NHL Playoffs 2025: A Comprehensive Guide to the Road to the Stanley Cup
The 2025 NHL playoffs are shaping up to be one of the most thrilling postseasons in recent memory, with tight divisional races, historic milestones, and powerhouse teams vying for hockey’s ultimate prize. As the regular season enters its final stretch, let’s break down the playoff picture, key storylines, and what to expect when the puck drops on April 19.
2025 NHL Playoff Overview
Who’s In?
As of April 14, 2025, 12 teams have clinched playoff berths, leaving four spots up for grabs. Here’s the breakdown:
Eastern Conference Clinched Teams 9
Metropolitan Division: Washington Capitals (clinched division), Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils
Atlantic Division: Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers
Wild Card: Ottawa Senators
Western Conference Clinched Teams 9
Central Division: Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche
Pacific Division: Vegas Golden Knights, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers
Remaining Contenders
East: Montreal Canadiens (87 points), Columbus Blue Jackets (81), New York Rangers (81), Detroit Red Wings (81)
West: Minnesota Wild (93), St. Louis Blues (93), Calgary Flames (90)
Key Storylines Heading Into the Playoffs
1. Ovechkin’s Historic Season
Alex Ovechkin cemented his legacy by breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record (895) on April 7, 2025, during a game against the New York Islanders 46. The Capitals, led by Ovechkin’s resurgence, have clinched the Metropolitan Division and are contenders for the Presidents’ Trophy.
2. Connor McDavid’s Return
After missing eight games with a lower-body injury, Connor McDavid returned to the Oilers’ lineup with a three-assist performance against the St. Louis Blues, propelling Edmonton into playoff position 3. His health will be critical for the Oilers’ deep postseason run.
3. The Jets’ Dominance
Winnipeg leads the NHL with 112 points and boasts the league’s best defense, anchored by Vezina favorite Connor Hellebuyck. Their +72 goal differential underscores their status as Stanley Cup favorites 79.
4. Cinderella Runs
St. Louis Blues: A franchise-record 12-game winning streak has the Blues tied with Minnesota for the West’s top wild-card spot 46.
Montreal Canadiens: After a five-year playoff drought, Montreal is on the cusp of clinching a wild-card berth, needing just one point in their final games 59.
5. Pacific Division Showdown
Vegas (105 points) and Los Angeles (99) are battling for the Pacific crown, with Edmonton (97) looming as a dangerous No. 3 seed. A Kings-Oilers first-round matchup would be a must-watch 9.
Playoff Clinching Scenarios 59
Eastern Conference
Montreal Canadiens: Clinch with a win or OT loss against Toronto (April 12) + Columbus regulation loss.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Must win remaining games and hope Montreal loses out.
Western Conference
Minnesota Wild/St. Louis Blues: The Wild hold the tiebreaker (33 regulation wins vs. Blues’ 31).
Calgary Flames: Need to overtake both Minnesota and St. Louis for the final wild card.
Projected First-Round Matchups
Eastern Conference
Toronto Maple Leafs (A1) vs. Ottawa Senators (WC1)
Season series: Leafs 3-1-0
Key stat: Toronto’s offense (3.8 goals/game) vs. Ottawa’s stout defense 9.
Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Florida Panthers (A3)
A Sunshine State rivalry reignited. Florida’s Seth Jones trade boosts their blue line 7.
Washington Capitals (M1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (WC2)
Ovechkin vs. Montreal’s young core. Habs’ Caufield and Suzuki could be X-factors 9.
Carolina Hurricanes (M2) vs. New Jersey Devils (M3)
A battle of Metro heavyweights. Carolina’s Sebastian Aho vs. NJ’s Jack Hughes (if healthy) 7.
Western Conference
Winnipeg Jets (C1) vs. St. Louis Blues (WC2)
Winnipeg’s defense vs. St. Louis’ red-hot Robert Thomas (20 points in 12 games) 47.
Dallas Stars (C2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (C3)
A rematch of the 2024 Western Final. Dallas’ depth vs. Colorado’s MacKinnon-Makar duo 7.
Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Minnesota Wild (WC1)
Vegas’ experience vs. Minnesota’s Kaprizov-led offense. Wild’s Filip Gustavsson is a wild card 79.
Los Angeles Kings (P2) vs. Edmonton Oilers (P3)
McDavid vs. Kopitar. Edmonton’s shaky defense could be exploited by LA’s structured play 9.
Teams to Watch
Stanley Cup Contenders
Winnipeg Jets
Strengths: Elite goaltending (Hellebuyck), balanced scoring (7 players with 20+ goals).
Weakness: Playoff inexperience among younger players 7.
Dallas Stars
Strengths: Depth at forward (Rantanen, Johnston), Miro Heiskanen’s return.
X-Factor: Wyatt Johnston’s breakout season (65 points) 7.
Colorado Avalanche
Strengths: Nathan MacKinnon (125 points) and Cale Makar (Norris candidate).
Concern: Secondary scoring beyond the top line 7.
Dark Horses
St. Louis Blues: Riding a historic win streak, Jordan Binnington’s resurgence (2.12 GAA in April) could steal a series 47.
Edmonton Oilers: If McDavid and Draisaitl stay healthy, their firepower is unmatched 39.
FAQs
Q: When do the 2025 NHL playoffs start?
A: The first round begins on April 19, 2025 9.
Q: What’s the tiebreaker procedure?
A: Regulation wins > total wins > head-to-head points > goal differential 9.
Q: Which team has the best chance to win the Presidents’ Trophy?
A: Winnipeg (112 points) leads Washington (109) and Dallas (106) 9.
Q: Are there any unclimbed records this season?
A: Ovechkin’s 895 goals and McDavid’s fifth 65-assist season .
Conclusion
The 2025 NHL playoffs promise high-stakes drama, from Ovechkin’s quest for another Cup to McDavid’s bid for postseason redemption. With underdogs like Montreal and St. Louis defying expectations and juggernauts like Winnipeg and Dallas dominating, this postseason is a can’t-miss spectacle. Stay tuned for updated brackets, injury reports, and expert analysis as the road to the Stanley Cup heats up!
Meta Description: Dive into the 2025 NHL playoffs with our complete guide! Explore standings, key matchups, clinching scenarios, and dark horse teams. Will Ovechkin or McDavid hoist the Cup?
Keywords: NHL playoffs 2025, Stanley Cup bracket, Winnipeg Jets, Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, playoff clinching scenarios, NHL standings.
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