The NHL playoff bracket is now complete.
The Montreal Canadiens clinched the second wild-card seed in the Eastern Conference with a 4-2 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday night. The Canadiens head to the playoffs for the first time since their 2021 trip to the Stanley Cup Final. They’ll face the Washington Capitals in the first round.
Montreal needed only one point to clinch but got two goals from Kaiden Guhle, sandwiched around Nick Suzuki’s 30th goal of the season, which made it 2-1 in the second period. Carolina’s Tyson Jost cut the deficit to 3-2 in the third period, but Jake Evans put the game away with an empty-netter.
Lane Hutson tied an NHL record for rookie defensemen with his 60th assist.
The Hurricanes were resting Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Jordan Staal, Jordan Martinook, Jackson Blake, Jaccob Slavin and Jalen Chatfield. Coach Rod Brind’Amour’s son, Skyler, made his NHL debut.
The Columbus Blue Jackets were officially eliminated after a season in which they came close to a playoff spot, despite the offseason death of Johnny Gaudreau.
The NHL announced two opening playoff games (see below) and said it would release the full schedule on Thursday.
Here’s a look at the NHL playoff picture:
When do the NHL playoffs start?
The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 19. Two games were announced (times p.m. ET):
St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets, 6 | TNT | truTV | Max | Sling
Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars, 8:30 | TNT | truTV | Max | Sling
The full schedule will be released on Thursday.
Who’s in the NHL playoffs?
Eastern Conference: Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens
Western Conference: Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues
NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket
Key: M – Metropolitan Division. A – Atlantic Division. WC – wild card
Washington (M1) vs. Montreal (WC2)
Carolina (M2) vs. New Jersey (M3)
Toronto (A1) vs. Ottawa (WC1)
Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Florida (A3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth.
NHL Western Conference playoff bracket
Key: C – Central Division P – Pacific Division. WC – wild card
Winnipeg (C1) vs. St. Louis (WC2)
Dallas (C2) vs. Colorado (C3)
Vegas (P1) vs. Minnesota (WC1)
Los Angeles (P2) vs. Edmonton (P3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth.
Who can clinch Wednesday?
The Canadiens will clinch a playoff berth if they get one point against the Hurricanes. Update: The Canadiens beat the Hurricanes to make the playoffs.
NHL games today (Wednesday, April 16)
Carolina at Montreal, 7
Anaheim at Winnipeg, 7
Detroit at New Jersey, 7:30 | TNT | truTV | Max | Sling
Dallas at Nashville, 8
Vegas at Vancouver, 10
Edmonton at San Jose, 10:30
NHL Eastern Conference standings 2024-25
(through games of April 16; c-clinched conference title; x-clinched playoff berth; y-clinched division title; z-eliminated from postseason contention)
Metropolitan Division
c-Washington Capitals (111 points)
x-Carolina Hurricanes (99)
x-New Jersey Devils (91)
Atlantic Division
y-Toronto Maple Leafs (106)
x-Tampa Bay Lightning (102)
x-Florida Panthers (98)
Wild card
x-Ottawa Senators (95)
x-Montreal Canadiens (91)
Missed the playoffs: z-Columbus Blue Jackets (87), z-Detroit Red Wings (85), z-New York Rangers (83), z-New York Islanders (82), z-Pittsburgh Penguins (78), z-Buffalo Sabres (77), z-Philadelphia Flyers (76), z-Boston Bruins (76)
NHL Western Conference standings 2024-25
(through games of April 16; p-clinched Presidents’ Trophy; x-clinched playoff berth; y-clinched division title;z-eliminated from postseason contention)
Central Division
p-Winnipeg Jets (116)
x-Dallas Stars (106)
x-Colorado Avalanche (102)
Pacific Division
y-Vegas Golden Knights (110)
x-Los Angeles Kings (105)
x-Edmonton Oilers (101)
Wild card
x-Minnesota Wild (97)
x-St. Louis Blues (96)
Missed the playoffs: z-Calgary Flames (94), z-Vancouver Canucks (90), z-Utah Hockey Club (89), z-Anaheim Ducks (80), z-Seattle Kraken (76), z-Nashville Predators (68), z-Chicago Blackhawks (61), z-San Jose Sharks (52). Note: The Sharks have clinched the best draft lottery odds.
When does the NHL regular season end?
The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 17, with seven games.