NHL Playoff Standings 2024: Predictions for East, West Seedings | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Atlantic Division

1. Boston - 103 points

2. Florida - 99

3. Toronto - 95

Metropolitan Division

1. New York Rangers - 106

2. Carolina - 101

3. Philadelphia - 83

Wild-Card Race

1. Tampa Bay - 91

2. Washington - 82

3. Detroit - 82

4. New York Islanders - 81

5. Pittsburgh - 79

6. Buffalo - 77

7. New Jersey - 76

The Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers and Carolina Hurricanes have all clinched playoff berths.

Boston and New York are the front-runners to win their respective divisions and they are the likeliest Presidents' Trophy winners out of the Eastern Conference.

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning will be in the playoff field as well. Toronto holds a four-point lead on Tampa Bay for third place in the Atlantic Division after the Lightning's win in Toronto on Wednesday.

Third place in the Atlantic may be the more coveted position right now since that would come with a matchup against the Panthers, who are 2-7-1 in their last 10 games.

The wild-card race is difficult to unpack on a nightly basis. The Capitals hold the second wild-card spot, but a win over Pittsburgh on Thursday would jump them over the Philadelphia Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Philadelphia is on the longest losing streak in the NHL and has played two more games than Washington. All of the other wild-card contenders have at least one game in hand on the Flyers.

A Pittsburgh win over Washington on Thursday would further tighten the wild-card race. The Penguins are contending for a playoff spot despite being a seller at the trade deadline.

The Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders are both in the mix as well, but each team has a difficult finish to the regular season and played .500 hockey over the last 10 games.

Pittsburgh, who plays four of its last seven at home, has a chance to beat Detroit, Washington and the Islanders in the next two weeks to claim a playoff position.

Seed Predictions:

Atlantic: 1. Boston, 2. Florida, 3. Toronto

Metropolitan: 1. New York Rangers, 2. Carolina, 3. Washington

Wild-Card: 1. Tampa Bay, 2. Pittsburgh