The Stanley Cup Playoffs area is almost set. There’s lower than every week left within the common season and solely 4 spots are left up for grabs. Seeding can be a hot-button subject with most of the first-round matchups nonetheless in flux.

Within the Jap Convention, the Washington Capitals have earned the highest seed. They’re nonetheless awaiting their first-round matchup, however it’s prone to be in opposition to one of many hottest groups within the league within the Montreal Canadiens who’ve received six in a row to open up an six-point benefit for the ultimate spot within the East over Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers.

The West is a little bit of a distinct story with 4 groups vying for 3 spots. The Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames are all nonetheless battling, however the Flames seem like the odd group out as they sit seven factors behind the Oilers and 5 behind the Wild and Blues with 4 video games left.

The playoff image will possible change every day, so CBS Sports activities can have you coated with our NHL playoff race tracker. Will probably be up to date each day to point out the place every potential playoff group sits within the standings because the postseason attracts close to. The Stanley Cup Playoffs start on April 19.

Reminder: This is how the NHL playoff seeding works

• The highest three groups in every division routinely qualify for the playoffs.
• Every convention has two wild-card spots.
• The highest division winner in every convention will play the second wild card group, and the opposite division winner will play the primary wild card group.
• The second and third-place groups in every division will match up with each other within the first spherical.

*Regulation wins are the primary tiebreaker, and regulation plus extra time wins are the second tiebreaker. Shootout wins will not be counted in regulation plus extra time wins. X denotes clinched playoff berth. Z denotes clinched greatest report in convention.

Jap Convention playoff image

Atlantic Division

1. Toronto Maple Leafs | 48-26-4 | 100 factors – X

Factors proportion: .641
Regulation wins: 39
Regulation plus extra time wins: 47
Present first-round matchup: Ottawa Senators

2. Tampa Bay Lightning | 45-26-7 | 97 factors – X

Factors proportion: .622
Regulation wins: 39
Regulation plus extra time wins: 43
Present first-round matchup: Florida Panthers

3. Florida Panthers | 46-29-4 | 96 factors – X

Factors proportion: .608
Regulation wins: 37
Regulation plus extra time wins: 41
Present first-round matchup: Tampa Bay Lightning

Metropolitan Division

1. Washington Capitals | 50-19-9 | 109 factors – Z

Factors proportion: .699
Regulation wins: 42
Regulation plus extra time wins: 48
Present first-round matchup: Montreal Canadiens

2. Carolina Hurricanes | 46-27-5 | 97 factors – X

Factors proportion: .622
Regulation wins: 41
Regulation plus extra time wins: 46
Present first-round matchup: New Jersey Devils

3. New Jersey Devils | 41-30-7 | 89 factors – X

Factors proportion: .571
Regulation wins: 36
Regulation plus extra time wins: 39
Present first-round matchup: Carolina Hurricanes

Wild Card

WC1. Ottawa Senators | 42-29-6 | 90 factors

Factors proportion: .584
Regulation wins: 33
Regulation plus extra time wins: 41
Present first-round matchup: Toronto Maple Leafs

WC2. Montreal Canadiens | 39-30-9 | 87 factors

Factors proportion: .558
Regulation wins: 29
Regulation plus extra time wins: 37
Present first-round matchup: Washington Capitals

Columbus Blue Jackets | 36-33-9 | 81 factors

Factors proportion: .519
Regulation wins: 26
Regulation plus extra time wins: 30

New York Rangers | 37-35-7 | 81 factors

Factors proportion: .513
Regulation wins: 33
Regulation plus extra time wins: 36

Detroit Crimson Wings | 36-35-7 | 79 factors

Factors proportion: .506
Regulation wins: 28
Regulation plus extra time wins: 33

New York Islanders | 34-33-11 | 79 factors

Factors proportion: .506
Regulation wins: 27
Regulation plus extra time wins: 32

Western Convention playoff image

Central Division

1. Winnipeg Jets | 54-21-4 | 112 factors – X

Factors proportion: .709
Regulation wins: 43
Regulation plus extra time wins: 53
Present first-round matchup: St. Louis Blues

2. Dallas Stars | 50-23-6 | 106 factors – X

Factors proportion: .671
Regulation wins: 41
Regulation plus extra time wins: 48
Present first-round matchup: Colorado Avalanche

3. Colorado Avalanche | 48-28-4 | 100 factors – X

Factors proportion: .625
Regulation wins: 39
Regulation plus extra time wins: 44
Present first-round matchup: Dallas Stars

Pacific Division

1. Vegas Golden Knights | 48-22-9 | 105 points-X

Factors proportion: .660
Regulation wins: 43
Regulation plus extra time wins: 46
Present first-round matchup: Minnesota Wild

2. Los Angeles Kings | 45-24-9 | 99 factors – X

Factors proportion: .635
Regulation wins: 40
Regulation plus extra time wins: 44
Present first-round matchup: Edmonton Oilers

3. Edmonton Oilers | 45-28-5 | 95 factors

Factors proportion: .609
Regulation wins: 33
Regulation plus extra time wins: 45
Present first-round matchup: Los Angeles Kings

Wild Card

WC1. Minnesota Wild | 43-29-7 | 93 factors

Factors proportion: .589
Regulation wins: 33
Regulation plus extra time wins: 40
Present first-round matchup: Vegas Golden Knights

WC2. St. Louis Blues | 43-30-7 | 93 factors

Factors proportion: .581
Regulation wins: 31
Regulation plus extra time wins: 39
Present first-round matchup: Winnipeg Jets

Calgary Flames | 37-27-13 | 87 factors

Factors proportion: .565
Regulation wins: 28
Regulation plus extra time wins: 33