NHL
2023 NHL season ends: Playoff picture and matchups
Two more gamedays are left in the NHL regular season, and six of the eight 2023 NHL playoff pairings are already known. Find out who will join them.
The 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs start on April 17, and while everything is known in the West, in the East, the dilemma remains for one more place in the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Penguins, with an unexpected 5:2 loss to Chicago at home, distanced themselves from the place among the eight best teams in the East and, at the same time, pushed the Florida Panthers into the playoffs.
The final playoff participant will be determined after the last round of matches, with the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins vying for the spot. The Islanders currently have a one-point advantage and a chance to secure their playoff berth with a home game against Montreal on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins continue their impressive run, setting a new record for the most points in a single regular season of the NHL. Their recent 5-2 victory over Washington brought their total points to 133, surpassing Montreal’s record of 132 points set back in the 1976 season.
The Winnipeg Jets are the last participant in the playoffs from the Western Conference in the NHL Championship. The team from Canada secured a place in the playoffs with a 3:1 away win against Minnesota.
The 2023 NHL Playoff schedule
Currently, the confirmed playoff match-ups include
- Boston vs. Florida
- Toronto vs. Tampa Bay
- Carolina vs. the New York Islanders
- New Jersey vs. the New York Rangers
- Vegas vs. Winnipeg
- Edmonton vs. Los Angeles Kings
However, two more match-ups are still yet to be determined. The Western Conference is still incomplete. If the defending champions Colorado defeat Nashville in their upcoming match, they could threaten the Dallas Stars for first place in the central division.
This is how the rankings stand in all divisions, with a few games left to play.
Atlantic Division
| TEAM | Season record | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Bruins | 64-12-5 | 133 points |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 49-21-11 | 109 points |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 45-30-6 | 96 points |
Metropolitan Division
| TEAM | Season record | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Hurricanes | 51-21-9 | 111 points |
| New Jersey Devils | 51-22-8 | 110 points |
| New York Rangers | 47-21-13 | 107 points |
Central Division
| TEAM | Season record | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Stars | 46-21-14 | 106 points |
| Colorado Avalanche | 49-24-7 | 105 points |
| Minnesota Wild | 46-25-10 | 102 points |
Pacific Division
| TEAM | Season record | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Vegas Golden Knights | 50-22-9 | 109 points |
| Edmonton Oilers | 49-23-9 | 107 points |
| Los Angeles Kings | 46-25-10 | 102 points |