Every NHL Team That’s Currently Secured for Playoff Action
The NHL Playoffs are arriving soon, and with each team only having a few games left, most playoff spots are secured. Each division in the NHL is guaranteed three playoff spots, with each conference having two Wild Card spots each. Most, but not all, of these spots are already secured. This is set to be an incredible playoff season, as there are many talented and winning teams in every conference and in every division. There are plenty of interesting stories building up to these playoffs, like Alex Ovechkin breaking records and the Ottawa Senators returning to the playoffs after a seven-year drought.
Atlantic Division
There are four teams in the Atlantic Division with a current spot secured in the upcoming NHL Playoffs. These are the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and Ottawa Senators. Toronto currently has 100 points, with Tampa Bay slightly behind at 97. Following those two are Florida with 94 and Ottawa with 90. Toronto, Tampa Bay, and Florida are currently projected to have all three of the division’s spots in the playoffs, while Ottawa is set to have one of the two Wild Card spots per conference. With all but one playoff spot secured in the Eastern Conference, the last Wild Card spot is highly likely to go to the Montreal Canadiens with 87 points.
Metropolitan Division
There are three teams in the Metropolitan Division with a current spot secured in the upcoming NHL Playoffs. These are the Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, and the New Jersey Devils. The Washington Capitals currently have the division secured, meaning it is certain that they are the top-seeded team in the division. Washington has 107 points as of now, good for the highest in the Eastern Conference. Following them are the Carolina Hurricanes at 96 points and the New Jersey Devils with 89. New Jersey is one of the many teams that have secured a ticket to the playoffs recently.
Central Division
There are three teams in the Central Division with a current spot secured in the upcoming NHL Playoffs. These are the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, and Colorado Avalanche. Winnipeg has 110 points, the highest in the NHL. Despite this, they have not secured their division like the Capitals have done in the East. This is because Dallas has 106 points, with Colorado at 100. Both Wild Card spots given to each conference are likely to go to teams in this division within the Western Conference. The Minnesota Wild currently have 93 points, as do the St. Louis Blues.
Pacific Division
There are two teams in the Pacific Division with a current spot secured in the upcoming NHL Playoffs. These are the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Los Angeles Kings. Vegas currently is in the lead in the Pacific Division with 103 points. Los Angeles has 97 points. That being said, each division’s top three teams are guaranteed a playoff spot. With only two teams in the Pacific Division secured so far, the third spot is likely to go to the Edmonton Oilers. Edmonton has 95 points.
