NHL Playoffs 2023: Updates Standing, Bracket & Schedule

The 2023 NHL Playoffs are expected to start in less than a month, and a few teams have reached the point where every game is crucial. Currently set to start on April 17, the opening round of the playoffs may be postponed if there are any cancellations or delays.

The NHL playoff picture is starting to take shape. Only the Boston Bruins have, however, guaranteed their place in the postseason. The Bruins have been by far the best regular-season squad thus far this year, winning 50 games more quickly than any other team in NHL history. With a 53-11-5 record, the Bruins presently lead the Atlantic Division by 18 points over the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs.

Teams might get four days off before the start of the NHL playoffs when the regular season ends on April 13. The start of the Stanley Cup Finals is scheduled for June 8, but much like the start of the postseason, this is only a projection. Depending on how long the series goes, the Stanley Cup Finals are scheduled to take place from June 10 to 18.

The Colorado Avalanche defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning to win the Stanley Cup last year, giving them their first championship since the 2000–01 campaign. With the squad close to the top of the Western Conference, they will try to defend their championship.

When do the NHL playoffs start?

  • NHL Playoffs: April 17

The 2022-23 NHL regular season will end on Friday, April 14. The first round of the NHL playoffs has a tentative start date of Monday, April 17.

How will the 2023 NHL playoffs work?

The Stanley Cup playoffs consist of four rounds: the first round, the second round, the conference finals, and the Stanley Cup Finals.

The top conference team faces the second wild-card club in the opening round. The other wild-card club will face the other division champion. The No. 2 divisional squad takes on the No. 3 divisional club.

The teams are not reseeded in the second round after that. Instead, the division’s winning club faces the wild card team in the winner of the series between the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in that division.

The winner of the series between the Nos. 2 and 3 teams in the Atlantic would face the Bruins, for instance, if they finished first in the Atlantic and won their first-round meeting.

The conference finals, which take place after the second round, include the last two teams from each conference. The Stanley Cup finals include the winners of the Eastern and Western Conferences.

A best-of-seven format is used for each series.

The 2-2-1-1-1 format for the series’ home-ice advantage means that the team with the superior record hosts Games 3, 4, and 6 while the other team hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7. Games 5, 6, and 7 of the series are only played if required; only the first four games of the series are guaranteed.

NHL standings 2023

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Seed Team Record Points
1. X – Bruins 53-11-5 111
2. Maple Leafs 42-18-9 93
3. Lightning 42-23-6 90

Metropolitan Division

Seed Team Record Points
1. Hurricanes 45-15-8 98
2. Devils 45-18-7 97
3. Rangers 41-19-10 92

Wild Card

Seed Team Record Points
1. Islanders 36-27-8 80
2. Panthers 36-27-7 79
— Penguins 34-26-10 78
— Senators 34-31-5 73
— Capitals 33-31-7 73
— Sabres 33-30-6 72
— Red Wings 30-30-9 69
— Flyers 25-32-12 62
— Canadiens 27-37-6 60
— E – Blue Jackets 21-41-7 49

Western Conference

Central Division

Seed Team Record Points
1. Stars 38-19-13 89
2. Avalanche 41-22-6 88
3. Wild 40-22-8 88

Pacific Division

Seed Team Record Points
1. Golden Knights 43-21-6 92
2. Kings 41-20-10 92
3. Oilers 40-23-8 88

Wild Card

Seed Team Record Points
1. Kraken 38-24-7 83
2. Jets 39-29-3 81
— Flames 31-25-15 77
— Predators 34-26-8 76
— Blues 31-33-5 67
— Canucks 31-33-5 67
— Coyotes 27-32-11 65
— E – Ducks 23-37-10 56
— E – Blackhawks 24-40-6 54
— E – Sharks 19-37-15 53

NHL playoff bracket

Eastern Conference

(A1) Bruins vs. (WC2) Panthers

(A2) Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Lightning

(M1) Hurricanes vs. (WC1) Islanders

(M2) Devils vs. (M3) Rangers

Western Conference

(C1) Stars vs. (WC1) Kraken

(C2) Avalanche vs. (C3) Wild

(P1) Golden Knights vs. (WC2) Jets

(P2) Kings vs. (P3) Oilers

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