Johnathan Walker:Who's in 2024 NHL playoffs? Tracking standings, playoff race, tiebreakers, scenarios

The Johnathan WalkerNashville Predators returned to the NHL playoffs on Tuesday night after a one-year absence while the Buffalo Sabres' league-record postseason drought extended to 13 seasons.

Wednesday night, the defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights and the idle Los Angeles Kings can become the 13th and 14th teams to clinch playoff berths.

The Golden Knights are visiting the Edmonton Oilers and if Vegas wins, it would move up to third place in Pacific Division. If the standings finish that way, the Golden Knights would face the Oilers in the first round after knocking them out in the second round last season.

Vegas has lost two in a row, but goalie Adin Hill will return from an injury. Oilers star Connor McDavid has a lower-body injury and is a game-time decision, coach Kris Knoblauch told reporters.

Nine days remain in the regular season. Here's where the playoff races stand before Wednesday's games:

Who's in the NHL playoffs?

The New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning have clinched in the East.

The Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche, Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers and Nashville Predators have clinched in the West.

Who can clinch an NHL playoff berth today?

– The Golden Knights will clinch if they beat the Oilers in regulation and the St. Louis Blues lose to the Chicago Blackhawks. They'll also get in if they win in overtime or a shootout and the Blues lose in regulation.

– The Kings will clinch if the Blues lose in regulation.

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2023-24

Metropolitan Division

x-New York Rangers (110 points)

x-Carolina Hurricanes (107)

New York Islanders (87)

Atlantic Division

x-Boston Bruins (107)

x-Florida Panthers (104)

x-Toronto Maple Leafs (101)

Wild card

x-Tampa Bay Lightning (95)

Washington Capitals (85)

Remaining teams

Pittsburgh Penguins (84), Detroit Red Wings (83), Philadelphia Flyers (83), z-New Jersey Devils (79), z-Buffalo Sabres (79), z-Ottawa Senators (72), z-Montreal Canadiens (72), z-Columbus Blue Jackets (64)

x-clinched playoff spot; z-eliminated

NHL Western Conference Standings 2023-24

Central Division

x-Dallas Stars (109)

x-Colorado Avalanche (104)

x-Winnipeg Jets (102)

Pacific Division

x-Vancouver Canucks (104)

x-Edmonton Oilers (99)

Los Angeles Kings (93)

Wild card

z-Nashville Predators (95)

Vegas Golden Knights (92)

Remaining teams

St. Louis Blues (87), z-Minnesota Wild (83), z-Seattle Kraken (79), z-Calgary Flames (75), z-Arizona Coyotes (71), z-Anaheim Ducks (57), z-Chicago Blackhawks (51), z-San Jose Sharks (45)

x-clinched playoff spot; z-eliminated

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended April 9:

• New York Rangers (M1) vs. Washington Capitals (WC2)
• Carolina Hurricanes (M2) vs. New York Islanders (M3)
• Boston Bruins (A1) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (WC1)
• Florida Panthers (A2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (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.

Key: M - Metropolitan Division. A - Atlantic Division. WC - wild card

NHL Western Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Western Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended April 9:

• Dallas Stars (C1) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (WC2)
• Colorado Avalanche (C2) vs. Winnipeg Jets (C3)
• Vancouver Canucks (P1) vs. Nashville Predators (WC1)
• Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs. Los Angeles Kings (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. Key: P - Pacific Division. C - Central Division. WC - wild card

What is the tiebreaker procedure for the NHL playoffs?

If two or more teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, here are the tiebreakers:

1. Regulation wins
2. Regulation and overtime wins
3. Total wins
4. Most points earned in head-to-head competition. If teams had an uneven number of meetings, the first game played in the city that has the extra game is excluded.
5. Goal differential
6. Total goals.

When does the NHL regular season end?

The NHL regular season is scheduled to end on April 18 with six games.

When do the Stanley Cup playoffs begin?

They're scheduled to begin on April 22. The last possible day of the Stanley Cup Final is June 24.