The Edmonton Oilers clinched the NHL’s 13th playoff berth on Friday night, giving them a chance for another run after last season’s trip to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The Minnesota Wild and Montreal Canadiens came up short Friday in their efforts to clinch, but they get another shot on Saturday. The Wild will need help. Also, the Vegas Golden Knights (Pacific) and Winnipeg Jets (Central) can clinch division titles. If they do, two more playoff series (Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings vs. Oilers, home-ice advantage TBD) will be confirmed.
Here’s a look at the NHL playoff picture through games of April 11:
(as of games April 10; x-clinched playoff berth; y-clinched division title; z-eliminated from postseason contention)
Metropolitan Division
Atlantic Division
Wild card
Sitting outside playoff position: Columbus Blue Jackets (81), New York Rangers (81), Detroit Red Wings (81), New York Islanders (79), z-Pittsburgh Penguins (78), z-Buffalo Sabres (76), z-Philadelphia Flyers (73), z-Boston Bruins (73)
(as of games April 10; x-clinched playoff berth; z-eliminated from postseason contention)
Central Division
Pacific Division
Wild card
Sitting outside playoff spot: Calgary Flames (90), z-Vancouver Canucks (87), z-Utah Hockey Club (85), z-Anaheim Ducks (78), z-Seattle Kraken (74), z-Nashville Predators (66), z-Chicago Blackhawks (56), z-San Jose Sharks (51)
Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended after games on April 11:
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.
Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended after games on April 11:
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.
If two or more teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers (how tiebreakers affect the playoff races):
The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 17, with seven games.
The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 19.
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