NHL Playoffs to Begin April 18 Following Regular Season Finale

As of April 15, six of the eight first-round playoff series have been confirmed, while the final two spots in the Western Conference are still to be decided. In the Pacific Division, the Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, and Los Angeles Kings are competing for the second and third seeds or the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.

The final standings in this division will determine first-round matchups, including which teams will host games and which will play on the road. The Oilers would secure second place in the Pacific Division if they defeat the Vancouver Canucks or earn at least one point while the Ducks and Kings lose.

If the Oilers lose in regulation and the Ducks win while the Kings lose, the Oilers would finish third.

If the Oilers lose in regulation and both the Ducks and Kings win, the Oilers would take the second wild card spot. The Ducks can clinch second place by defeating the Nashville Predators and if the Oilers lose in regulation. They would finish third if the Oilers earn at least one point and the Ducks gain one more point than the Kings.

The Ducks would take the second wild card spot if they lose and the Kings win. The Kings would secure second place by beating the Calgary Flames, provided the Oilers lose in regulation and the Ducks lose. They would finish third if they win, the Oilers earn a point, and the Ducks lose.

The Kings would remain in the second wild card spot if they lose in regulation or earn the same or fewer points than the Oilers and Ducks during the night. The confirmed Eastern Conference playoff teams include Carolina, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Montreal, Tampa Bay, Boston, and Ottawa.

In the Western Conference, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota, Vegas, Edmonton, Anaheim, Utah, and Los Angeles have clinched playoff spots.

The playoff bracket shows first-round matchups as follows: in the Eastern Conference, Carolina will face Ottawa, Pittsburgh will face Philadelphia, Buffalo will face Boston, and Tampa Bay will face Montreal. In the Western Conference, Colorado will face Los Angeles, Dallas will face Minnesota, Vegas will face Utah, and Edmonton will face Anaheim.

The NHL uses a series of tiebreakers if teams finish the regular season with the same number of points.

These include regulation wins, regulation and overtime wins, total wins, points earned in head-to-head competition, goal differential, and total goals scored. In the Pacific Division, the Oilers have the most regulation wins, followed by the Ducks and Kings. The NHL playoffs are scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 18, following the conclusion of the regular season.