NHL Playoff Bracket 2027

Updated

Projected 2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket from today’s standings. In each division 2nd plays 3rd, the conference’s better division winner plays the second wild card and the other winner plays the first wild card. The bracket is fixed, with no reseeding.

NHL Playoff Bracket: First Round to Stanley Cup

Projected bracket, based on the standings today. Seeds and matchups change with every result.
East First RoundApril 2027 (dates TBA)
8NYIIslanders
1PITPenguins
Projected
4CARHurricanes
3NYRRangers
Projected
7OTTSenators
2BOSBruins
Projected
6FLAPanthers
5MTLCanadiens
Projected
East Second Round
First Round winnerFirst Round winner
First Round winnerFirst Round winner
TBD
First Round winnerFirst Round winner
First Round winnerFirst Round winner
TBD
East Conf. Final
Second Round winnerSecond Round winner
Second Round winnerSecond Round winner
TBD
Stanley Cup FinalJune 2027 (dates TBA)
East championEast champion
West championWest champion
TBD
West Conf. Final
Second Round winnerSecond Round winner
Second Round winnerSecond Round winner
TBD
West Second Round
First Round winnerFirst Round winner
First Round winnerFirst Round winner
TBD
First Round winnerFirst Round winner
First Round winnerFirst Round winner
TBD
West First RoundApril 2027 (dates TBA)
8SEAKraken
1EDMOilers
Projected
4VANCanucks
3SJSharks
Projected
7ANADucks
2COLAvalanche
Projected
6MINWild
5UTAMammoth
Projected

How the NHL Playoff Bracket Is Built

Who qualifies

The top three in each division plus two wild cards per conference, ranked by points.

First round

Division 2nd v 3rd; the division winner with more points v the second wild card, the other winner v the first wild card.

No reseeding

The two series winners in each division meet in the second round; the bracket only crosses divisions in the conference final.

Stanley Cup Final

East champion v West champion in June, on TNT in the US and Sportsnet in Canada.

The NHL playoff bracket above is projected from today’s standings and becomes the official bracket the night the regular season ends. For dates and puck drop times see the playoff schedule; to see who is still fighting for these spots, open the playoff picture, or pick your own bracket.

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NHL playoff bracket FAQ

How is the first round set?

In each division 2nd plays 3rd. The conference’s division winner with more points plays the second wild card; the other division winner plays the first wild card.

Does the NHL reseed the playoffs?

No. The bracket is fixed through the conference final: the winners of the two series in each division meet in the second round.

Who gets home ice?

The higher seed in the first two rounds and the team with more regular-season points in the conference final and Stanley Cup Final, hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7.

How many games is each round?

Every round is best of seven: first to four wins.

How many teams make the NHL playoffs?

16: the top three teams in each of the four divisions and two wild cards in each conference, the best two remaining teams by points.