The NHL playoff bracket is complete, the full first-round playoff schedule is out and the regular season will wrap up with seven games on Thursday night.
The Montreal Canadiens clinched the second wild-card seed in the Eastern Conference with a 4-2 victory Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes, who were resting seven regulars. The Canadiens head to the playoffs for the first time since their 2021 trip to the Stanley Cup Final. They’ll face the Washington Capitals in the first round.
Montreal needed one point to clinch but got two goals from Kaiden Guhle, sandwiched around Nick Suzuki’s 30th goal of the season, which made it 2-1 in the second period. Carolina’s Tyson Jost cut the deficit to 3-2 in the third period, but Jake Evans put the game away with an empty-netter. Lane Hutson tied an NHL record for rookie defensemen with his 60th assist.
The Columbus Blue Jackets were officially eliminated after a season in which they came close to a playoff spot while mourning the offseason death of Johnny Gaudreau.
Here’s a look at the NHL playoff picture:
The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 19, with two games.
Saturday: St. Louis at Winnipeg; Colorado at Dallas
Sunday: New Jersey at Carolina; Ottawa at Toronto; Minnesota at Vegas
Monday: Montreal at Washington; Edmonton at Los Angeles
Tuesday: Florida at Tampa Bay
The full schedule can be found here
Key: M – Metropolitan Division. A – Atlantic Division. WC – wild card
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth.
Key: C – Central Division P – Pacific Division. WC – wild card
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth.
The playoff field is set. Thursday’s action can only affect positioning for draft lottery odds.
Final day of regular season. All games p.m. ET
(through games of April 16; c-clinched conference title; x-clinched playoff berth; y-clinched division title; z-eliminated from postseason contention)
Metropolitan Division
Atlantic Division
Wild card
Missed the playoffs: z-Columbus Blue Jackets (87), z-Detroit Red Wings (85), z-New York Rangers (83), z-New York Islanders (82), z-Pittsburgh Penguins (78), z-Buffalo Sabres (77), z-Philadelphia Flyers (76), z-Boston Bruins (76)
(through games of April 16; p-clinched Presidents’ Trophy; x-clinched playoff berth; y-clinched division title;z-eliminated from postseason contention)
Central Division
Pacific Division
Wild card
Missed the playoffs: z-Calgary Flames (94), z-Vancouver Canucks (90), z-Utah Hockey Club (89), z-Anaheim Ducks (80), z-Seattle Kraken (76), z-Nashville Predators (68), z-Chicago Blackhawks (61), z-San Jose Sharks (52).
The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 17, with seven games.
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