NHL Playoff Standings 2016: Updated Postseason Picture and Stanley Cup Bracket

With just one week remaining in the 2015-16 NHL regular season, the Stanley Cup playoff picture is nearly set, but a few shake-ups are still possible during the latter stages of the campaign.

In addition to many of the divisional seeds still being up for grabs, there are three teams vying for two wild-card spots in each conference, which means the races could very well come down to the final games of the season.

As the excitement of playoff hockey draws closer, here is a full rundown of the current standings, as well as a look at the potential first-round matchups if the regular season were to end today.

Eastern Conference Standings

Metropolitan	GP	W	L	OT	ROW	PTS
Atlantic	GP	W	L	OT	ROW	PTS
Wild Card	GP	W	L	OT	ROW	PTS
In the Hunt	GP	W	L	OT	ROW	PTS
Washington Capitals	78	55	17	6	51	116
Pittsburgh Penguins	79	46	25	8	42	100
New York Rangers	79	44	26	9	41	97
Florida Panthers	79	45	25	9	38	99
Tampa Bay Lightning	79	45	29	5	42	95
Detroit Red Wings	79	40	28	11	38	91
New York Islanders	78	43	26	9	38	95
Philadelphia Flyers	78	39	26	13	36	91
Boston Bruins	79	41	30	8	37	90

Western Conference Standings

Central	GP	W	L	OT	ROW	PTS
Pacific	GP	W	L	OT	ROW	PTS
Wild Card	GP	W	L	OT	ROW	PTS
In the Hunt	GP	W	L	OT	ROW	PTS
Dallas Stars	80	48	23	9	46	105
St. Louis Blues	80	48	23	9	43	105
Chicago Blackhawks	79	46	26	7	45	99
Anaheim Ducks	78	44	24	10	41	98
Los Angeles Kings	79	46	28	5	44	97
San Jose Sharks	79	44	29	6	40	94
Nashville Predators	79	39	26	14	35	92
Minnesota Wild	80	38	31	11	35	87
Colorado Avalanche	79	39	36	4	35	82

Current Eastern Conference Playoff Matchups

Matchup	Team 1	Team 2
A1 vs. WC1	Florida Panthers	New York Islanders
A2 vs. A3	Tampa Bay Lightning	Detroit Red Wings
M1 vs. WC2	Washington Capitals	Philadelphia Flyers
M2 vs. M3	Pittsburgh Penguins	New York Rangers

Current Western Conference Playoff Matchups

Matchup	Team 1	Team 2
P1 vs. WC1	Anaheim Ducks	Nashville Predators
P2 vs. P3	Los Angeles Kings	San Jose Sharks
C1 vs. WC2	Dallas Stars	Minnesota Wild
C2 vs. C3	St. Louis Blues	Chicago Blackhawks

Eastern Conference Wild-Card Race

The push for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference may very well be the most intriguing battle remaining prior to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The New York Islanders have a comfortable, four-point cushion in the first spot, while the Philadelphia Flyers hold a one-point lead with a game in hand on the Boston Bruins for the eighth and final playoff position.

Philly is among the hottest teams in hockey, with a 6-3-1 record over its past 10 contests, while Boston is stumbling to the finish line with a 3-7 mark during that same stretch.

Only two teams in the Eastern Conference have more goals scored than the Bruins, but they have also allowed more than any Eastern Conference team currently in the playoffs, with 220.

Boston has an easier schedule than Philadelphia to close its season, with two of its three remaining games coming against non-playoff teams, but it has very little margin for error since the Flyers have an extra contest left.

That coupled with the one-point advantage and recent spectacular play of Steve Mason between the pipes will allow Philly to hang on, but it will also earn it a date with the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals in the first round.

Western Conference Wild-Card Race

While the Western Conference wild-card picture is closer to a conclusion than the East, it isn't yet a foregone conclusion that the Minnesota Wild will lock up the No. 2 spot.

The Nashville Predators are already set in the No. 1 wild-card position, while Minnesota holds a five-point advantage over the Colorado Avalanche. Minnesota has just two games remaining, while Colorado will play three more.

That means the Avalanche may need to win out along with the Wild losing out. It is possible that Colorado could make it into the playoffs by tying Minnesota in points, though, provided it ends up with more regulation and overtime wins. The teams are currently tied in that category at 35.

The Wild have been two games better than the Avs over the past 10, and they are in a far better situation with regard to the schedule.

Minnesota's final game of the season is against the Calgary Flames, who will have no incentive to win as they look to potentially improve their draft lottery positioning.

Colorado, on the other hand, will face a trio of playoff-bound teams in the Predators, Dallas Stars and Anaheim Ducks.

The Avalanche had an opportunity to put themselves in a great spot when they faced the Wild on March 26, but they lost that game decisively 4-0, and it will ultimately be a huge contributing factor to them missing out on the postseason.

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