NHL Playoff Picture 2026-27

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NHL playoff picture for 2026-27, updated November 2. In the Eastern Conference the Boston Bruins hold the No. 1 seed at 10-4-1 and the Florida Panthers have the last spot at 8-4-2.

In the Western Conference the Minnesota Wild hold the No. 1 seed at 10-3-3 and the St. Louis Blues have the last spot at 7-6-1.

Eastern ConferenceWestern ConferenceBoth

Eastern Conference Playoff Picture

Atlantic (top 3)
–Boston BruinsAtlantic leader10-4-1 · 21 ptsvs VGK Mon
–Montréal CanadiensAtlantic9-3-2 · 20 ptsvs WPG Tue
–Ottawa SenatorsAtlantic9-6-1 · 19 pts@ BUF Wed
Metropolitan (top 3)
–Carolina HurricanesMetropolitan leader12-2-2 · 26 pts@ NSH Tue
–New Jersey DevilsMetropolitan9-5-0 · 18 ptsvs EDM Tue
–Washington CapitalsMetropolitan · 2 pts back8-5-0 · 16 ptsvs DAL Tue
Wild cards
–Tampa Bay LightningAtlantic8-3-2 · 18 ptsvs DET Tue
–Florida PanthersAtlantic8-4-2 · 18 ptsvs DET Mon
In the hunt
–Toronto Maple LeafsAtlantic8-6-2 · 18 ptsvs UTA Tue
–Buffalo SabresAtlantic · 1 pts back7-4-3 · 17 ptsvs OTT Wed
–New York IslandersMetropolitan · 2 pts back7-5-2 · 16 ptsvs CAR Thu
–Detroit Red WingsAtlantic · 3 pts back6-5-3 · 15 pts@ FLA Mon
–New York RangersMetropolitan · 3 pts back7-7-1 · 15 ptsvs STL Tue
Outside the race
–Pittsburgh PenguinsMetropolitan · 6 pts back5-7-2 · 12 ptsvs VGK Tue
–Philadelphia FlyersMetropolitan · 6 pts back4-8-4 · 12 ptsvs MIN Tue
–Columbus Blue JacketsMetropolitan · 8 pts back5-7-0 · 10 ptsvs COL Tue

Top 3 in each division qualify, plus the 2 best remaining teams in the conference as wild cards. Teams are ranked by points. Tags: x clinched playoff, y clinched wild card, z clinched division, * clinched conference and home-ice, e eliminated (points-only maths). Arrows = movement since the last games.

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If the Playoffs Started Today

Eastern Conference first round

Atlantic
WC1Lightning18 pts@D1Bruins21 pts
D3Senators19 pts@D2Canadiens20 pts
Metropolitan
WC2Panthers18 pts@D1Hurricanes26 pts
D3Capitals16 pts@D2Devils18 pts

Western Conference first round

Central
WC1Stars17 pts@D1Wild23 pts
D3Avalanche17 pts@D2Mammoth18 pts
Pacific
WC2Blues15 pts@D1Oilers24 pts
D3Kraken17 pts@D2Golden Knights19 pts

Division winner with more points faces the second wild card. Higher seed has home-ice advantage. Matchups update automatically after every game.

Games That Matter This Week

Detroit Red Wings logoRed Wings6-5-3 · Eastern Conference No. 12@Mon, Nov 27:00 PM ESTScripps 66, ESPN SelectFlorida Panthers logoPanthers8-4-2 · Eastern Conference No. 7
Calgary Flames logoFlames6-8-0 · Western Conference No. 12@Mon, Nov 29:00 PM ESTNBC Sports Bay Area, ESPN SelectSan Jose Sharks logoSharks7-7-1 · Western Conference No. 10
Dallas Stars logoStars8-5-1 · Western Conference No. 7@Tue, Nov 37:00 PM ESTPrime Video, ESPN SelectWashington Capitals logoCapitals8-5-0 · Eastern Conference No. 10
Detroit Red Wings logoRed Wings6-5-3 · Eastern Conference No. 12@Tue, Nov 37:00 PM ESTThe Spot, ESPN SelectTampa Bay Lightning logoLightning8-3-2 · Eastern Conference No. 5
Utah Mammoth logoMammoth9-6-0 · Western Conference No. 4@Tue, Nov 37:00 PM ESTUtah 16, ESPN SelectToronto Maple Leafs logoMaple Leafs8-6-2 · Eastern Conference No. 8
St. Louis Blues logoBlues7-6-1 · Western Conference No. 8@Tue, Nov 37:00 PM ESTMSG Sportsnet, ESPN SelectNew York Rangers logoRangers7-7-1 · Eastern Conference No. 13
Carolina Hurricanes logoHurricanes12-2-2 · Eastern Conference No. 1@Tue, Nov 38:00 PM ESTScripps 66, ESPN SelectNashville Predators logoPredators5-4-5 · Western Conference No. 9
Anaheim Ducks logoDucks6-7-1 · Western Conference No. 11@Tue, Nov 39:00 PM ESTPrime Video, ESPN SelectVancouver Canucks logoCanucks3-12-1 · Western Conference No. 16
Ottawa Senators logoSenators9-6-1 · Eastern Conference No. 4@Wed, Nov 47:30 PM ESTMSG Sportsnet, ESPN SelectBuffalo Sabres logoSabres7-4-3 · Eastern Conference No. 9
Calgary Flames logoFlames6-8-0 · Western Conference No. 12@Wed, Nov 410:00 PM ESTPrime Video, KONGSeattle Kraken logoKraken8-5-1 · Western Conference No. 6
Carolina Hurricanes logoHurricanes12-2-2 · Eastern Conference No. 1@Thu, Nov 57:00 PM ESTESPN Select, ESPN UnlimitedNew York Islanders logoIslanders7-5-2 · Eastern Conference No. 11

Upcoming games involving teams within reach of the cutoff (seeds 6-8 and the next four in the hunt).

Biggest Movers

NHL Biggest Movers

Conference seed change since the last games

Moving up

Anaheim DucksWestern Conference · 6-7-112→11▲ 1

Moving down

Calgary FlamesWestern Conference · 6-8-011→12▼ 1

⚖️ How NHL tiebreakers work →

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Playoff picture FAQ

How many teams make the NHL playoffs?

16, eight per conference: the top three in each division plus the two best remaining teams in the conference as wild cards.

How are NHL playoff teams ranked?

By points: two for a win, one for an overtime or shootout loss. Ties on points go to points percentage, then regulation wins, then regulation plus overtime wins.

How does the NHL playoff bracket work?

The first two rounds are played inside the division. The division winner with more points faces the second wild card; the other division winner faces the first wild card; second plays third in each division.

What does "in the hunt" mean?

Teams outside the current playoff eight but within about five points of the last wild card spot.

What do the x, y, z and * tags mean?

x clinched a playoff berth, y clinched a wild card, z clinched the division, * clinched the conference and home-ice advantage. An e means the team is eliminated.

When is the playoff picture final?

After the last regular-season game in April. Until then every result can move teams, especially where teams are tied on points.

Updated · last result change Nov 1