2024 NHL Playoff Bracket: Seedings, Round 1 Matchups & Schedule
NHL Playoff Bracket updated in real-time.
The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 20th, 2024, with 16 teams battling it out for hockey’s ultimate prize.
The image above displays the 2024 NHL Playoff bracket and will be updated in real-time each night. All eight first-round matchups for the 2024 NHL Playoffs are now locked in.
You’ll find much more NHL playoff information on this page below, including NHL playoff matchups and the NHL Playoff schedule. The only thing we don’t have here are NHL playoff odds. You can jump to a specific section using the links below:
NHL Playoff Picture | Clinched Teams | NHL Playoff Matchups | NHL Playoff Schedule | NHL Playoff FAQs
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NHL Playoff Picture
The New York Rangers finished as the top seed in the Eastern Conference NHL standings with 112 points. The Rangers will face the Washington Capitals in Round 1 of the postseason, where they will aim to avoid a first-round upset for the second straight year.
In the Western Conference, the Vancouver Canucks are surprisingly atop the standings with 107 points through 57 games. It’s a different story in the Stanley Cup odds, however, as the Colorado Avalanche have the best odds to win Lord Stanley out of any team from the West.
Teams Who Have Clinched a Playoff Spot
Western Conference | Eastern Conference |
---|---|
Dallas Stars | Boston Bruins |
Colorado Avalanche | Florida Panthers |
Winnipeg Jets | New York Rangers |
Vancouver Canucks | Carolina Hurricanes |
Edmonton Oilers | Toronto Maple Leafs |
Nashville Predators | Tampa Bay Lightning |
Vegas Golden Knights | New York Islanders |
Los Angeles Kings | Washington Capitals |
The Western Conference is set, with eight teams that have clinched a playoff spot: the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, Vegas Golden Knights, and Los Angeles Kings
The Eastern Conference is also set now, with eight teams that have clinched: the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Islanders and Washington Capitals.
NHL Playoff Matchups
Round 1 NHL Playoff Matchups – East |
---|
(A1) Florida Panthers vs (WC1) Tampa Bay Lightning |
(A2) Boston Bruins vs (A3) Toronto Maple Leafs |
(M1) New York Rangers vs (WC2) Washington Capitals |
(M2) Carolina Hurricanes vs (M3) Philadelphia Flyers |
Round 1 NHL Playoff Matchups – West |
(C1) Dallas Stars vs (WC2) Los Angeles Kings |
(C2) Winnipeg Jets vs (C3) Colorado Avalanche |
(P1) Vancouver Canucks vs (WC2) Vegas Golden Knights |
(P2) Edmonton Oilers vs (P3) Los Angeles Kings |
NHL Playoff Matchups as of Apr. 18, 2024.
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NHL Playoff Schedule
The NHL 2024 Stanley Cup Final Playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 20th and will conclude on Monday, June 17th (at the latest). You can view the NHL schedule for today (and beyond) below.
It’s important to note that the original start date of the 2024 NHL Playoffs was Monday, April 22nd, but the NHL has confirmed the playoffs will instead begin on Saturday, April 20th, 2024. That is just two days after the conclusion of the NHL regular season.
How is the NHL Playoff Bracket Set up?
With the NHL playoff structure reverted to its regular format, the seeding will work this way. Eight teams from both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference will make it to the postseason.
The Eastern Conference will have the top three teams from the Metropolitan Division and Atlantic Division, along with two wild-card spots. The Western Conference playoff schedule will feature the top three teams from both the Pacific and Central Division, along with the two best teams outside of those six as the wild cards.
The top two seeds in each division in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference will play the Wild Card teams in Round 1. Meanwhile, the other #2 and #3 seeds in each division will play each other in the first round. A team may be ahead of another team in regular-season points but could be in a Wild Card spot because all three teams in their division are ahead of them.
How Many Teams Make the NHL Playoffs?
16 total teams make the Stanley Cup playoffs, eight from the East and eight from the West. Most teams will play a seven-game series against a team from their division.
NHL Teams Eliminated from Playoff Contention
Team | Conference |
---|---|
Columbus Blue Jackets | Eastern |
San Jose Sharks | Western |
Chicago Blackhawks | Western |
Anaheim Ducks | Western |
Three NHL Western Conference teams, the San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Anaheim Ducks, have been eliminated from playoff contention. At least for Chicago, phenom Connor Bedard remains the favorite in the Calder Trophy odds.
In the Eastern Conference portion of the NHL PLayoff Bracket, only the Columbus Blue Jackets have been eliminated so far. They will miss the postseason for the third straight year.
How Long Do The Stanley Cup Playoffs Last?
The Stanley Cup Playoffs last an average of 57 days. In the 2022 NHL Playoffs, the postseason began on May 2nd, 2022 and finished on June 26th, 2022 (56 days). Based on the average length, the 2024 NHL Playoffs will approximately conclude on June 13, 2023.
How long the Stanley Cup Playoffs last is ultimately dependent on the number of games played. If every series goes to a Game 7, there would be a maximum number of 105 total games played. On the other hand, if every series is a sweep, there would be only 60 total games played. The average amount of games played in an NHL playoff is 86.
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The Carolina Hurricanes are sure to make some noise this postseason, which is great news with the recent launch of online sports betting in North Carolina. Bettors living in the Tar Heel state can now wager on their favorite teams!
NHL Playoff Bracket FAQs
When do the NHL Playoffs start?
The 2024 NHL Playoffs begin on Saturday, April 20th.
How many games are in the NHL playoffs?
Each series is a best of seven. The winning team will need to win 16 games, but the champion could play as many as 28 if all four of their series go the full seven games. The maximum number of games in one playoff (all teams) is 105.
When was the last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup?
The last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup was the Montreal Canadiens in 1993. Canadian teams have made the finals six times since then (Vancouver, 1994; Calgary, 2004; Edmonton, 2006; Ottawa, 2007; Vancouver, 2011; Montreal, 2021).
How is the NHL playoff bracket determined?
The NHL playoff bracket is determined by division position and regular-season record. The top three teams in each division make up the first 12 teams in the playoffs, while the remaining four spots are filled by the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference.
How do upsets affect the NHL playoff bracket?
Upsets are common in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and can shake up the bracket. The winners of the First Round play one another in the Second Round to determine the four participants in the Conference Finals.
What happens if there is a tie in the NHL playoff bracket?
If there is a tie in the NHL playoff bracket, the seeding is determined by which team has more regulation wins. The second tiebreaker is regulation plus overtime wins.
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Lead NHL & NCAAF Editor
Brady is the lead NHL and College Football editor at Sports Betting Dime, where he specializes in betting odds and data-driven analysis. Brady has over 10 years experience working in sports media, with work published by outlets such as ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo! Sports and Fox Sports.