Fri Apr 11 02:10:00 UTC 2025: **NHL Playoff Picture Heats Up as Several Teams Vie for Final Spots**
**[City, State] –** With only a handful of games remaining in the regular season, the race for the Stanley Cup Playoffs is reaching a fever pitch. Several teams are battling for the remaining playoff spots in both the Eastern and Western Conferences.
In the Eastern Conference, the Ottawa Senators secured their playoff berth after a Detroit Red Wings loss. This marks the Senators’ return to the playoffs after a six-season absence. The Montreal Canadiens hold a commanding lead for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
The Western Conference playoff race is even tighter, with three spots still up for grabs. The Los Angeles Kings joined the Vegas Golden Knights in securing Pacific Division playoff berths. The Calgary Flames face a tough challenge, needing to win their remaining games to overtake either the Minnesota Wild or the St. Louis Blues for a Wild Card spot.
The constantly shifting playoff picture can be tracked daily via CBS Sports’ NHL playoff race tracker, which provides updated standings as the postseason approaches. The tracker also details tiebreaker rules, prioritizing regulation wins and then regulation plus overtime wins.
Current projected first-round matchups based on current standings include: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators, Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals vs. Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes vs. New Jersey Devils, Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche, Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild, and Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers. However, these matchups are subject to change based on the final games of the season.
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