NHL Playoff Picture 2025, Bracket, Standings, Wild Card Race Before Final Games
One playoff spot still needs to be handed out in the NHL.
The Montreal Canadiens can complete the playoff picture on Wednesday night with one point against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Montreal comes into Wednesday on a three-game losing streak and another regulation loss would open the door for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Columbus won on Tuesday night to keep its playoff dream alive. The Blue Jackets need the Canadiens to lose in regulation on Wednesday and then to win themselves in regulation on Thursday to get in.
The Western Conference field was set by the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues with their wins on Wednesday.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
- Toronto - 106 points
- Tampa Bay - 102
- Florida - 98
Metropolitan Division
- Washington - 111
- Carolina - 99
- New Jersey - 91
Wild-Card Race
- Ottawa - 95
- Montreal - 89
- Columbus - 87
It's down to Montreal and Columbus for the final wild-card spot in the East.
Montreal just needs one point to clinch a playoff berth on Wednesday night, but it faces a tough opponent in the Carolina Hurricanes.
Montreal split the regular-season series so far with Carolina with the one win coming at home.
The Canadiens are on a three-game losing streak, but they went to overtime in each of their last two contests to pick up a point each.
A third consecutive trip to overtime would be enough for the Canadiens to reach the postseason.
A regulation loss is what Montreal has to avoid. If that occurs, Columbus has an opportunity to clinch on Thursday.
The Blue Jackets must win in regulation against the New York Islanders if Montreal stumbles.
In that case, Columbus would jump over Montreal on the regulation wins tiebreaker.
Whichever one of the teams advances into the postseason faces the Washington Capitals in the first round.
The other three playoff matchups are set. Carolina faces the New Jersey Devils, the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Ottawa Senators and the Tampa Bay Lightning square off with the Florida Panthers.
Western Conference
Central Division
- Winnipeg - 114
- Dallas - 106
- Colorado - 104
Pacific Division
- Vegas - 108
- Los Angeles - 105
- Edmonton - 99
Wild-Cards
- Minnesota - 97
- St. Louis - 96
Minnesota and St. Louis clinched their playoff berths on Wednesday in completely different fashions.
Minnesota needed an game-tying goal from Joel Eriksson Ek with 20 seconds left to force overtime with the Anaheim Ducks.
A trip to overtime was enough to get Minnesota into the postseason, but it went on to win the game as well.
St. Louis' offense clobbered the Utah Hockey Club for four first-period goals in a 6-1 victory.
Minnesota and St. Louis' victories eliminated the Calgary Flames, who were the last team remaining outside of the top eight in the West.
Minnesota is matched up with the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round, while the Blues take on the Winnipeg Jets.
The other two West playoff matchups carry loads of storylines. The Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers will meet for the fourth year in a row, while the Colorado Avalanche take on the Dallas Stars and former teammate Mikko Rantanen.