Stanley Cup Playoffs 2023: NHL Bracket, Format and Updated Predictions

The final stretch of the 2022-23 NHL season is here. After the next six days, the three open spots remaining in the field for this year's Stanley Cup playoffs (two in the Eastern Conference, one in the Western Conference) will have been secured.

There weren't any NHL games on Friday, so this is a good time to reset and break down how the postseason picture stands. Although 13 teams have already clinched playoff berths, some of them will still be playing important games as they try to improve their seeding.

In the East, there are four teams battling for two spots. In the West, three teams are competing for the final berth. Once the 16-team field is set, the playoffs will get underway, with each series following a best-of-seven format.

Here's a look at the projected postseason bracket, followed by predictions for how the final battles will shake out.

Current Playoff Bracket

Jaylynn Nash

RALEIGH, NC - APRIL 04: NHL logo on a goal net prior to the first period the game Carolina Hurricanes against the Ottawa Senators at PNC Arena on April 04, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images)*

Eastern Conference

No. 1 Boston Bruins (127 points, clinched top seed) vs. No. 8 New York Islanders (89)

No. 2 Carolina Hurricanes (109, clinched playoff berth) vs. No. 7 Florida Panthers (89)

No. 3 New Jersey Devils (108, clinched playoff berth) vs. No. 6 Tampa Bay Lightning (96, clinched playoff berth)

No. 4 New York Rangers (104, clinched playoff berth) vs. No. 5 Toronto Maple Leafs (103, clinched playoff berth)

In the hunt: Pittsburgh Penguins (88), Buffalo Sabres (83)

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Western Conference

No. 1 Vegas Golden Knights (106, clinched playoff berth) vs. No. 8 Winnipeg Jets (89)

No. 2 Edmonton Oilers (103, clinched playoff berth) vs. No. 7 Seattle Kraken (96, clinched playoff berth)

No. 3 Colorado Avalanche (100, clinched playoff berth) vs. No. 6 Minnesota Wild (98, clinched playoff berth)

No. 4 Dallas Stars (100, clinched playoff berth) vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Kings (100, clinched playoff berth)

In the hunt: Calgary Flames (89), Nashville Predators (88)

Panthers, Islanders Will Hold on to Final Spots in East

AP Photo/Rhona Wise

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16), left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) and defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) celebrate after scoring against New York Rangers goaltender Jaroslav Halak (41) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 25, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)

If the season was over now, the Panthers and Islanders would get the final two playoff spots in the East. They each have 89 points through 79 games.

But there's still time for either the Penguins (88 points in 79 games) and/or the Sabres (83 in 77) to push their way into the postseason. They're running out of time to do so, though.

While it's possible things could be shuffled over the next week, it doesn't seem likely. There's a good chance Florida and New York will each stay exactly where it's at and head into the playoffs as the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds, respectively.

The Panthers are in a good position to close out the regular season strong. They've won five consecutive games, and their next contest is a Saturday road meeting with the Capitals, who are already eliminated from playoff contention.

After that, Florida plays back-to-back home matchups against Toronto and Carolina. It should fare well enough over this three-game stretch to reach the postseason.

As for the Islanders, they have an even more favorable schedule. Their final three games are all against teams eliminated from the playoffs: home vs. the Flyers, away at the Capitals and home vs. the Canadiens.

New York may have lost four of its past seven, but this is a great opportunity for it to reestablish momentum and make a strong push into the playoffs.

Because the Panthers and Isles will both finish strong, the Penguins and Sabres won't have a chance to jump up the standings. So expect the Eastern Conference bracket to look quite similar to the way it does now.

Flames Will Nab Final Spot in West

AP Photo/Alex Gallardo

Calgary Flames right wing Tyler Toffoli (73) celebrates with goaltender Dan Vladar (80) after the Flames defeated the Anaheim Ducks in an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Three teams are separated by one point for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Jets and Flames each have 89 points, but Winnipeg has played 78 games and Calgary has played 79. The Predators have 88 points through 78 games.

Although Calgary has one fewer remaining contest than the other two teams, it may actually be in the best position to secure the final West postseason berth. That's because the Flames may not lose again during the regular season.

Two of Calgary's final three games are against Vancouver and San Jose, a pair of teams eliminated from playoff contention. Its other contest is a home matchup vs. Nashville that could be huge in deciding this battle for a postseason spot.

The Jets have it much tougher. They not only have to play their next game against the Predators, but they close out the regular season with back-to-back road matchups vs. the Wild and Avalanche, two of the better teams in the Western Conference.

Nashville has it even tougher, with road matchups against Winnipeg and Calgary, then home contests vs. Minnesota and Colorado. The Predators will really have to earn it if they hope to reach the postseason.

That's why the prediction here is that the Flames will seize this final spot. They've won five of their past six games, and they should keep rolling over the next week.

Once Calgary gets to the postseason, it will look to advance past the second round for the first time since 2004, when it reached the Stanley Cup Final.