Updated 2025 NHL Playoff Picture as Hurricanes, Maple Leafs Clinch Bracket Spots

Two more teams have punched their ticket to the postseason.

The Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs clinched playoff berths on Wednesday. The Hurricanes earned a spot after beating the Washington Capitals while the Maple Leafs clinched with their win over the Florida Panthers.

With two more teams now postseason bound, here's a look at the updated standings and playoff picture.

Western Conference

Pacific Division

1. Vegas Golden Knights: 45-21-8 (98 points; clinched playoff berth)
2. Los Angeles Kings: 42-23-9 (93 points)
3. Edmonton Oilers: 43-26-5 (91 points)
4. Calgary Flames: 35-27-12 (82 points)
5. Vancouver Canucks: 34-27-13 (81 points)
6. Anaheim Ducks: 33-33-8 (74 points)
7. Seattle Kraken: 31-38-6 (68 points; eliminated)
8. San Jose Sharks: 20-44-10 (50 points; eliminated)

Central Division

1. Winnipeg Jets: 51-20-4 (106 points; clinched playoff berth)
2. Dallas Stars: 49-21-4 (102 points; clinched playoff berth)
3. Colorado Avalanche: 45-26-4 (94 points)
4. Minnesota Wild: 41-28-7 (89 points)
5. St. Louis Blues: 41-28-7
6. Utah Hockey Club: 34-29-12 (80 points)
7. Nashville Predators: 27-40-8 (62 points; eliminated)
8. Chicago Blackhawks: 21-44-9 (51 points; eliminated)

Wild Card

1. Minnesota Wild: 41-28-7 (89 points)
2. St. Louis Blues: 41-28-7 (89 points)
3. Calgary Flames: 35-27-12 (82 points)
4. Vancouver Canucks: 34-27-13 (81 points)
5. Utah Hockey Club: 34-29-12 (80 points)
6. Anaheim Ducks: 33-33-8 (74 points)
7. Seattle Kraken: 31-38-6 (68 points; eliminated)
8. Nashville Predators: 27-40-8 (62 points; eliminated)
9. Chicago Blackhawks: 21-44-9 (51 points; eliminated)
10. San Jose Sharks: 20-44-10 (50) points; eliminated)

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

1. Toronto Maple Leafs: 45-25-4 (94 points; clinched playoff berth)
2. Tampa Bay Lightning: 44-25-5 (93 points)
3. Florida Panthers: 44-26-4 (92 points)
4. Ottawa Senators: 39-29-6 (84 points)
5. Montreal Canadiens: 35-30-9 (79 points)
6. Detroit Red Wings: 34-33-7 (75 points)
7. Buffalo Sabres: 32-36-6 (70 points)
8. Boston Bruins: 30-36-9 (69 points)

Metropolitan

1. Washington Capitals: 48-18-9 (105 points; clinched playoff berth)
2. Carolina Hurricanes: 46-24-4 (96 points; clinched playoff berth)
3. New Jersey Devils: 40-29-7 (87 points)
4. New York Rangers: 36-32-7 (79 points)
5. Columbus Blue Jackets: 34-30-9 (77 points)
6. New York Islanders: 32-32-10 (74 points)
7. Pittsburgh Penguins: 30-34-11 (71 points)
8. Philadelphia Flyers: 31-36-9 (71 points)

Wild Card

1. Ottawa Senators: 39-29-6 (84 points)
2. Montreal Canadiens: 35-30-9 (79 points)
3. New York Rangers: 36-32-7 (79 points)
4. Columbus Blue Jackets: 34-30-9 (77 points)
5. Detroit Red Wings: 34-33-7 (75 points)
6. New York Islanders: 32-32-10 (74 points)
7. Pittsburgh Penguins: 30-34-11 (71 points)
8. Philadelphia Flyers: 31-36-9 (71 points)
9. Buffalo Sabres: 32-36-6 (70 points)
10. Boston Bruins: 30-36-9 (69 points)

The Hurricanes have grown quite familiar with the Stanley Cup Playoffs after missing the postseason for nine consecutive seasons from 2010 to 2018. Carolina has now been to the postseason six consecutive seasons with this year making it seven.

As good as the Hurricanes have been during the regular season, they haven't been able to get over the hump to reach the Stanley Cup Final. The closest they've come in recent years was when they advanced to the conference finals in 2023, but they lost to the Florida Panthers in four games.

Carolina boasts a solid offense this year, collecting the seventh-most goals per game (3.26) and have performed well on defense too, allowing just 2.66 goals per game, the eighth fewest in the NHL.

Those numbers have been good enough to get into the playoffs, but they'll need to step things up to make a deep run.

The Maple Leafs have also put together a strong playoff streak, reaching the postseason for nine consecutive seasons now. Still, Toronto is looking for its first Stanley Cup Final win since 1967.

The Maple Leafs have a top-10 offense, scoring 3.26 goals per game, but a middling defense that has allowed 2.93 goals per contest. Whether Toronto's offense can make up for a subpar defense in the postseason will be the question this postseason.