The most exciting time of the year for hockey fans is approaching. The Stanley Cup playoffs are about to begin this weekend, with 16 teams competing for the Stanley Cup. The playoff teams are finalized, and the first-round matchups are now determined.
In the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals secured the top seed. They will face the Montreal Canadiens in the first round. The Canadiens clinched the final Eastern Wild Card spot by defeating the Carolina Hurricanes.
In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues also secured playoff spots. The Winnipeg Jets earned the top seed in the West and will play against the Blues in the first round.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs officially begin on Saturday.
Reminder: NHL Playoff Seeding Explained
- The top three teams in each division qualify automatically for the playoffs.
- Each conference has two wild card spots.
- The top division winner in each conference plays the second wild card team, and the other division winner plays the first wild card.
- Second and third-place teams in each division play each other in the first round.
*Regulation wins are the first tiebreaker, and regulation plus overtime wins are the second. Shootout wins are not counted in regulation plus overtime wins. X = clinched playoff berth, Z = clinched best conference record, Z* = President`s Trophy winner.*
Eastern Conference Playoff Picture
Atlantic Division
1. Toronto Maple Leafs | 51-26-4 | 106 points – Y
Points percentage: .654
Regulation wins: 41
Regulation plus overtime wins: 50
First Round Matchup: Ottawa Senators
2. Tampa Bay Lightning | 47-26-8 | 102 points – X
Points percentage: .630
Regulation wins: 41
Regulation plus overtime wins: 45
First Round Matchup: Florida Panthers
3. Florida Panthers | 47-31-4 | 98 points – X
Points percentage: .598
Regulation wins: 37
Regulation plus overtime wins: 41
First Round Matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning
Metropolitan Division
1. Washington Capitals | 51-21-9 | 111 points – Z
Points percentage: .685
Regulation wins: 43
Regulation plus overtime wins: 49
First Round Matchup: Montreal Canadiens
2. Carolina Hurricanes | 47-29-5 | 99 points – X
Points percentage: .611
Regulation wins: 42
Regulation plus overtime wins: 47
First Round Matchup: New Jersey Devils
3. New Jersey Devils | 42-32-7 | 91 points – X
Points percentage: .562
Regulation wins: 36
Regulation plus overtime wins: 40
First Round Matchup: Carolina Hurricanes
Wild Card
WC1. Ottawa Senators | 44-30-7 | 95 points
Points percentage: .586
Regulation wins: 34
Regulation plus overtime wins: 43
First Round Matchup: Toronto Maple Leafs
WC2. Montreal Canadiens | 40-31-11 | 91 points – X
Points percentage: .555
Regulation wins: 30
Regulation plus overtime wins: 38
First Round Matchup: Washington Capitals
Western Conference Playoff Picture
Central Division
1. Winnipeg Jets | 56-22-4 | 116 points – Z*
Points percentage: .707
Regulation wins: 43
Regulation plus overtime wins: 54
First Round Matchup: St. Louis Blues
2. Dallas Stars | 50-26-6 | 106 points – X
Points percentage: .646
Regulation wins: 41
Regulation plus overtime wins: 48
First Round Matchup: Colorado Avalanche
3. Colorado Avalanche | 49-29-4 | 102 points – X
Points percentage: .622
Regulation wins: 40
Regulation plus overtime wins: 45
First Round Matchup: Dallas Stars
Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights | 50-22-10 | 110 points – Y
Points percentage: .671
Regulation wins: 46
Regulation plus overtime wins: 49
First Round Matchup: Minnesota Wild
2. Los Angeles Kings | 48-24-9 | 105 points – X
Points percentage: .648
Regulation wins: 43
Regulation plus overtime wins: 47
First Round Matchup: Edmonton Oilers
3. Edmonton Oilers | 48-29-5 | 101 points – X
Points percentage: .616
Regulation wins: 36
Regulation plus overtime wins: 48
First Round Matchup: Los Angeles Kings
Wild Card
WC1. Minnesota Wild | 45-30-7 | 97 points
Points percentage: .591
Regulation wins: 33
Regulation plus overtime wins: 42
First Round Matchup: Vegas Golden Knights
WC2. St. Louis Blues | 44-30-8 | 96 points
Points percentage: .585
Regulation wins: 32
Regulation plus overtime wins: 40
First Round Matchup: Winnipeg Jets
