NHL Playoff Race Heats Up as Regular Season Winds Down
As the NHL regular season approaches its conclusion on April 17, the competition intensifies for playoff positioning among teams eager to secure their spot in the postseason. With only a few weeks remaining, every point is critical, making the upcoming games essential for teams vying to improve their seeding or fight for wild card slots.
Recently, the Winnipeg Jets solidified their postseason berth following a victory over the Washington Capitals. With this win, both Winnipeg and Washington are now confirmed as the first two teams to clinch playoff spots this season. The Capitals currently lead with a narrow one-point advantage over the Jets in the race for the prestigious Presidents’ Trophy, awarded to the team with the most points at the end of the regular season.
Over the next few weeks, the playoff picture will be fluid, with shifts in standings occurring almost daily. CBS Sports aims to keep fans informed with their NHL playoff race tracker, which will be updated regularly to provide clarity on each team’s status as the postseason approaches.
Understanding NHL Playoff Seeding
The structure of the NHL playoffs is designed to reward top-performing teams while giving others a chance through wild-card positions. Here are the key points regarding how playoff seeding works:
- The top three teams in each division automatically qualify for the playoffs.
- Each conference features two wild-card spots.
- The leading division winner in each conference faces the second wild-card team, while the other division winner meets the first wild-card team.
- The second and third-place teams in each division will contend against one another in the first round.
Tiebreakers are based on regulation wins, followed by regulation plus overtime wins, with shootout victories excluded from these calculations.
Eastern Conference Playoff Outlook
In the Atlantic Division, the top teams find themselves in a closely contested race:
- Toronto Maple Leafs – Current record: 43-25-3, 89 points
- Florida Panthers – Current record: 43-25-3, 89 points
- Tampa Bay Lightning – Current record: 41-25-5, 87 points
In the Metropolitan Division, the standings also reflect a mix of dominance and uncertainty:
- Washington Capitals – Current record: 47-15-9, 103 points
- Carolina Hurricanes – Current record: 43-24-4, 90 points
- New Jersey Devils – Current record: 37-28-7, 81 points
Wild card positions in the Eastern Conference currently include:
- WC1: Ottawa Senators – Current record: 37-28-5, 79 points
- WC2: Montreal Canadiens – Current record: 33-28-9, 75 points
The playoff picture in the Eastern Conference remains dynamic, with teams like the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers fighting for a chance to secure a playoff spot.
Western Conference Playoff Picture
The Western Conference also presents a tightly contested race, predominantly featuring powerful teams in the Central and Pacific Divisions.
In the Central Division:
- Winnipeg Jets – Current record: 49-19-4, 102 points
- Dallas Stars – Current record: 45-21-4, 94 points
- Colorado Avalanche – Current record: 44-25-3, 91 points
In the Pacific Division, the standings are as follows:
- Vegas Golden Knights – Current record: 43-20-8, 94 points
- Los Angeles Kings – Current record: 40-29-9, 89 points
- Edmonton Oilers – Current record: 41-24-5, 87 points
Wild card teams in the West include:
- WC1: Minnesota Wild – Current record: 40-27-5, 85 points
- WC2: St. Louis Blues – Current record: 38-28-7, 83 points
Final Thoughts
The upcoming weeks hold significant importance for NHL teams as they jostle for playoff position. The outcomes of regular season games can have long-lasting impacts, potentially altering team dynamics and altering predictions as teams prepare for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The excitement and unpredictability of the playoff race not only engage fans but also heighten the stakes for players and coaches alike, making each game a critical battleground in the quest for hockey’s most coveted trophy.
