The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs get going next week and we’re almost done with the regular season. While the Eastern Conference is still very much in limbo when we talk about the bracket and matchups, we do have some teams locked into position. We know the No. 3 New York Islanders will face the No. 2 Carolina Hurricanes in the Metro side of the bracket in the East. The No. 1 New York Rangers clinched first place in the division and the Presidents’ Trophy with 114 points. Below we’re going to go over the entire NHL playoff bracket with latest matchups as the season comes to an end.
2024 NHL playoff bracket
Eastern Conference
MET1 — New York Rangers
WC2 — Washington Capitals
MET2 — Carolina Hurricanes
MET3 — New York Islanders
ATL1 — Florida Panthers
WC1 — Tampa Bay Lightning
ATL2 — Boston Bruins
ATL3 — Toronto Maple Leafs
Note: Matchups in bold are locked in. Others are still undecided.
Update — The entire East bracket has been set. The Capitals defeated the Flyers to clinch the last Wild Card spot. The Bruins lost to the Sens and the Leafs lost to the Panthers, so Florida jumped to first place in the Atlantic. The B’s will face the rival Leafs in the first round while we get the Battle for Florida with Panthers-Bolts. This was the ideal set up for that side of the East.
The East can still see a lot of movement in who is playing in the first round. The Atlantic Division matchups can be flip-flopped if the Panthers jump the Bruins with one game to go. Florida trails by one point in the standings with one game to play. That would mean the Panthers face the Bolts and the Bruins face the Leafs, giving us better rivalry matchups in the first round.
As for the second Wild Card, the Caps control their own destiny but the Red Wings and Penguins are still alive. If the Flyers beat the Capitals in regulation, the Red Wings or Pens can sneak in. Detroit faces Montreal while the Penguins get the Islanders, who have nothing to play for and should rest players in that final game.
Western Conference
CEN1 — Dallas Stars
WC2 — Vegas Golden Knights
CEN2 — Winnipeg Jets
CEN3 — Colorado Avalanche
PAC1 — Vancouver Canucks
WC1 — Nashville Predators
PAC2 Edmonton Oilers
PAC3 Los Angeles Kings
Update — The West is still a bit in flux. The Jets beat the Kraken to clinch the No. 2 spot out of the Central Division. So Colorado will travel to Winnipeg for Game 1 of their first-round series. With two wins, Vegas could jump Nashville for the first WC spot. The Golden Knights could also go into third place over the Kings in the Pacific. A lot can change in the final two days of the regular season. For now, just the top-3 in the Central is set.
The Knights have two games left and trail L.A. by a point, so don’t be surprised if we see some shuffling there. We also don’t know who will take first place just yet. The Oilers have two games left and can take the Pacific Division title with two Vancouver losses in regulation and two wins. It’s unlikely but could happen. So for now, the most realistic movement if the Knights jumping up into third place in the Pacific. That would mean we get Oilers-Golden Knights rematch while the Stars would draw the Kings. Other than that, these are your eight teams in the West bracket.
The Winnipeg-Colorado matchup is locked in but we don’t know who has home-ice advantage just yet. It appears the Jets will end up being second in the division with the slight edge and an extra game to play than the Avs.
