The 2017-18 NHL playoff picture is taking shape.
With a handful of weeks remaining in the regular season schedule, the Eastern Conference wild-card race is down to three teams while the Western Conference is slightly more wide open. Below is an up-to-date playoff projection based on the current standings and AccuScore's probability simulator, which takes into account remaining strength of schedule and injuries, among other factors.
Remember, ROW (regulations and overtime wins, excluding shootouts) represents the first tiebreaker if two teams are equal in points and games played.
Here's how the 2018 Stanley Cup playoff bracket would look if the season ended today.
Last updated: March 13
PRESEASON RANKINGS: How badly SN's experts got it wrong
NHL standings: Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
1. Tampa Bay Lightning (100 points, 42 ROW)
Remaining games: 13 (8 home)
Home record: 25-6-2
Playoff probability: 100 percent
Tampa's true fight is within the division. If the Bolts hold off the Bruins and win the Atlantic, they'll likely capture the Presidents' Trophy, too.
2. Boston Bruins (94 points, 40 ROW)
Remaining games: 15 (5 home)
Home record: 25-7-4
Playoff probability: 100 percent
A preseason Stanley Cup favorite, the Bruins are a force to be reckoned with in the closing stretch.
3. Toronto Maple Leafs (87 points, 34 ROW)
Remaining games: 13 (8 home)
Home record: 23-8-2
Playoff probability: 100 percent
The Leafs are locked in to the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic, headed for a likely first-round matchup with the Bruins.
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Metropolitan Division
1. Washington Capitals (85 points, 36 ROW)
Remaining games: 13 (6 home)
Home record: 24-9-2
Playoff probability: 99.2 percent
Capitals vets Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom have been around long enough to know: The regular season is inconsequential.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins (84 points, 38 ROW)
Remaining games: 12 (6 home)
Home record: 26-8-1
Playoff probability: 99.7 percent
Even in second place, the Penguins hold the inside track to a division title by way of tiebreaker.
3. Philadelphia Flyers (81 points, 33 ROW)
Remaining games: 12 (6 home)
Home record: 17-12-6
Playoff probability: 94.8 percent
When everyone wasn't paying attention, the Flyers somehow turned into a team easy to root for. With Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, Shayne Gostisbehere and Sean Couturier, they have plenty of firepower to make some noise in the playoffs.
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Wild cards
1. Columbus Blue Jackets (79 points, 31 ROW)
Remaining games: 12 (5 home)
Home record: 23-11-2
Playoff probability: 79.4 percent
The NHL's youngest team has gone through some growing pains this season, but they're right on the cusp and should get in as long as things don't fall apart.
2. New Jersey Devils (78 points, 30 ROW)
Remaining games: 13 (6 home)
Home record: 18-14-3
Playoff probability: 62.3 percent
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In the hunt
1. Florida Panthers (75 points, 31 ROW)
Remaining games: 15 (7 home)
Home record: 21-10-3
Playoff probability: 46 percent
The party-crashing Panthers are 15-4-1 since the All-Star break and have shown no signs of slowing down.
NHL standings: Western Conference
Central Division
1. Nashville Predators (98 points, 39 ROW)
Remaining games: 14 (6 home)
Home record: 24-7-4
Playoff probability: 100 percent
Healthy and clicking, the Predators' playoff run won't come as a surprise this season in defense of their Western Conference title.
2. Winnipeg Jets (92 points, 39 ROW)
Remaining games: 13 (8 home)
Home record: 24-7-2
Playoff probability: 100 percent
Of Canada's seven NHL franchises, the Jets hold the best shot at ending the nation's 25-year Stanley Cup drought this year.
3. Minnesota Wild (85 points, 36 ROW)
Remaining games: 13 (6 home)
Home record: 24-5-6
Playoff probability: 98 percent
The Wild control their destiny. But in a way, it wouldn't be the worst thing if they drop into the first wild-card spot and a first-round meeting with the expansion Golden Knights, rather than the high-powered Jets.
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Pacific Division
1. Vegas Golden Knights (95 points, 42 ROW)
Remaining games: 13 (8 home)
Home record: 24-7-2
Playoff probability: 100 percent
At this point, the Golden Knights are a lock for the division title in their inaugural season. Now the question is: How deep into the spring will they play?
2. San Jose Sharks (83 points, 33 ROW)
Remaining games: 13 (7 home)
Home record: 21-11-3
Playoff probability: 91.1 percent
Written off as too old, the Sharks are well positioned to prove their demise was premature. Joe Thornton's return from injury looms large.
3. Los Angeles Kings (81 points, 36 ROW)
Remaining games: 13 (7 home)
Home record: 18-13-3
Playoff probability: 65.6 percent
The Kings aren't a perfect team, but they're sturdy enough to return to the playoffs and a pose threat to advance beyond the first round for the first time since 2014.
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Wild cards
1. Dallas Stars (82 points, 34 ROW)
Remaining games: 13 (4 home)
Home record: 24-10-3
Playoff probability: 78.8 percent
Jim Nill's offseason overhaul looks like it's going to achieve its desired result in the form of a Stars playoff berth. If Dallas holds onto this spot, it might even be favored over Vegas in the first round.
2. Colorado Avalanche (80 points, 35 ROW)
Remaining games: 14 (7 home)
Home record: 24-8-2
Playoff probability: 49.1 percent
Nathan MacKinnon had been doing yeoman's work as one of the Hart Trophy front-runners. If the Avs get in, his case to win is iron-clad.
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In the hunt
1. Anaheim Ducks (80 points, 30 ROW)
Remaining games: 12 (7 home)
Home record: 19-10-5
Playoff probability: 34.1 percent
Injuries ravaged Anaheim's season (the Ducks lead the league in man-games lost), but a weak Pacific means it's far from over for a preseason Cup favorite.
2. St. Louis Blues (79 points, 34 ROW)
Remaining games: 13 (7 home)
Home record: 20-14-0
Playoff probability: 23.4 percent
A difficult schedule and generally inconsistent play led to the Blues' precipitous second-half plunge. They've still got a shot, statistically, but that doesn't seem so likely.
3. Calgary Flames (78 points, 32 ROW)
Remaining games: 12 (7 home)
Home record: 14-16-4
Playoff probability: 17.4 percent
The Flames are in need of some extra firepower behind the No. 1 line. Those serious depth issues and sub-par play on home ice means Calgary is trending toward missing the playoffs, unless it goes on a run with Mike Smith healthy again.
