Who's in 2025 NHL playoffs? Tracking standings, playoff bracket, tiebreakers
The Winnipeg Jets have a second chance Tuesday to clinch the NHL's second 2025 playoff berth, either through the front door or the back door.
Getting in directly by beating the Washington Capitals would help their overall postseason cause. Washington leads Winnipeg in 102-100 in standings points, has a game in hand and holds the first tiebreaker. Tuesday's game in Winnipeg will play a big role in which of the two teams wins the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.
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Capitals star Alex Ovechkin's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's goal record has drawn a lot of attention to the league but Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck also has a shot at an NHL record. He has 40 wins with 11 games remaining heading into Tuesday. Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur and ex-Capitals goalie Braden Holtby hold the record with 48.
The Jets would also clinch if the St. Louis Blues lose to the Montreal Canadiens. Those teams hold the second wild-card spot in their respective conferences and are trying to hold off their pursuers. The New York Rangers could pass the Canadiens in points Tuesday if they win and Montreal loses in regulation, though the Canadiens have two games in hand.
The NHL playoff standings are a jumble with many teams in contention. Here's a look at the playoff picture:
Who's in the NHL playoffs?
Eastern Conference: Washington Capitals
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Western Conference: None
Who can clinch an NHL playoff berth Tuesday?
The Jets will clinch a playoff berth if they get at least a point against the Capitals or the Blues lose to the Canadiens.
NHL schedule today
All times p.m. ET
Ottawa at Buffalo, 7
Philadelphia at Toronto, 7
Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, 7
Nashville at Carolina, 7
Montreal at St. Louis, 8
Vegas at Minnesota, 8
Washington at Winnipeg, 8
Detroit at Colorado, 9
Seattle at Calgary, 9
N.Y. Rangers at Los Angeles, 10:30
NHL Eastern Conference standings 2024-25
(as of March 24)
Metropolitan Division
x-Washington Capitals (102 points)
Carolina Hurricanes (90)
New Jersey Devils (81)
Atlantic Division
Florida Panthers (89)
Toronto Maple Leafs (87)
Tampa Bay Lightning (85)
Wild card
Ottawa Senators (79)
Montreal Canadiens (75)
Sitting outside playoff position: New York Islanders (74), New York Rangers (74), Columbus Blue Jackets (73), Detroit Red Wings (72), Boston Bruins (69), Pittsburgh Penguins (69), Philadelphia Flyers (65), Buffalo Sabres (62)
NHL Western Conference standings 2024-25
(as of March 24)
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Central Division
Winnipeg Jets (100)
Dallas Stars (94)
Colorado Avalanche (89)
Pacific Division
Vegas Golden Knights (92)
Los Angeles Kings (87)
Edmonton Oilers (87)
Wild card
Minnesota Wild (85)
St. Louis Blues (81)
Sitting outside playoff spot: Vancouver Canucks (78), Calgary Flames (77), Utah Hockey Club (75), Anaheim Ducks (68), Seattle Kraken (65), Nashville Predators (60), z-Chicago Blackhawks (51), z-San Jose Sharks (45)
x-clinched playoff spot; z-eliminated
NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended March 24:
Washington (M1) vs. Montreal (WC2)
Carolina (M2) vs. New Jersey (M3)
Florida (A1) vs. Ottawa (WC1)
Toronto (A2) vs. Tampa Bay (A3)
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. Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card
NHL Western Conference playoff bracket
Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended March 24:
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Winnipeg (C1) vs. St. Louis (WC2)
Dallas (C2) vs. Colorado (C3)
Vegas (P1) vs. Minnesota (WC1)
Los Angeles (P2) vs. Edmonton (P3)
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. Key: C - Central Division. P - Pacific Division. WC - wild card
What is the tiebreaker procedure for the NHL playoffs?
If two or more teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:
Regulation wins
Regulation and overtime wins
Total wins
Most points earned in head-to-head competition: If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded.
Goal differential
Total goals
When does the NHL regular season end?
The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 17, with six games.
When do the NHL playoffs start?
The NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 19.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoff bracket standings, who's in, tiebreakers, what to know
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