The battle for the Stanley Cup Playoffs is intensifying as the regular season nears its end. With only a few games remaining, teams are fiercely competing for a playoff spot, and the seeding in both conferences promises to be exceptionally competitive this year.
Currently, five teams have secured their places in the playoffs: the Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, Winnipeg Jets, and Washington Capitals. The Winnipeg Jets are currently leading the race for the Presidents` Trophy, holding a narrow one-point lead over the Capitals.
Several divisions are witnessing tight contests for the top spots. The Atlantic Division is a prime example, where the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, and the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are separated by just a few points, all vying for favorable matchups in the first round.
The playoff landscape is dynamic and subject to daily changes. Stay updated with CBS Sports` NHL playoff race tracker for daily insights into 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.
- Each conference has two Wild Card spots available.
- The top division winner in each conference will face the second Wild Card team, while 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 and overtime wins combined. Shootout wins are not included in the regulation plus overtime wins tiebreaker. X indicates a clinched playoff berth.
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
Current 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
Current first-round matchup: Florida Panthers
3. Florida Panthers | 44-27-4 | 92 points
Points percentage: .613
Regulation wins: 35
Regulation plus overtime wins: 39
Current 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
Current 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
Current 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
Current 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
Current 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
Current 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
Current 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
Current first-round matchup: Colorado Avalanche
3. Colorado Avalanche | 46-26-4 | 96 points
Points percentage: .627
Regulation wins: 38
Regulation plus overtime wins: 43
Current 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
Current 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
Current first-round matchup: Edmonton Oilers
3. Edmonton Oilers | 43-26-5 | 91 points
Points percentage: .615
Regulation wins: 31
Regulation plus overtime wins: 43
Current 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
Current 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
Current 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
