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
1Carolina Hurricanes0 pts0 remainingIn qualifying places1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
2Tampa Bay Lightning0 pts0 remainingIn qualifying places1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
3Buffalo Sabres0 pts0 remainingIn qualifying places1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
4Montreal Canadiens0 pts0 remainingIn qualifying places1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
5Washington Capitals0 pts0 remainingIn qualifying places1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
6Boston Bruins0 pts0 remainingIn qualifying places1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
7New York Islanders0 pts0 remainingIn qualifying places1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
8Detroit Red Wings0 pts0 remainingOn the line1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
9Ottawa Senators0 pts0 remainingChasing the lineBehind on the official standings order; games played or tiebreakers apply.
10New Jersey Devils0 pts0 remainingChasing the lineBehind on the official standings order; games played or tiebreakers apply.
11Pittsburgh Penguins0 pts0 remainingChasing the lineBehind on the official standings order; games played or tiebreakers apply.
8 places
Western Conference
1Colorado Avalanche0 pts0 remainingIn qualifying places1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
2Dallas Stars0 pts0 remainingIn qualifying places1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
3Minnesota Wild0 pts0 remainingIn qualifying places1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
4Anaheim Ducks0 pts0 remainingIn qualifying places1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
5Vegas Golden Knights0 pts0 remainingIn qualifying places1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
6Utah Mammoth0 pts0 remainingIn qualifying places1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
7Edmonton Oilers0 pts0 remainingIn qualifying places1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
8Nashville Predators0 pts0 remainingOn the line1 point to guarantee above the mathematical line.
9San Jose Sharks0 pts0 remainingChasing the lineBehind on the official standings order; games played or tiebreakers apply.
10St. Louis Blues0 pts0 remainingChasing the lineBehind on the official standings order; games played or tiebreakers apply.
11Los Angeles Kings0 pts0 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
Buffalo Sabres
Montreal Canadiens
Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
Ottawa Senators
Florida Panthers
Toronto Maple Leafs
