The NHL regular season is nearing its conclusion on April 17th, intensifying the playoff races for division leaders and wild card positions.
As teams battle for playoff seeding in the final month, every point becomes crucial. Hockey fans will be closely monitoring the standings in the three weeks leading up to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Recently, the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars secured playoff berths, joining the Capitals as teams that have clinched a playoff spot. The Jets are currently slightly ahead of the Capitals by three points 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 each potential playoff team`s standing as the postseason approaches.
NHL Playoff Seeding Explained
- The top three teams from each division automatically qualify for the playoffs.
- Two wild card spots are available in each conference.
- The top division winner in each conference will compete against the second wild card team, while the other division winner will face the first wild card team.
- In the first round, the second and third-place teams within each division will play against each other.
*Regulation wins are the primary tiebreaker, followed by regulation and overtime wins as the secondary tiebreaker. Shootout wins are not included in regulation and overtime wins.
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture
Atlantic Division
1. Toronto Maple Leafs | 45-24-4 | 94 points
Points percentage: .635
Regulation wins: 37
Regulation plus overtime wins: 44
Current first-round matchup: Ottawa Senators
2. Tampa Bay Lightning | 43-25-5 | 91 points
Points percentage: .623
Regulation wins: 37
Regulation plus overtime wins: 41
Current first-round matchup: Florida Panthers
3. Florida Panthers | 44-26-3 | 91 points
Points percentage: .623
Regulation wins: 35
Regulation plus overtime wins: 39
Current first-round matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1. Washington Capitals | 47-17-9 | 103 points
Points percentage: .705
Regulation wins: 40
Regulation plus overtime wins: 46
Current first-round matchup: Montreal Canadiens
2. Carolina Hurricanes | 45-24-4 | 94 points
Points percentage: .644
Regulation wins: 40
Regulation plus overtime wins: 45
Current first-round matchup: New Jersey Devils
3. New Jersey Devils | 39-29-7 | 85 points
Points percentage: .567
Regulation wins: 35
Regulation plus overtime wins: 38
Current first-round matchup: Carolina Hurricanes
Wild Card
WC1. Ottawa Senators | 39-28-6 | 84 points
Points percentage: .575
Regulation wins: 30
Regulation plus overtime wins: 38
Current first-round matchup: Toronto Maple Leafs
WC2. Montreal Canadiens | 34-30-9 | 77 points
Points percentage: .527
Regulation wins: 25
Regulation plus overtime wins: 32
Current first-round matchup: Washington Capitals
New York Rangers | 35-32-7 | 77 points
Points percentage: .520
Regulation wins: 32
Regulation plus overtime wins: 34
Columbus Blue Jackets | 33-30-9 | 75 points
Points percentage: .521
Regulation wins: 23
Regulation plus overtime wins: 27
Detroit Red Wings | 34-33-6 | 74 points
Points percentage: .507
Regulation wins: 26
Regulation plus overtime wins: 31
New York Islanders | 32-31-10 | 74 points
Points percentage: .507
Regulation wins: 25
Regulation plus overtime wins: 30
Pittsburgh Penguins | 30-34-11 | 71 points
Points percentage: .473
Regulation wins: 20
Regulation plus overtime wins: 29
Western Conference Playoff Picture
Central Division
1. Winnipeg Jets | 51-19-4 | 106 points
Points percentage: .716
Regulation wins: 40
Regulation plus overtime wins: 50
Current first-round matchup: St. Louis Blues
2. Dallas Stars | 48-21-4 | 100 points
Points percentage: .685
Regulation wins: 39
Regulation plus overtime wins: 46
Current first-round matchup: Colorado Avalanche
3. Colorado Avalanche | 45-26-3 | 93 points
Points percentage: .628
Regulation wins: 38
Regulation plus overtime wins: 43
Current first-round matchup: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights | 45-20-8 | 98 points
Points percentage: .671
Regulation wins: 42
Regulation plus overtime wins: 44
Current first-round matchup: Minnesota Wild
2. Los Angeles Kings | 41-23-9 | 91 points
Points percentage: .623
Regulation wins: 36
Regulation plus overtime wins: 40
Current first-round matchup: Edmonton Oilers
3. Edmonton Oilers | 42-26-5 | 89 points
Points percentage: .610
Regulation wins: 30
Regulation plus overtime wins: 42
Current first-round matchup: Los Angeles Kings
Wild Card
WC1. Minnesota Wild | 41-28-5 | 87 points
Points percentage: .588
Regulation wins: 33
Regulation plus overtime wins: 38
Current first-round matchup: Vegas Golden Knights
WC2. St. Louis Blues | 40-28-7 | 87 points
Points percentage: .580
Regulation wins: 30
Regulation plus overtime wins: 36
Current first-round matchup: Winnipeg Jets
Vancouver Canucks | 34-27-13 | 81 points
Points percentage: .547
Regulation wins: 26
Regulation plus overtime wins: 31
Calgary Flames | 34-26-12 | 80 points
Points percentage: .556
Regulation wins: 26
Regulation plus overtime wins: 31
Utah Hockey Club | 33-29-12 | 78 points
Points percentage: .527
Regulation wins: 25
Regulation plus overtime wins: 32
Elton Marrow