NHL Playoff Standings 2024: Top Seeds, Wild-Card Update and Predictions

As the 2023-24 NHL season winds down, we're getting a good idea of which teams have a realistic shot at playing for the Stanley Cup. However, no team has truly separated itself from the pack, and there are tight races in both conferences with only a few games remaining.

The Boston Bruins, winners of last year's Presidents' Trophy, are headed back to the postseason. So are the Florida Panthers, who upset Boston in the 2023 playoffs, and the New York Rangers, who lead the league with 110 points. It's an intense battle at the top of the Eastern Conference

In the West, the Dallas Stars are on top with 107 points, but they're followed closely by the Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche. The defending-champion Vegas Golden Knights are pushing for a wild-card spot.

Here, you'll find a look at the current standings and some early predictions for this year's Stanley Cup finalists.

Atlantic Division

1. Boston Bruins: 46-17-15, 107 points (Clinched playoffs)
2. Florida Panthers: 48-24-6, 102 points (Clinched playoffs)
3. Toronto Maple Leafs: 45-23-9, 99 points (Clinched playoffs)

Metropolitan Division

1. New York Rangers: 53-21-4, 110 points (Clinched playoffs)
2. Carolina Hurricanes: 49-22-7, 105 points (Clinched playoffs)
3. New York Islanders: 35-27-15, 85 points

Wild-Card Race

1. Tampa Bay Lightning: 43-27-7, 93 points (Clinched playoffs)
2. Detroit Red Wings: 38-31-8, 84 points
   
3. Pittsburgh Penguins: 36-30-12, 84 points
4. Washington Capitals: 36-30-11, 83 points
   
5. Philadelphia Flyers: 36-31-11, 83 points
6. New Jersey Devils: 37-36-5, 79 points
   
7. Buffalo Sabres: 37-36-5, 79 points
8. Ottawa Senators: 34-39-4, 72 points (Eliminated from playoff contention)
9. Montreal Canadiens: 29-36-12, 70 points (Eliminated from playoff contention)
10. Columbus Blue Jackets: 26-40-12, 64 points (Eliminated from playoff contention)

Central Division

1. Dallas Stars: 49-20-9, 107 points (Clinched playoffs)
2. Colorado Avalanche: 48-24-6, 102 points (Clinched playoffs)
3. Winnipeg Jets: 47-24-6, 100 points (Clinched playoffs)

Pacific Division

1. Vancouver Canucks: 48-22-8, 104 points (Clinched playoffs)
2. Edmonton Oilers: 47-24-5, 99 points  (Clinched Playoffs)
3. Los Angeles Kings: 41-25-11, 93 points

Wild-Card Race

1. Nashville Predators: 45-29-4, 94 points
2. Vegas Golden Knights: 42-27-8, 92 points
3. St. Louis Blues: 41-32-5, 87 points
4. Minnesota Wild: 37-31-9, 83 points
5. Seattle Kraken: 32-31-13, 77 points (Eliminated from playoff contention)
6. Calgary Flames: 34-37-5, 73 points (Eliminated from playoff contention)
7. Arizona Coyotes: 33-39-5, 71 points (Eliminated from playoff contention)
8. Anaheim Ducks: 25-48-5, 55 points (Eliminated from playoff contention)
9. Chicago Blackhawks: 23-49-5, 51 points (Eliminated from playoff contention)
10. San Jose Sharks: 18-51-8, 44 points (Eliminated from playoff contention)

While the Rangers have the best record in the East, the Carolina Hurricanes (+650, bet $100 to win $650) are slight favorites over the Panthers (+700) to win the Stanley Cup, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

Carolina has a talented squad, headlined by the likes of Sebastian Aho, Jake Guentzel, Seth Jarvis and goalie Frederik Andersen—who shut out the Detroit Red Wings when the Hurricanes clinched all the way back on March 28.

The Hurricanes have been focused on the postseason for some time.

"I didn't even think about it because it has been a foregone conclusion," Carolina head coach Rod Brind'Amour said after the clinching victory, per Bob Sutton of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Carolina has won seven of its last 10 and has generated all the momentum needed to threaten teams like New York and Boston in the East. However, the Rangers (+900) have won three in a row and eight of their last 10.

The Tampa Bay Lightning (+2500) are arguably the top threat among wild-card teams. Tampa has already clinched and has gone 7-2-1 over its last 10 games.

The prediction here, though, is that Boston, which has won four straight, avenges last year's early playoff exit with a deep postseason run. David Pastrnak, Charlie Coyle and Co. will absolutely use last year's result as motivation.

The Bruins (+1100) have experienced their fair share of postseason disappointment in recent years, but they have a terrific all-around squad that has shown it can take down some of the league's best—Boston beat Carolina 4-1 last Thursday.

The playoff race is a little clearer in the West, where a good chunk of the conference has already been eliminated. Things are tight at the top, though, where several teams have the talent and chemistry needed to make a deep run.

The Avalanche (+700) and Edmonton Oilers (+750) are the favorites in the conference.

While it would be fun to see Colorado return to the Final after it lost in the first round last season—a Bruins-Avalanche redemption series would be chock full of storylines—the Stars (+900) are perhaps the hottest team in hockey.

Dallas made it to last year's conference final and is in a good position to go further this spring. The Stars beat Colorado 7-4 on Monday and have won nine of their last 10 games.

"If we take care of business, we'll end up being where we want to be," center Matt Duchene said, per Pat Graham of the Associated Press.

Where the Stars want to be is in the Final for the first time since 2020. The way they've been playing, it just might happen.

Predicted Final Matchup: Bruins vs. Stars

Check out Vivid Seats for NHL playoff tickets and other hockey events.

Gambling problem? Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369).

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visiting ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), visiting OPGR.org (OR), or calling/texting TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

Odds and lines subject to change. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.