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It’s best time of the year is almost here. The Stanley Cup playoffs begin this weekend as 16 teams battle it out for one of the greatest trophies in all of sports. The playoff field is nearly set with only one spot still up for grabs and all first-round matchups now set in stone.
In the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals have earned the top seed. They are still awaiting their first-round matchup, but it was expected to be against the Montreal Canadiens. However, the Canadiens suffered a 4-3 overtime loss at the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday. As a result, the Columbus Blue Jackets are still alive for the East’s final Wild Card spot, but will need to win their final game and have some help.
The Western Conference playoff field is completely set after the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues both clinched playoff berths on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Jets will serve as the top seed in the West after winning the Presidents’ Trophy for the first time in franchise history.
The playoff picture will likely change on a daily basis, so CBS Sports will have you covered with our NHL playoff race tracker. It will be updated daily to show where each potential playoff team sits in the standings as the postseason draws near. The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on April 19.
Reminder: Here’s how the NHL playoff seeding works
- The top three teams in each division automatically qualify for the playoffs.
- Each conference has two wild-card spots.
- The top division winner in each conference will play the second wild card team, and the other division winner will play the first wild card team.
- The second and third-place teams in each division will match up with one another in the first round.
*Regulation wins are the first tiebreaker, and regulation plus overtime wins are the second tiebreaker. Shootout wins are not counted in regulation plus overtime wins. X denotes clinched playoff berth. Z denotes clinched best record in conference. Z* denotes President’s Trophy winner.
Eastern Conference playoff picture
Atlantic Division
1. Toronto Maple Leafs | 51-26-4 | 106 points – X
Points percentage: .654
Regulation wins: 41
Regulation plus overtime wins: 50
Current 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 | 47-28-5 | 99 points – X
Points percentage: .619
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 | 39-31-11 | 89 points
Points percentage: .549
Regulation wins: 29
Regulation plus overtime wins: 37
Current first-round matchup: Washington Capitals
Columbus Blue Jackets | 39-33-9 | 87 points
Points percentage: .537
Regulation wins: 29
Regulation plus overtime wins: 33
Western Conference playoff picture
Central Division
1. Winnipeg Jets | 55-22-4 | 114 points – Z*
Points percentage: .704
Regulation wins: 43
Regulation plus overtime wins: 53
First-round matchup: St. Louis Blues
2. Dallas Stars | 50-25-6 | 106 points – X
Points percentage: .654
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 | 49-22-10 | 108 points-X
Points percentage: .667
Regulation wins: 45
Regulation plus overtime wins: 48
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 | 47-29-5 | 99 points – X
Points percentage: .611
Regulation wins: 35
Regulation plus overtime wins: 47
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
