Eastern Conference Playoff Race: Who’s In, Who’s Out?
As we approach the final stretch of the NHL regular season, the Eastern Conference playoff picture is starting to take shape. With each team having between 15 to 17 games left, the race is heating up, and fans are on the edge of their seats. Let’s dive into the current standings and see which teams are poised to make a playoff run and which ones are still fighting for a spot.
In the Atlantic Division, three teams have all but secured their playoff berths: the Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Over in the Metropolitan Division, the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes are also looking like sure bets for the postseason. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils are making a strong case with a current three-game winning streak.
As for the wild-card spots, the Ottawa Senators have created a comfortable cushion as the first wild card, boasting 75 points and 26 regulation wins in 65 games. But the real drama unfolds beyond them.
The Columbus Blue Jackets currently hold the second wild-card spot with 70 points in 65 games, edging out the New York Rangers who have played one more game. The Montreal Canadiens are nipping at their heels with 69 points, followed closely by the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins, both sitting at 68 points.
Should the race come down to the regulation-wins tiebreaker, the Rangers have a significant advantage with 29 wins, compared to 23 for the Blue Jackets, Red Wings, and Bruins, and just 22 for the Canadiens.
Saturday’s Key Matchups
Saturday promises to be a thrilling day for hockey fans, with four of the five teams in action:
- The Bruins host the Lightning at 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
- The Canadiens host the Panthers also at 7 p.m. (NHL Network)
- The Blue Jackets face the visiting Rangers also at 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
And for those teams eyeing the Senators’ spot, they’ll be cheering for the Maple Leafs, who host Ottawa at 7 p.m. (ESPN+). It’s a perfect night to have multiple screens ready!
With the regular season wrapping up on April 17, there’s still plenty of time for shifts in the standings. We’ll keep you updated with the NHL playoff watch, providing insights into all the playoff races and the teams vying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Current Playoff Matchups
Here’s a look at the current playoff matchups:
Eastern Conference
- A1 Florida Panthers vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
- A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
- M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Columbus Blue Jackets
- M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
- C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 Calgary Flames
- C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
- P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
- P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
As the season winds down, every game counts, and the stakes are higher than ever. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to track the playoff race and the battle for the top draft pick.
Originally Written by: ESPN staff
