NHL playoff picture: Bruins first to clinch postseason berth, Oilers threatening Kraken in Pacific Divison

With one month to go until the end of the 2022-23 NHL season, the playoff race is really heating up. Valuable points are at stake every night and the games will be more intense because of it.

So far, only the Boston Bruins have secured a spot in the playoffs, but everyone else is trying to win a ticket to the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. Below is a detailed look at the NHL playoffs ahead of Tuesday night’s games.

We remind you how seeding works in the NHL playoffs: The top three teams in each division automatically qualify for the playoffs, and there are two vacant seats in each conference. The winner of the top division in each conference will play the second wildcard team, and the winner of the other division will play the first wildcard team. The teams finishing second and third in each division will face off against each other in the first round.

* Main mode wins are the first tie-break, and main mode wins plus overtime wins are the second tie-break.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

1. Boston Bruins | 50-15-5 | 105 points (x)

The Bruins have already secured a playoff spot and hold an 11-point lead over the Hurricanes in the race for the President’s Trophy.

Point Percentage: 0.808
Rules Win: 43
Regular wins plus overtime: 48
Current match of the first round: New York Islanders

2. Toronto Maple Leafs | 40-18-8 | 88 points

With the loss to the Sabres on Monday night, the Maple Leafs missed an opportunity to widen the gap between themselves and the Lightning in the division standings.

Point Percentage: 0.667
Rules Win: 34
Regular wins plus overtime: 40
Current match of the first round: Tampa Bay Lightning

3. Tampa Bay Lightning | 39-22-6 | 84 points

The Lightning’s struggles continued on Sunday when they lost to the Jets, but for now they are in no danger of being in the Wild Card position.

Point Percentage: 0.627
Rules Win: 32
Regular wins plus overtime: 37
Current match of the first round: Toronto Maple Leafs

Capital Division

1. Carolina Hurricanes | 43-14-8 | 94 points

The Carolinas are in a bitter battle with New Jersey for the lead in the Metro division, and although both teams are tied on points, the Hurricanes have played one less game than the Devils.

• Point Percentage: 0.723
• Rules Win: 32
• Regular wins plus overtime: 39
• Current match of the first round: Pittsburgh Penguins

2. New Jersey Devils | 44-16-6 | 94 points

Basically, the Devils have caught up with the Hurricanes at the top of the Metro division, and they have a big two-game set scheduled this week, including the Lightning.

• Point Percentage: 0.712
• Rules Win: 32
• Regular wins plus overtime: 42 points
• Current match of the first round: New York Rangers

3. New York Rangers | 37-19-10 | 84 points

Despite a couple of high-profile trade postponements, the Rangers have slipped a bit in the Metro division. Three more wins over the Penguins.

• Point Percentage: 0.636
• Rules Win: 27
• Regular wins plus overtime: 33
• Current match of the first round: New Jersey Devils

wild card

1. Pittsburgh Penguins | 34-22-10 | 78 points

Pittsburgh pulled off a big win over the Rangers on Sunday, and the team is back on track after a bit of a skid. The Pans still have a game in hand over the Panthers.

• Point Percentage: 0.591
• Rules Win: 25
• Regular wins plus overtime: 33
• Current match of the first round: Carolina Hurricanes

2. New York Islanders | 34-26-8 | 76 points

The Islanders have a key trip to California this week, in which they have a chance to score at least four points against significantly weaker opponents.

• Point Percentage: 0.559
• Rules Win: 29
• Regular wins plus overtime: 34
• Current match of the first round: Boston Bruins

On the hunt

3. Florida Panthers | 33-27-7 | 73 points

The Panthers have been back in the playoffs lately and are now just three points behind the Islanders with a game in hand.

• Point Percentage: 0.545
• Rules Win: 28
• Regular wins plus overtime: 31
• Current match of the first round: N/A

4. Buffalo Sabers | 33-28-5 | 71 points

The Sabers are finally playing meaningful games again in March, and their comeback win over the Maple Leafs on Monday saw them advance to the playoff race.

