Eight teams per conference qualify: the top three in each division plus two wild cards. The conference cutline is a mathematical overview, not the official division-and-wild-card seeding table.
8 places
Eastern Conference
1Washington Capitals0 pts80 remainingIn qualifying places161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
2Columbus Blue Jackets0 pts81 remainingIn qualifying places161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
3Carolina Hurricanes0 pts79 remainingIn qualifying places161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
4Tampa Bay Lightning0 pts80 remainingIn qualifying places161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
5New York Rangers0 pts78 remainingIn qualifying places161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
6New Jersey Devils0 pts81 remainingIn qualifying places161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
7Boston Bruins0 pts79 remainingIn qualifying places161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
8Montreal Canadiens0 pts80 remainingOn the line161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
9Florida Panthers0 pts80 remainingChasing the lineBehind on the official standings order; games played or tiebreakers apply.
10Buffalo Sabres0 pts80 remainingChasing the lineBehind on the official standings order; games played or tiebreakers apply.
11Pittsburgh Penguins0 pts79 remainingChasing the lineBehind on the official standings order; games played or tiebreakers apply.
8 places
Western Conference
1Edmonton Oilers0 pts80 remainingIn qualifying places161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
2Vegas Golden Knights0 pts79 remainingIn qualifying places161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
3Dallas Stars0 pts80 remainingIn qualifying places161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
4Seattle Kraken0 pts79 remainingIn qualifying places161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
5Colorado Avalanche0 pts80 remainingIn qualifying places161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
6San Jose Sharks0 pts80 remainingIn qualifying places161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
7Utah Mammoth0 pts79 remainingIn qualifying places161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
8Anaheim Ducks0 pts80 remainingOn the line161 points to guarantee above the mathematical line.
9Winnipeg Jets0 pts79 remainingChasing the lineBehind on the official standings order; games played or tiebreakers apply.
10Minnesota Wild0 pts80 remainingChasing the lineBehind on the official standings order; games played or tiebreakers apply.
11Nashville Predators0 pts80 remainingChasing the lineBehind on the official standings order; games played or tiebreakers apply.
How the line and tiebreakers work
NHL ties use points percentage when games played differ, followed by regulation wins, regulation-and-overtime wins, total wins, head-to-head points and goal-based criteria.
Cutline and guarantee math uses the current SportsDB table plus scheduled games remaining. Equal records still require the official tiebreaker; provider schedule gaps can change the estimate.
Competition profile
NHL
The National Hockey League is the leading professional ice hockey league in North America, with 32 clubs across the United States and Canada. The 2026-27 season expands to 84 games per team; the top three clubs in each division and two wild cards per conference advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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Tampa Bay Lightning
Boston Bruins
Montreal Canadiens
Florida Panthers
Buffalo Sabres
Toronto Maple Leafs
Ottawa Senators
Detroit Red Wings
