins: 31
Vancouver Canucks | 34-28-13 | 81 points
Points percentage: .540
Regulation wins: 26
Regulation plus overtime wins: 31
Utah Hockey Club | 34-29-12 | 80 points
Points percentage: .533
Regulation wins: 26
Regulation plus overtime wins: 33
Elton Marrow