NHL Tiebreakers Explained
The NHL ranks teams by points, not by record: two for a win, one for an overtime or shootout loss. When teams are level on points the league applies a fixed list, starting with regulation wins, and stops at the first step that separates them. This page explains every step in plain English, shows which 2026-27 races are currently tied on points and how they break today, and lets you compare any two teams.
Current Ties in the 2026-27 Standings
No two teams in the same conference share a record yet. Check back after the next set of games.
Tiebreaker Checker
Pick any two NHL teams. The checker walks the official order using this season’s results and stops at the first step that separates them.
The Official Tiebreaker Order
Two teams tied for a division title. With three or more, head-to-head means the combined record among all tied teams, and if one team drops out the list restarts from step 1 for the rest.
- 1
Points
Two points for a win, one for an overtime or shootout loss. This is the standings order itself; the steps below break ties on points.
Example Bruins 98 pts, Maple Leafs 98 pts: go to the next step.
- 2
Games played
Fewer games played ranks higher, because that team has more points available. In the final standings every team has 84, so this only matters during the season.
- 3
Regulation wins (RW)
Wins in the first 60 minutes. Overtime and shootout wins do not count here.
Example Bruins 38 RW, Maple Leafs 35 RW: Bruins rank higher.
- 4
Regulation plus overtime wins (ROW)
Regulation wins plus overtime wins. Shootout wins are excluded.
- 5
Total wins
All wins including shootouts.
- 6
Head-to-head points
Points earned in games between the tied teams. If the teams played an uneven number of home games, the first game at the team with the extra home game is discarded.
- 7
Goal differential
Goals for minus goals against across the season.
Example +42 beats +31.
- 8
Goals for
Total goals scored.
Two or more teams tied for a wild card spot, or for seeding among division winners.
- 1
Points
Same first step.
- 2
Games played
Fewer games played ranks higher.
- 3
Regulation wins
Wins in regulation time.
- 4
Regulation plus overtime wins
Shootout wins excluded.
- 5
Total wins
All wins.
- 6
Head-to-head points
Points in games among the tied teams.
- 7
Goal differential
Goals for minus goals against.
- 8
Goals for
Total goals scored.
Regulation Wins, ROW and Goal Differential
The three numbers that separate teams level on points. RW = regulation wins, ROW = regulation plus overtime wins (shootouts excluded). Tap a heading to sort.
| # | Team | Record | PTS | RW | ROW | GF-GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Anaheim DucksANAWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 |  Boston BruinsBOSEastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 |  Buffalo SabresBUFEastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 |  Calgary FlamesCGYWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 |  Carolina HurricanesCAREastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 |  Chicago BlackhawksCHIWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 |  Colorado AvalancheCOLWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 |  Columbus Blue JacketsCBJEastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 |  Dallas StarsDALWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 |  Detroit Red WingsDETEastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 |  Edmonton OilersEDMWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 |  Florida PanthersFLAEastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 |  Los Angeles KingsLAWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 |  Minnesota WildMINWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 |  Montréal CanadiensMTLEastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 |  Nashville PredatorsNSHWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 |  New Jersey DevilsNJEastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 |  New York IslandersNYIEastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 |  New York RangersNYREastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 |  Ottawa SenatorsOTTEastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 |  Philadelphia FlyersPHIEastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 |  Pittsburgh PenguinsPITEastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 |  San Jose SharksSJWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 |  Seattle KrakenSEAWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 |  St. Louis BluesSTLWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 |  Tampa Bay LightningTBEastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 |  Toronto Maple LeafsTOREastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 |  Utah MammothUTAWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 |  Vancouver CanucksVANWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 |  Vegas Golden KnightsVGKWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 |  Washington CapitalsWSHEastern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 |  Winnipeg JetsWPGWestern Conference |
0-0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A shootout win counts as a win and two points but adds nothing to RW or ROW, which is why two teams on the same points can sit in a different order.
Why the Tiebreakers Matter
A team can have fewer wins and still rank higher thanks to overtime losses. The loser point is why P% and regulation wins matter so much late in the year.
Since 2019-20 the first tiebreaker is regulation wins, so a 3-2 win in regulation is worth more than a shootout win when teams are level.
The top three in each division are in regardless of the other division, so a fourth-place team with more points can still be chasing a wild card.
The higher seed hosts games 1, 2, 5 and 7 in every series.
Glossary
Points (PTS)
Two for a win of any kind, one for an overtime or shootout loss, none for a regulation loss.
Points percentage (P%)
Points earned divided by points available (two per game). Used to rank teams that have played a different number of games.
Regulation wins (RW)
Wins inside 60 minutes. The first tiebreaker once games played are equal.
ROW
Regulation plus overtime wins; shootout wins are excluded. The second tiebreaker.
Head-to-head points
Points earned in games between the tied teams. If one team has played more home games in the series, its first extra home game is dropped.
Goal differential
Goals for minus goals against across the season.
Wild card
The two best teams in each conference outside the top three of their division. They take the last two playoff spots.
Clinched (x, y, z, *)
x = playoff berth, y = wild card, z = division title, * = conference and home-ice advantage.
Eliminated
Mathematically unable to reach the playoffs even by winning every remaining game.
🏆 NHL playoff picture → 📊 NHL standings →
Tiebreaker FAQ
How are NHL standings ranked?
By points: two for a win, one for an overtime or shootout loss. Points percentage is used while teams have played different numbers of games.
What is the first NHL tiebreaker?
Regulation wins, once games played are equal. Then regulation plus overtime wins, total wins, head-to-head points, goal differential and goals for.
What is an OTL?
An overtime or shootout loss. It is worth one point, which is why a team can have fewer wins but more points than a rival.
How many teams make the NHL playoffs?
Sixteen: the top three in each of the four divisions plus two wild cards per conference.
Can an NHL game end in a tie?
No. A five-minute 3-on-3 overtime is followed by a shootout in the regular season; playoff games play full 20-minute overtimes until a goal.
Are these standings shown with tiebreakers applied?
Yes for points, points percentage, regulation wins and regulation plus overtime wins. The checker on this page walks the full official order for any two teams.
Updated · last result change Sep 11