NHL Playoff Picture 2024: Latest Postseason Bracket, Predictions and More

The NHL schedule has games on a nightly basis that affect multiple postseason races.

None of the seven teams who clinched playoff berths are officially locked into a specific playoff position yet.

The Eastern Conference wild-card race is where most of the drama resides at the moment since Tuesday's results closed the gap between all of the contenders for those two spots.

The Western Conference races are more about positioning at this point unless one of the projected playoff teams hits a bad run of form in the next two weeks.

The second wild-card spot appears to be the only place up for grabs in the West, but the Los Angeles Kings could create distance in that race in the next 48 hours.

Eastern Conference

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NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 02: Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) skates with the puck during a game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils on April 2, 2024 at Prudential Center in the Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Atlantic Division

1. Boston - 103 points

2. Florida - 99

3. Toronto - 95

Metropolitan Division

1. New York Rangers - 104

2. Carolina - 101

3. Philadelphia - 83

Wild-Card Race

1. Tampa Bay - 89

2. Washington - 82

3. Detroit - 82

4. New York Islanders - 81

5. Pittsburgh - 79

6. Buffalo - 77

7. New Jersey - 76

Tuesday's results made the wild-card picture in the East look even more congested than it already was.

The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New Jersey Devils, the New York Islanders won at home against the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Buffalo Sabres downed the Washington Capitals.

Pittsburgh and Buffalo inched closer to the collection of teams above 80 points, led by Washington and the Detroit Red Wings. The Philadelphia Flyers are clinging on to the No. 3 spot in the Metropolitan Division.

Thursday's showdown between the Penguins and Capitals is the next big matchup that could sway the wild-card race.

Philadelphia and Detroit are both off until Friday, while the Tampa Bay Lightning can gain ground on everyone with wins over the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens in the next two days.

Tampa Bay could also affect the Penguins' role in the wild-card hunt since the two sides play each other in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

The Lightning probably will not drop enough points to fall into the chaos, so one wild-card spot and third place in the Metropolitan are up for grabs.

Philadelphia's five-game losing streak combined with its upcoming four-game road trip could hurt its chances and help Washington land the third spot in the Metropolitan.

Detroit plays its next three at home and takes on Buffalo, Washington and Pittsburgh in the next week. A string of points in those games could propel the Red Wings past the Flyers and into the final wild-card spot.

Predicted Bracket

Detroit vs. New York Rangers

Washington vs. Carolina

Tampa Bay vs. Boston

Toronto vs. Florida

Western Conference

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 02: Jonathan Marchessault #81 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates his first-period goal against the Vancouver Canucks at T-Mobile Arena on April 02, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

Central Division

1. Dallas - 103

2. Colorado - 100

3. Winnipeg - 96

Pacific Division

1. Vancouver - 100

2. Edmonton - 95

3. Vegas - 92

Wild-Card Race

1. Nashville - 90

2. Los Angeles - 87

3. St. Louis - 84

4. Minnesota - 81

Only three teams have officially clinched playoff berths in the West, but at least seven of the eight postseason participants appear to be set.

The last wild-card spot will come down to the Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild.

The Kings can create some separation in the next 48 hours if they beat the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday and receive help from elsewhere.

St. Louis visits the Nashville Predators on Thursday in a game that could help solidify the Preds' top wild-card position with a win.

Minnesota plays host to the Avalanche on Thursday in a contest that Colorado needs as much for the Central Division as the Wild needs for the wild-card hunt.

A Kings win combined with Blues and Wild losses would create a gap that is potentially too large for either chasing team to close.

The real competition in the West is for seeding. Colorado is three points off Dallas in the Central, while the Vegas Golden Knights are three points back of the Edmonton Oilers for second in the Pacific.

Edmonton and Vegas are likely facing each other in the first round, but home-ice advantage is up for grabs with the second-place spot in the Pacific.

Edmonton squares off with Dallas on Wednesday night. All eyes in the West will be on that game because of the implications the result has on both divisional races.

Projected Bracket

Los Angeles vs. Dallas

Winnipeg vs. Colorado

Nashville vs. Vancouver

Vegas vs. Edmonton