NHL Playoff Standings 2024: Current Bracket Matchups and Postseason Picture

The 16-team Stanley Cup playoffs field could be locked in as early as Tuesday.

All of the focus is on the Eastern Conference in the next two days, with third place in the Metropolitan Division and the second wild-card spot still up for grabs.

The New York Islanders can secure third place in the Metro with a win Monday night.

The wild-card picture is more complicated since the Washington Capitals, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins are separated by a single point. Philadelphia is at the biggest disadvantage because it has one game left compared to two remaining contests for the rest of the field.

The drama is more muted in the Western Conference, where the last thing left to decide is the order between the third-place team in the Pacific Division and the two wild-card teams.

Eastern Conference

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TORONTO, ON - APRIL 13: Alex DeBrincat #93 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Scotiabank Arena on April 13, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)

Atlantic Division

1. Boston - 109 points

2. Florida - 108

3. Toronto - 102

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Metropolitan Division

1. New York Rangers - 112

2. Carolina - 111

3. New York Islanders - 90

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Wild-Card Race

1. Tampa Bay - 96

2. Washington - 87

3. Detroit - 87

4. Philadelphia - 87

5. Pittsburgh - 86

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The Islanders would become the 15th team in the playoff field with a Monday win over the New Jersey Devils.

A victory would lock the Islanders into third place in the Metropolitan Division and leave four teams fighting for the last wild-card spot.

Washington hosts the Boston Bruins; Pittsburgh hosts the Nashville Predators; and Detroit welcomes the Montreal Canadiens to Little Caesars Arena on Monday.

Detroit has the easiest remaining schedule with back-to-back games against the Canadiens. If they win both games, the Flyers and Penguins would be eliminated.

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh would not be able to reach Detroit's maximum point total of 91.

Washington has a much tougher road to the postseason than the Red Wings since the Bruins are still competing for the top spot in the Atlantic Division and the Flyers will have their season on the line Tuesday.

Pittsburgh is in a helpless position right now. It needs to beat Nashville and have both the Capitals and Red Wings lose on Monday. That would give the Penguins a chance to clinch with a win over the Islanders on Wednesday.

The Bruins and Rangers can clinch their respective divisions with wins Monday. New York will capture the top spot in the Eastern Conference and the Presidents' Trophy with a win over the Ottawa Senators.

Western Conference

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 14: William Karlsson #71 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after scoring a goal during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at T-Mobile Arena on April 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)

Central Division

1. Dallas - 111

2. Winnipeg - 106

3. Colorado - 105

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Pacific Division

1. Vancouver - 107

2. Edmonton - 102

3. Los Angeles - 97

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Wild-Card Race

1. Nashville - 99

2. Vegas - 96

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The Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators are involved in the most drama-filled race in the Western Conference.

Vegas will likely reach the 100-point mark with wins over the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday and Thursday.

The Kings have a potentially tricky Monday night clash with the Minnesota Wild, but then they finish at home on Thursday versus Chicago.

Nashville finishes its regular season on Monday in Pittsburgh against a desperate Penguins team.

The Preds will likely drop to the second wild-card spot if they fail to pick up a point on Monday. The second wild-card team will face the Dallas Stars in the first round, while the first wild-card team takes on the Vancouver Canucks.

If the Kings drop points and Vegas takes all four points available to it, the Golden Knights would move into third place in the Pacific Division and a first-round matchup with the Edmonton Oilers.

Edmonton's quest for the Pacific Division title should end on Tuesday with a Vancouver win over the Calgary Flames.

The Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche are already locked into their first-round matchup. The Jets have a one-point advantage and one extra game left to play, so home ice is likely theirs in that series.