Who will make the playoffs in the chase for the Stanley Cup? The 2025 NHL playoff picture knows all.
Among the questions we will track between now and the start of the playoffs are (1) Who will get in, (2) Will the Florida Panthers repeat as champions, and (3) What teams are still mathematically alive?
When Do the Stanley Cup Playoffs Begin, Anyway?
It is not clear at this time, but the postseason will most likely begin the weekend of April 19-20. The final games of the regular season will take place on Thursday, April 17 per the NHL.
2025 NHL Playoff Picture: Format
As it has been in the recent past, there are two conferences and two divisions per conference. In the Eastern Conference, they are the Atlantic and Metropolitan Divisions. In the Western Conference, they are the Central and Pacific Divisions.
The top three teams in each division qualify. In addition, the two teams with the most points, regardless of division, which were not in their respective top-threes will qualify as wild cards. This means eight teams per conference, for 16 playoff teams in total.
The division leader in each conference with the most points will play the wild card team with the fewest points; the other division leader will play the wild card team with the most points. The second and third-place teams in each division will play each other. For example, the division winner in the Atlantic will play a wild card team, and then Atlantic 2 and 3 will play one another. In the second round, the winners of each of those series will play each other, and then the conference finals will consist of the two teams to emerge from the two rounds of divisional playoffs.
2025 NHL Playoff Picture: As of February 18
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Playoff Picture Notes
February 18
No change since last week. The NHL is suspended at the moment as players participate in the Four Nations Face-Off. Play will resume on Saturday, February 22.
