The National Hockey League regular season will end in less than a week.
So far 12 teams have clinched a playoff berth and the Washington Capitals have clinched the Metropolitan Division title and the best record in the Eastern Conference, giving the team home-ice advantage through three rounds of the playoffs. They’re still alive in the race for the Presidents’ Trophy race as the top regular-season team.
The only confirmed first-round series is the Carolina Hurricanes vs. the New Jersey Devils, but other matchups could start filling in during the next couple days.
Here’s what is still at stake as the NHL regular season comes to an end on Thursday:
Who gets the final four playoff spots?
The Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild and Montreal Canadiens can clinch Friday night. If that happens, the St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames will be the only teams alive for the 16th and final spot.
Before Friday’s games, Calgary still has a shot at the third seed in the Pacific Division or a wild-card spot. Montreal must win in regulation to clinch Friday. If the Canadiens lose in regulation, three or four teams would remain alive in the East. Detroit would have to win Friday to stay in the race.
Who wins the Pacific Division title?
The Vegas Golden Knights need a regulation win or a Los Angeles Kings loss to clinch the title. If that happens, the Kings and Edmonton Oilers would meet for the fourth year in the row in the first round. Edmonton won the last three but more than likely will start this series on the road.
Who wins the Central Division title?
The Winnipeg Jets need one point to clinch. If that happens, the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche would play each other with the twice-traded Mikko Rantanen being the big storyline. Another one: Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog (knee) could be back for the first time since the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. He’s on a conditioning assignment in the American Hockey League.
Who gets the West’s first wild-card seed?
Minnesota and St. Louis are currently tied. The Wild will use up their game in hand Friday night and currently lead in the first tiebreaker. Too close to call.
Who wins the Atlantic Division title?
The Toronto Maple Leafs (100 points), Tampa Bay Lightning (97) and Florida Panthers (96) all have a chance. The Lightning and Panthers play on Tuesday.
Who wins the East’s first wild-card seed?
Ask again after the Ottawa Senators (90) and Canadiens (87) play Friday night.
Who wins the Presidents’ Trophy?
The Jets (112) lead the Capitals (109), and the Stars (106) have a remote chance. The title is Winnipeg’s to lose.
Who wins the scoring title?
Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov and Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon are tied with 116 points. MacKinnon sat out with an injury Thursday night and might not play the remaining two games. If he doesn’t, the title goes to Kucherov, who has more goals, even if he doesn’t pick up another point.
Will Connor Hellebuyck tie an NHL record?
The reigning Vezina Trophy winner’s 45 wins place him three behind record-holders Martin Brodeur and Braden Holtby. The Jets have three games left and might choose to rest him a game, especially since he was at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
