The Stanley Cup Playoffs are coming into view, as the 2024-25 NHL regular season comes down to its final few games.
The Winnipeg Jets — who have already claimed the Presidents Trophy for the best regular-season record — will be among the favorites after finishing atop the Central Division. Over in the Metropolitan Division, Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals have locked up the East’s No. 1 seed.
Tuesday’s results saw nearly the entire playoff bracket come into full definition. The Vegas Golden Knights have held off the Los Angeles Kings to win the Pacific Division, while the Toronto Maple Leafs clinched the Atlantic Division over the Tampa Bay Lightning. The only playoff spot left up for grabs could be sealed Wednesday night, but only if the Montréal Canadiens can get at least a point against the Carolina Hurricanes. Should the Habs stumble, the door is open for the Columbus Blue Jackets to dramatically leap ahead of them in the Eastern Conference wild-card race.
Here’s what to know about the NHL playoff bracket heading into the final push of the 2024-25 season:
An asterisk (*) denotes a team that has clinched a playoff spot.
Note: All teams from 10th place down have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
Note: All teams from 9th place down have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
From NHL.com:
Here’s how the first-round playoff matchups would look based on the current standings in the Eastern Conference:
An asterisk (*) denotes a team who is locked into a given position in the bracket.
Here’s how the first-round playoff matchups would look based on the current standings in the Western Conference:
An asterisk (*) denotes a team who is locked into a given position in the bracket.
The first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs will start on April 19. The Stanley Cup final does not have a set start date, given the vagaries of multiple rounds of playoff hockey, but the championship series must conclude no later than June 23.
