NHL Playoff Picture 2023: Updated Standings and Bracket Outlook

The Boston Bruins haven't won the Stanley Cup since the 2010-11 season. Since then, they've made it to the Stanley Cup Final twice and lost both times, falling to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013 and the St. Louis Blues in 2019.

Could the Bruins' championship drought end this year? It's quite possible, considering they've been the clear top team in the NHL for the majority of the 2022-23 season. However, there's still a lot of time left before Boston could capture the Cup.

After all, the Bruins are still the only team that's clinched a playoff berth. The other 15 spots remain up for grabs between now and the end of the regular season on April 14.

Here's a look at the full NHL standings, followed by a breakdown of the current postseason picture for both the Eastern and Western Conferences.

NHL Standings

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 14: Detail of an NHL shield logo on the pads of a Detroit Red Wings player during the first period against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena on March 14, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

Eastern Conference

1. Boston Bruins (113 points, clinched playoff berth)

2. Carolina Hurricanes (100)

3. New Jersey Devils (98)

4. Toronto Maple Leafs (93)

5. New York Rangers (92)

6. Tampa Bay Lightning (90)

7. New York Islanders (82)

8. Florida Panthers (79)

9. Pittsburgh Penguins (78)

10. Washington Capitals (74)

11. Ottawa Senators (73)

12. Buffalo Sabres (72)

13. Detroit Red Wings (71)

14. Philadelphia Flyers (64)

15. Montreal Canadiens (62)

16. Columbus Blue Jackets (51, eliminated from playoff contention)

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Western Conference

1. Vegas Golden Knights (94)

2. Los Angeles Kings (92)

3. Dallas Stars (90)

4. Minnesota Wild (90)

5. Colorado Avalanche (88)

6. Edmonton Oilers (88)

7. Seattle Kraken (85)

8. Winnipeg Jets (83)

9. Calgary Flames (79)

10. Nashville Predators (78)

11. St. Louis Blues (68)

12. Vancouver Canucks (67)

13. Arizona Coyotes (65)

14. Anaheim Ducks (56, eliminated from playoff contention)

15. Chicago Blackhawks (54, eliminated from playoff contention)

16. San Jose Sharks (53, eliminated from playoff contention)

Eastern Conference Picture

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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 21: Linus Ullmark #35 and Brandon Carlo #25 of the Boston Bruins celebrate the win against the Ottawa Senators at the TD Garden on March 21, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

No. 1 Boston Bruins vs. No. 8 Florida Panthers

No. 2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 7 New York Islanders

No. 3 New Jersey Devils vs. No. 6 Tampa Bay Lightning

No. 4 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 5 New York Rangers

When the playoffs begin next month, the Bruins will be the clear favorite in the Eastern Conference. They have 113 points (13 more than any other team) and appear to be cruising toward the Presidents' Trophy.

Through 70 games, Boston has lost only 16 times, and just 11 of those have been regulation defeats. The Bruins have had a few small rough patches, but not of late, as they've won straight games after their home victory over the Senators on Tuesday.

While Boston should handily wrap up the No. 1 seed, there are quite a few teams in the mix to finish No. 8. Florida holds that position now, but it's only one point ahead of Pittsburgh, five ahead of Washington and six ahead of Ottawa.

The Islanders are only three points ahead of the Panthers, so it's also possible they could drop from No. 7 to No. 8 (or potentially out of the playoff field altogether).

Whichever team ends up with the No. 8 seed is not going to have a fun time in the first round. And it could lead to a quick playoff series in which the Bruins easily win.

The Devils, who are the No. 3 seed, haven't been to the playoffs since the 2018-19 season. So it's highly likely they'll soon be ending their postseason drought, considering they have 98 points, 20 more than the Penguins (the first team out).

There's also a good chance New Jersey will have home-ice advantage in its first-round playoff series, as it should end up as a top-four seed.

Although the Devils have lost four of their past five games, they have ample time to get back on track and re-establish some momentum. So it's nowhere near time to be concerned about New Jersey's recent struggles, especially with how well it has played for most of the season.

Western Conference Picture

Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images

VANCOUVER, CANADA - MARCH 21: Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his goal with his teammates during the first period of their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena March 21, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. No. 8 Winnipeg Jets

No. 2 Los Angeles Kings vs. No. 7 Seattle Kraken

No. 3 Dallas Stars vs. No. 6 Edmonton Oilers

No. 4 Minnesota Wild vs. No. 5 Colorado Avalanche

After joining the NHL as an expansion team for the 2017-18 campaign, the Golden Knights made the playoffs each of their first four seasons. However, their streak ended last year, when they finished in ninth in the Western Conference, missing the postseason by three points.

Vegas won't have to endure a long playoff drought, though. It sits in first in the West and may not need much longer to clinch a postseason berth. The Golden Knights are in a great spot with 11 games remaining on their regular-season schedule.

After its victory over Vancouver on Tuesday, Vegas has won six of its past seven games. That's important, considering the team needs momentum for the final stretch, as it wraps up the regular season with seven road matchups and only four at home.

So even though the Golden Knights are a near lock for the playoffs, they may have trouble holding onto the No. 1 seed. The Kings, Stars and Wild are all only four or fewer points back.

Another noteworthy team in the Western Conference postseason picture is Seattle. After missing the playoffs in their inaugural NHL season in the 2021-22 campaign, the Kraken could soon be making their postseason debut.

Seattle notched an impressive victory on Tuesday, when it defeated Dallas in overtime on the road. It was a big win for the Kraken, who had lost four of their previous five games and were starting to be in danger of sliding down the standings.

For now, Seattle and Winnipeg have a bit of a cushion, though. The Jets, who are in the No. 8 spot, are five points ahead of the Predators, the first team out.

There's still time for things to get shaken up, though. So it's possible one of those teams could get knocked out by a team just outside of a playoff spot at the moment.