NHL Playoff Picture 2015: Updated Standings and Bracket Outlook

For many teams, the end of the NHL regular season is already the beginning of the postseason. Every single point counts now, and one lapse of concentration can be the difference between a playoff berth and a tee time.

Below, you'll find the standings for each division, a look at the wild-card contenders and an analysis of the race to the postseason.
 

Eastern Conference

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS
Montreal	71	44	20	7	95
Tampa Bay	71	43	21	7	93
Detroit	68	38	19	11	87
Boston	70	36	23	11	83
Ottawa	69	34	24	11	79
Florida	70	31	25	14	76
Toronto	71	27	38	6	60
Buffalo	70	20	43	7	47

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS
NY Rangers	68	44	17	7	95
NY Islanders	72	43	25	4	90
Pittsburgh	70	39	21	10	88
Washington	71	38	23	10	86
Philadelphia	72	29	28	15	73
New Jersey	70	30	29	11	71
Columbus	69	30	35	4	64
Carolina	69	26	34	9	61

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS
Washington	71	38	23	10	86
Boston	70	36	23	11	83
Ottawa	69	34	24	11	79
Florida	70	31	25	14	76
Philadelphia	72	29	28	15	73
New Jersey	70	30	29	11	71

Analysis

Al Bello/Getty Images

Barring a meltdown from Washington in its last 11 games, it appears the top seven seeds in the Eastern Conference are fairly secure, though the order of the seeds between those teams could alter.

With three games in hand on both the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, the New York Rangers are the front-runners to earn the top seed in the East. After an 11-10-4 start to the season, the Rangers have gone an amazing 34-7-1 since, making them the hottest team in all of hockey. And they've done it with one of the top goalies in the game, Henrik Lundqvist, playing in just 39 contests.

Even with Cam Talbot playing well for New York, getting Lundqvist back will be a huge boost for the Rangers, per Sean Hartnett of CBS New York:

"

The news of Lundqvist being physically able to return to full practices brought immediate delight to Rangers fans. Despite Cam Talbot playing every bit like a No. 1 goalie, Lundqvist unequivocally gives the Blueshirts the best chance to surpass last season’s success and lift Lord Stanley.

During the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs, Lundqvist shined the brightest under the most intense pressure. He willed the Rangers to wins through sheer unbreakable mental strength and countless how-did-he-do-that saves. Lundqvist nearly carried last year’s team to a championship while their goal scoring dried up during their run to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final, where they were defeated by the Los Angeles Kings in five games.

"

Avoiding the Rangers as long as possible in the postseason will be the goal for most of the Eastern Conference, though at the moment, it looks as though the Boston Bruins will end up drawing the unwanted No. 8 seed. 

Really, the only team that seems to be within striking distance of Boston for the final wild-card spot is the Ottawa Senators. The Sens have been red hot, going 8-1-1 in their last 10, and paired with the fact that the B's have suffered two straight losses, Ottawa finds itself just four points behind Boston with a game in hand.

One would imagine heads would roll in Boston if the team failed to reach the postseason, and at this point, Ottawa seems the most likely possibility to catch them. Expect that—along with the battle for the top seed in the Eastern Conference—to be the primary source of drama in the East as the season comes to a close.

Western Conference

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS
St. Louis	70	45	20	5	95
Nashville	72	43	21	8	94
Chicago	69	42	21	6	90
Minnesota	70	39	24	7	85
Winnipeg	70	35	23	12	82
Colorado	69	32	26	11	75
Dallas	70	32	28	10	74

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS
Anaheim	71	44	20	7	95
Vancouver	69	40	25	4	84
Los Angeles	69	34	22	13	81
Calgary	70	38	27	5	81
San Jose	70	34	28	8	76
Arizona	70	21	41	8	50
Edmonton	70	19	39	12	50

Team	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS
Minnesota	70	39	24	7	85
Winnipeg	70	35	23	12	82
Calgary	70	38	27	5	81
San Jose	70	34	28	8	76
Colorado	69	32	26	11	75
Dallas	70	32	28	10	74

Analysis

There may be a bit more drama in the Western Conference wild-card chase, as the Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are all within eight points of the team in the final spot, the Winnipeg Jets. At just one point behind the Jets, the Flames seem to be the team most likely to catch them.

The Flames appear to be enjoying the hunt, as forward Lance Bouma told Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun:

"

Not a lot of guys have been in this situation before, so everyone is really, really enjoying it and wants to do well and wants to bring it every game, and it’s fun to be around that. This is what you play for as a player—to be in these situations and to try to get in the playoffs and try to win the Stanley Cup.

You dream as that as a kid, so it’s just a lot of fun. You’re living your dream.

"

Of course, Calgary isn't just chasing a wild-card spot, as the team is level in points with the Los Angeles Kings in the Pacific. The Flames are chasing two teams right now, so as long as they can keep winning, they'll have a great shot to reach the postseason. 

That will be the primary storyline to watch down the stretch, with six teams within eight points of one another. However, there will also be a heck of a push for the top overall spot in the conference, with the St. Louis Blues, Anaheim Ducks and Nashville Predators battling it out and the Chicago Blackhawks still in the running.

The Presidents' Trophy is also still on the line, so the NHL regular season still has quite a bit of drama to offer as the postseason nears.