• Point Percentage: 0.538
• Rules Win: 25
• Regular wins plus overtime: 32
• Current match of the first round: N/A

5. Washington Capitals | 32-28-7 | 71 points

The Capitals needed a big win, and they beat the Islanders last weekend. This kept them within reach of the wild card’s second place.

• Point Percentage: 0.530
• Rules Win: 25
• Regular wins plus overtime: 31
• Current match of the first round: N/A

6. Ottawa Senators | 33-29-4 | 70 points

Ottawa is now six points behind a playoff spot after losing two consecutive first-team games and will have a game against Edmonton on Tuesday night.

• Point Percentage: 0.530
• Rules Win: 26
• Regular wins plus overtime: 31
• Current match of the first round: N/A

Western conference

Central Division

1. Dallas Stars | 37-17-13 | 87 points

The Stars are three points clear of the Wild in the Central Division after winning three games in a row.

• Point Percentage: 0.649
• Rules Win: 31
• Regular wins plus overtime: 34
• Current match of the first round: Edmonton Oilers

2. Minnesota Wild | 38-21-8 | 84 points

Minnesota hasn’t lost a game since February 15, and it helped the team keep the Avalanche in the race for second place.

• Point Percentage: 0.627
• Rules Win: 27
• Regular wins plus overtime: 31
• Current match of the first round: Colorado Avalanche

3. Colorado Avalanche | 37-22-6 | 80 points

The Avalanche torched the Canadiens on Monday night, and with games to spare for the Wild and Stars, they could still be in contention for another Central Division title.

• Point Percentage: 0.615
• Rules Win: 26
• Regular wins plus overtime: 33
• Current match of the first round: Minnesota Wild

Pacific Division

1. Vegas Golden Knights | 41-20-6 | 88 points

The Golden Knights are on a three-game winning streak and are only one point behind the Stars for the top spot in the Western Conference.

• Point Percentage: 0.657
• Rules Win: thirty
• Regular wins plus overtime: 37
• Current match of the first round: Winnipeg Jets

2. Los Angeles Kings | 38-20-9 | 85 points

Los Angeles is 4-0-1 in March and should have a tight game against the Islanders on Tuesday night. Both teams have something to fight for in their playoff races.

• Point Percentage: 0.634
• Rules Win: 28
• Regular wins plus overtime: 32
• Current match of the first round: Seattle Kraken

3. Seattle Kraken | 37-23-7 | 81 points

One of the key points for the Kraken is that they have a clear advantage over the Kings and Oilers in regular games as well as wins in overtime. This can come in handy when determining playoff seeding.

• Point Percentage: 0.604
• Rules Win: thirty
• Regular wins plus overtime: 37
• Current match of the first round: Los Angeles Kings

wild card

1. Edmonton Oilers | 36-23-8 | 80 points

The Oilers may be in the wild card at this point, but they are just one point behind the Kraken and five points behind the Kings for second and third, respectively, in the Pacific Division.

• Point percentage: 0.597
• Rules Win: 34
• Regular wins plus overtime: 36
• Current match of the first round: Dallas Stars

2. Winnipeg Jets | 38-26-3 | 79 points

With back-to-back wins over the Panthers and Lightning, the Jets really improved their playoff chances and kept the Predators and Flames at bay in the race for the wild card.

• Point percentage: 0.590
• Rules Win: 29
• Regular wins plus overtime: 37
• Current match of the first round: Vegas Golden Knights

On the hunt

3. Nashville Predators | 33-24-7 | 73 points

Despite winning seven of their last 10 games, the Predators are still six points behind the Jets. Nashville has three games in hand over Winnipeg.

Point percentage: 0.570
Rules Win: 24
Regular wins plus overtime: 29
Current match of the first round: N/A

4. Calgary Flames | 30-24-23 | 73 points

Calgary’s problem is that the team is in the same position as Nashville but has no games in hand. The Flames have some serious work to do in their last 15 games.

Point percentage: 0.545
Rules Win: 24
Regular wins plus overtime: 28
Current match of the first round: N/A