Wayne Gretzky, Alex Ovechkin speak after latter’s record-breaking night
Alex Ovechkin passed Wayne Gretzky for the most goals scored all time in NHL history and both legends spoke to fans after the accomplishment.
Sports Pulse
The NHL’s 82-game regular season is in its final days, and the postseason will start on Saturday.
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets are the top teams in their conferences, and 13 of the 16 playoff teams have already been determined. That includes the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche, who will play each other in the first round.
Two playoff spots are still to be determined in a regular season that concludes Thursday night.
When does the NHL playoffs start?
The best-of-seven first rounds begin Saturday, April 19.
NHL playoff format
Teams begin play in their division for the first two rounds, then the third round is the conference championship. The top three teams in the four divisions make the playoffs, and then two wild cards from each conference. The last wild card will go in a bracket with the points leaders (Washington and Winnipeg), with the better wild card in the other bracket.
The Stanley Cup Finals are the fourth round and will begin June 8.
NHL Western Conference standingsWinnipeg Jets-XVegas Golden Knights-XDallas Stars-XLos Angeles Kings-XColorado Avalanche-XEdmonton Oilers-XMinnesota WildSt. Louis BluesCalgary Flames
X-clinched playoffs.
Eastern Conference standingsWashington Capitals-XToronto Maple Leafs-XTampa Bay Lightning-XCarolina Hurricanes-XFlorida Panthers-XOttawa Senators-XNew Jersey Devils-XMontreal CanadiensColumbus Blue Jackets
X-clinched playoffs
NHL playoff tiebreakers
If teams are tied on points, the first tiebreaker is regulation wins. The next tiebreaker is regulation plus overtime wins (i.e., no shootout wins).
Western Conference playoff picture pairings
Central Division
Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis BluesDallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche
Pacific Division
Las Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota WildLos Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton OilersEastern Conference playoff picture pairings
Atlantic Division
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa SenatorsTampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers
Metropolitan Division
Washington Capitals vs. Montreal CanadiensCarolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey DevilsDallas Stars playoffs
The Dallas Stars will be the home team when they take on the Colorado Avalanche beginning either Saturday or Sunday. The Stars will host games 1, 2, 5 and 7.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.