NHL Stanley Cup playoff bracket: Updated league standings, potential first-round matchups
clinched the Presidents’ Trophy on Thursday night and have a chance to break the NHL record of 62 wins in a season. But which other teams will make the playoffs and what are the matchups in the first round?
USA TODAY Sports is here with everything you need to know about the NHL playoffs, including updated playoff brackets. Here’s a comprehensive look at the current NHL postseason outlook, including when the playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final are scheduled to start:
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Clinching scenarios for Monday, April 3
-The Minnesota Wild will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Vegas Golden Knights in any fashion. They also can clinch if they get one point vs. the Golden Knights and the Nashville Predators lose to the Dallas Stars in any fashion.
-The Stars will clinch a playoff berth if they defeat the Predators in any fashion.
Updated NHL playoff standings
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(as of April 2 — complete standings can be found here. p-clinched Presidents’ Trophy, x-clinched playoff spot, y-clinched division title, z-eliminated from playoff contention)
Colorado Avalanche won for the first time since 2001. They defeated the two-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.
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When is the NHL draft?
The NHL draft is June 28 (first round) and June 29 (Rounds 2-7) at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. The NHL draft lottery will be held at 7 p.m. ET on May 8 among the 16 non-playoff teams or teams that acquired their first-round picks in a trade. Teams can move up a maximum of 10 spots in the two drawings. Only the bottom 11 teams will have a chance to draft generational talent Connor Bedard at No. 1 overall. The Regina (Saskatchewan) Pats center led the Western Hockey League during the regular season with 143 points in 57 games.