The NHL's playoff race is heating up, with several teams vying for the final spots in the postseason. As of April 11, the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Anaheim Ducks are all within reach of clinching a playoff berth. The Ducks, in particular, are on the cusp of ending a seven-year playoff drought, which is a testament to the league's ever-changing dynamics.
The Pacific Division lead is up for grabs, with the Oilers and Golden Knights battling for top spot. The second wild-card seed in the Western Conference is also up for grabs, with the Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings in a tight race. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, led by the legendary Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, respectively, are also in the mix, with the former facing the latter in a highly anticipated 100th meeting.
The Eastern Conference is no less competitive, with the Carolina Hurricanes, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Tampa Bay Lightning all securing playoff spots. The Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, and Philadelphia Flyers are also in the running, with the Bruins having multiple paths to clinch a spot. The Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers are all sitting out of playoff position, with the latter two teams in a desperate fight to avoid elimination.
The Western Conference is equally intense, with the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, Vegas Golden Knights, and Anaheim Ducks all securing playoff spots. The Utah Mammoth, Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, Winnipeg Jets, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Seattle Kraken, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, and Vancouver Canucks are all out of playoff position, with the latter two teams in a desperate fight to avoid elimination.
The playoff bracket is set, with the Eastern Conference featuring the Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, and Montreal Canadiens, while the Western Conference features the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, and Edmonton Oilers. The NHL's tiebreakers are also in place, with regulation wins, regulation and overtime wins, total wins, goal differential, and total goals all being considered in the event of a tie. The regular season is set to end on April 16, with the Stanley Cup playoffs beginning on April 18.
