USA TODAY Sports has everything you need to know about the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs, including potential first-round matchups.
Thirteen NHL teams have clinched a playoff berth, including the second-year Seattle Kraken, with less than a week left in the regular season.
But two Eastern Conference playoff spots and one Western Conference postseason berth remain open and most of the first-round postseason matchups remain unsettled. The only known one: The Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning will meet for the second year in a row, with Toronto clinching home-ice advantage.
USA TODAY Sports is here with everything you need to know about the NHL playoffs, including updated playoff brackets. Here’s a comprehensive look at the current NHL postseason outlook, including when the playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final are scheduled to start:What are the clinching scenarios for Sunday, April 9?
No teams can clinch, but the Boston Bruins can set the NHL record with their 63rd win of the season when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers. The Bruins beat the New Jersey Devils on Saturday to tie the mark held by the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings and 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning. Updated NHL playoff standingsEASTERN CONFERENCE
(as of April 8 — complete standings can be found here. p-clinched Presidents’ Trophy, x-clinched playoff spot, y-clinched division title, z-eliminated from playoff contention)
Metropolitan Division
x-Carolina Hurricanes
x-New Jersey Devils
x-New York Rangers
Atlantic Division
p-Boston Bruins
x-Toronto Maple Leafs
x-Tampa Bay Lightning
Wild cards
Florida Panthers
New York Islanders
Currently out of playoff position
Pittsburgh Penguins
Buffalo Sabres
z-Ottawa Senators
z-Detroit Red Wings
z-Washington Capitals
z-Philadelphia Flyers
z-Montreal Canadiens
z-Columbus Blue JacketsWESTERN CONFERENCE
(as of April 8)
Central Division
x-Colorado Avalanche
x-Dallas Stars
x-Minnesota Wild
Pacific Division
x-Vegas Golden Knights
x-Edmonton Oilers
x-Los Angeles Kings
Wild card
x-Seattle Kraken
Winnipeg Jets
Currently out of playoff position
Calgary Flames
Nashville Predators
z-St.
