OK, it’s April and that means the NHL playoffs begin this month. The first round will begin on April 20th. That means: a) every point means something, b) every game is a must win for teams fighting to get in, and c) who’s in and who’s out will change possibly every day.
Who’s already in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
16 teams make the NHL playoffs. Right now seven have already clinched a spot. The Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, New York Ranges, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche and the Vancouver Canucks are in. As of April 1 there are five teams in the Eastern Conference fighting for the final two NHL playoffs spots. It’s a bit more nailed down in the Western Conference. There are just three teams fighting for the last two spots. The New York Rangers are tops in the fight for the President’s Trophy.
The Eastern Conference Playoff Race:
The top two teams get a wild card spot. In the Eastern Conference the Lighting are a lock to get into the NHL playoffs. That last spot has two teams within five points and the Devils who are still alive, but need help. The Red Wings have the more difficult schedule over the last two weeks. Detroit has to get through Tampa, Washington, Buffalo and Toronto. My Pick: Take the Flyers, the Red Wings will be getting the golf clubs out of storage.
Team | Games Remaining | Points |
Tampa Bay Lightning | 9 | 89 |
Philadelphia Flyers | 7 | 82 |
Detroit Red Wings | 8 | 80 |
New York Islanders | 9 | 77 |
New Jersey Devils | 8 | 76 |
Check out these first round matchups if the the NHL playoffs started today: Rangers vs. Lightning and Florida vs. Toronto; not an ideal draw for the Stanley Cup-starved Leafs.
The Western Conference Playoff Race:
The Nashville Predators are in the NHL playoffs, with an eight point hold on the top wild card spot, it’s going to be tough to catch them. That last spot though, the Blues have a slightly more difficult schedule remaining, but, this is going to be a dogfight to the final day of the season. My pick: Count on the Kings
Team | Games Remaining | Points |
Nashville Predators | 8 | 90 |
Los Angeles Kings | 9 | 87 |
St. Louis Blues | 8 | 82 |
In the West the one first round matchup that stands out is Edmonton vs. Vancouver, not an ideal draw either team. But that’s why the NHL playoffs are the best.
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Bradley Tachco is a career journalist. I spent 12+ years at CNN as a writer and producer. My sports: NHL, MLB, NFL. My goal: unique content. And my teams are the Buffalo Sabres, Buffalo Bills (yes, I’m a masochist), and the Los Angeles Dodgers. I have been a Dodgers fan since I was old enough to think. I have gone through decades of despair with all three franchises. You can follow Bradley at X