Alex Ovechkin passes Wayne Gretzsky for most goals in NHL history
Alex Ovechkin reached a career milestone, scoring his 895th goal. We recently asked Washington Capitals fans where Ovechkin ranks among the NHL greats.
The NHL playoff bracket is complete, the full first-round playoff schedule is out and the regular season will wrap up with seven games on Thursday night.
The Montreal Canadiens clinched the second wild-card seed in the Eastern Conference with a 4-2 victory Wednesday against the Carolina Hurricanes, who were resting seven regulars. The Canadiens head to the playoffs for the first time since their 2021 trip to the Stanley Cup Final. They’ll face the Washington Capitals in the first round.
Montreal needed one point to clinch but got two goals from Kaiden Guhle, sandwiched around Nick Suzuki’s 30th goal of the season, which made it 2-1 in the second period. Carolina’s Tyson Jost cut the deficit to 3-2 in the third period, but Jake Evans put the game away with an empty-netter. Lane Hutson tied an NHL record for rookie defensemen with his 60th assist.
The Columbus Blue Jackets were officially eliminated after a season in which they came close to a playoff spot while mourning the offseason death of Johnny Gaudreau.
Here’s a look at the NHL playoff picture:
When do the NHL playoffs start?
The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs will begin on Saturday, April 19, with two games.
St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets, 6 | TNT | truTV | Max | SlingColorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars, 8:30 | TNT | truTV | Max | SlingNHL playoff schedule opening day for each series
Saturday: St. Louis at Winnipeg; Colorado at Dallas
Sunday: New Jersey at Carolina; Ottawa at Toronto; Minnesota at Vegas
Monday: Montreal at Washington; Edmonton at Los Angeles
Tuesday: Florida at Tampa Bay
The full schedule can be found here
Who’s in the NHL playoffs?Eastern Conference: Washington Capitals, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, Montreal CanadiensWestern Conference: Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild, St. Louis BluesNHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket
Key: M – Metropolitan Division. A – Atlantic Division. WC – wild card
Washington (M1) vs. Montreal (WC2)Carolina (M2) vs. New Jersey (M3)Toronto (A1) vs. Ottawa (WC1)Tampa Bay (A2) vs. Florida (A3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth.Â
NHL Western Conference playoff bracket
Key: C – Central Division P – Pacific Division. WC – wild card
Winnipeg (C1) vs. St. Louis (WC2)Dallas (C2) vs. Colorado (C3)Vegas (P1) vs. Minnesota (WC1)Los Angeles (P2) vs. Edmonton (P3)
The winner of the first series would play the winner of the second. The winner of the third series would play the winner of the fourth.
Who can clinch Thursday?
The playoff field is set. Thursday’s action can only affect positioning for draft lottery odds.
NHL games today (Thursday, April 17)
Final day of regular season. All games p.m. ET
Philadelphia at Buffalo, 7Detroit at Toronto, 7Carolina at Ottawa, 7Tampa Bay at N.Y. Rangers, 7Washington at Pittsburgh, 7 | ESPN | FuboN.Y. Islanders at Columbus, 7Calgary at Los Angeles, 9:30 | ESPN | FuboNHL Eastern Conference standings 2024-25
(through games of April 17; c-clinched conference title; x-clinched playoff berth; y-clinched division title; z-eliminated from postseason contention)
Metropolitan Division
c-Washington Capitals (111 points)x-Carolina Hurricanes (99)x-New Jersey Devils (91)
Atlantic Division
y-Toronto Maple Leafs (108)x-Tampa Bay Lightning (102)x-Florida Panthers (98)
Wild card
x-Ottawa Senators (97)x-Montreal Canadiens (91)
Missed the playoffs: z-Columbus Blue Jackets (89), z-Detroit Red Wings (86), z-New York Rangers (85), z-New York Islanders (82), z-Pittsburgh Penguins (80), z-Buffalo Sabres (79), z-Boston Bruins (76), z-Philadelphia Flyers (76)
NHL Western Conference standings 2024-25
(through games of April 17; p-clinched Presidents’ Trophy; x-clinched playoff berth; y-clinched division title; z-eliminated from postseason contention)
Central Division
p-Winnipeg Jets (116)x-Dallas Stars (106)x-Colorado Avalanche (102)
Pacific Division
y-Vegas Golden Knights (110)x-Los Angeles Kings (105)x-Edmonton Oilers (101)
Wild card
x-Minnesota Wild (97)x-St. Louis Blues (96)
Missed the playoffs: z-Calgary Flames (96), z-Vancouver Canucks (90), z-Utah Hockey Club (89), z-Anaheim Ducks (80), z-Seattle Kraken (76), z-Nashville Predators (68), z-Chicago Blackhawks (61), z-San Jose Sharks (52).
When does the NHL regular season end?
The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on Thursday, April 17, with seven games.