NHL playoff watch standings update: The postseason seeds left to be determined

ByTim Kavanagh

Thursday, April 28, 2022

After the Vegas Golden Knights' elimination from playoff contention last night, the 16-team field for the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs is set -- we just have to wait to see which teams fit into which seeding slots.

Currently, there are eight teams locked into position:

Atlantic Division: No. 1 Florida Panthers (No. 1 seed in the East), No. 2 Toronto Maple Leafs

Metro Division: No. 1 Carolina Hurricanes, No. 2 New York Rangers

Central Division: No. 1 Colorado Avalanche (No. 1 seed in the West)

Pacific Division: No. 1 Calgary Flames, No. 2 Edmonton Oilers, No. 3 Los Angeles Kings

Starting at the top, the Panthers and Avalanche remain in a battle for the Presidents' Trophy and the No. 1 overall seed in the postseason. Both teams have two games left; Colorado is two points back but has a 46-41 edge in regulation wins.

In the Atlantic, the Tampa Bay Lightning hold a three-point lead over the Boston Bruins for the No. 3 seed, with the loser of that battle earning the East's No. 1 wild card and a series against the Canes. Both teams have two games left, and Boston has a one-game edge in RW.

The race for No. 3 in the Metro is even tighter: the Pittsburgh Penguins hold a one-point and one-RW edge over the Washington Capitals, but the Caps have a game in hand. The winner between these two gets the Rangers, the loser gets the Panthers.

There are two races going on in the Central Division. The Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues both have 109 points in the battle to determine home-ice advantage in the first round; the Blues have a 43-36 edge in RW, but the Wild have a game in hand. Both Western wild cards are coming from this division, but their positioning is yet to be finalized. The Dallas Stars currently have a one-point edge in the standings, but the Nashville Predators have a game in hand and hold a 35-30 RW advantage. The first wild card will take on the Flames, while the second gets the Avalanche in the first round.

We'll get our next set of clues after tonight's nine-game schedule. Buckle up!

And now, let's check in on the current playoff matchups, along with today's schedule, expanded standings and the full lottery order.

Note: Playoff chances are via FiveThirtyEight. Tragic numbers are courtesy of Damian Echevarrieta of the NHL.

Jump ahead:br/>Current playoff matchupsbr/>Today's gamesbr/>Last night's scoresbr/>Expanded standingsbr/>Race for No. 1 pick