The NHL playoff race is as hot as can be as we approach the final week of the 2023-24 regular season.
It won’t be long before the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin — less than two weeks, in fact! — and things are really starting to come down to the wire. Many of the top teams in the NHL such as the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers have locked up playoff spots already, but there are divisional and wild card races that are still being fought for tooth and nail by their respective teams.
The NHL regular season is set to end on Thursday, April 18, with only a handful of games remaining for each team. A good number of the playoff spots have already been locked in, but there are some really intriguing races still left with some potentially absurd finishes if things break the right way.
So, what are those potential scenarios? Let’s dive in to every possible clinching scenario left ahead of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs!
Eastern Conference
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What playoff spots are locked up?
The top three spots in the Atlantic Division have been taken by the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, and Toronto Maple Leafs respectively. It’s all but assured that the Panthers and Maple Leafs will meet each other in the first round, with the Bruins on track to play the first wild card spot. In that first wild card spot is the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have clinched a postseason berth as well.
In the Metropolitan Division, the New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes have grabbed the top two spots in the division, with everything else still being fought for by teams.
What’s still up for grabs?
The third spot in the Metropolitan Division and the final wild card position remain up for grabs for teams still in the hunt. Plus, playoff seeding and division winners remain in contention for now.
Which teams are still in the race?
As of April 9, a whole bunch of teams! The Philadelphia Flyers had possession of a playoff spot for some time but have fumbled it with a seven-game losing streak. The New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and Flyers all sit within two points of one another, with the New Jersey Devils still barely hanging in at 79 points.
Plus, the Detroit Red Wings are in the mix for the wild card spot as well, which could push a Metropolitan team out of the playoff bubble by season’s end. Things are incredibly chaotic in the East, with any loss set to be disastrous to a team’s chances with everything so close.
Western Conference
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What playoff spots are locked up?
Just like we all predicted, it seems as if the Vancouver Canucks will take the No. 1 spot in the Pacific by season’s end. Not far behind them in second is the Edmonton Oilers, who have also locked in a playoff spot.
The Central, on the other hand, has the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, and Winnipeg Jets set for the postseason. As it stands now, the Avalanche and Jets would play each other in the first round, but nothing is assured as of yet.
What’s still up for grabs?
Surprisingly, the West is a bit more open than the East, though it’s far less chaotic. Both wild card spots and third place in the Pacific are still up for grabs ahead of Tuesday’s games, but clarity will no doubt be coming for these positions in short order.
Which teams are still in the race?
The Los Angeles Kings and Vegas Golden Knights are the two teams still kicking in the Pacific at 93 and 92 points respectively. The Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, and Minnesota Wild are all hanging around in the Central, with the Predators having the best odds of the bunch with 94 points and the Blues on the outside looking in at 87 points.
