NHL Playoff Picture 2024: Updated Standings as Bruins, More Clinch Postseason Berth

Erin WalshMarch 29, 2024

Rich Gagnon/Getty Images

After last year’s disappointing first round playoff exit, the Boston Bruins are officially headed back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a chance to redeem themselves.

The Bruins clinched a playoff berth for the eighth straight season on Thursday courtesy of the Detroit Red Wings’ 4-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

NHL @NHLIT’S OFFICIAL 🐻

The @NHLBruins have secured their spot in the #StanleyCup Playoffs! ✅ pic.twitter.com/zVe41Fi7Ku

Detroit’s loss also had more postseason implications.

As a result, the Hurricanes clinched a playoff berth and the Florida Panthers punched their ticket to the postseason.

Carolina is back in the playoffs for the sixth straight year, and Florida returns to postseason action for the fourth straight season. The Panthers are aiming to get back to the Stanley Cup Final following last year’s loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

NHL @NHLCANES CLINCH 🌀

The @Canes are headed back to the #StanleyCup Playoffs! pic.twitter.com/NkXxsN9UTd

NHL @NHLHERE COME THE CATS 😼

The @FlaPanthers have punched their pass to the #StanleyCup Playoffs! pic.twitter.com/aCoUyP5C3b

With three more teams having clinched playoff berths, here’s a look at the updated playoff picture.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins: 42-17-15, 99 points (Clinched playoffs)Florida Panthers: 46-22-5, 97 points (Clinched playoffs)Toronto Maple Leafs: 41-22-9, 91 pointsMetropolitan Division

New York Rangers: 48-20-4, 100 points (Clinched playoffs)Carolina Hurricanes: 46-21-7, 99 points (Clinched playoffs)Philadelphia Flyers: 36-28-10, 82 pointsWild-Card Race

Tampa Bay Lightning: 40-25-7, 87 pointsWashington Capitals: 36-27-9, 81 pointsDetroit Red Wings: 36-30-7, 79 pointsNew York Islanders: 31-26-15, 77 pointsNew Jersey Devils: 36-33-4, 76 pointsPittsburgh Penguins: 32-30-10, 74 pointsBuffalo Sabres: 34-34-5, 73 pointsOttawa Senators: 32-36-4, 68 pointsMontreal Canadiens: 28-32-12, 68 pointsColumbus Blue Jackets: 23-28-12, 58 points (Eliminated from playoff contention)Western Conference

Central Division

Dallas Stars: 45-19-9, 99 pointsColorado Avalanche: 46-21-5, 97 pointsWinnipeg Jets: 44-22-6, 94 pointsPacific Division

Vancouver Canucks: 45-19-8, 98 pointsEdmonton Oilers: 43-23-4, 90 pointsLos Angeles Kings: 38-22-11, 87 pointsWild-Card Race

Nashville Predators: 43-25-4, 90 pointsVegas Golden Knights: 39-25-8, 86 pointsSt. Louis Blues: 38-30-4, 80 pointsMinnesota Wild: 34-28-9, 77 pointsCalgary Flames: 33-33-5, 71 pointsSeattle Kraken: 29-29-13, 71 pointsArizona Coyotes: 30-37-5, 65 pointsAnaheim Ducks: 24-44-4, 52 points (Eliminated from playoff contention)Chicago Blackhawks: 21-47-5, 47 points (Eliminated from playoff contention)San Jose Sharks: 16-47-8, 40 points (Eliminated from playoff contention)While the Bruins are consistently among the NHL’s top teams, the franchise hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since 2011.

After putting together a historic 2022-23 season, Boston was considered the team to beat in last year’s playoffs, but the Black and Gold ultimately fell to the Panthers in the first round.

The Bruins entered this season with a very different roster following the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci and the departures of players like Dmitry Orlov and Tyler Bertuzzi, but they have arguably exceeded expectations thanks to players like Charlie Coyle, Trent Frederic and Danton Heinen.

Heinen, in particular, has been a pleasant surprise for the Bruins after he joined the team on a tryout agreement during training camp before signing a minimum deal at the start of the season.

The Bruins are still waiting on Patrick Maroon to make his highly-anticipated debut after being acquired at the trade deadline. Maroon is recovering from back surgery and should provide Boston some additional grit entering the postseason.

As for the Hurricanes, they haven’t won a Stanley Cup since head coach Rod Brind’Amour captained the team to the title in 2006.

Carolina has been a Stanley Cup threat over the last several seasons but has never been able to get over the hump. The Canes fell to the Panthers in the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

The team is led by the likes of Sebastian Aho, Martin Necas and Seth Jarvis, but the addition of Jake Guentzel from the Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline could prove to be a game-changer for the franchise in the playoffs.

The Panthers, meanwhile, have never won the Stanley Cup. They came close to winning the title last season but were taken down by Mark Stone and the Golden Knights.

Florida continues to be led by Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov. However, the franchise made some solid additions in Vladimir Tarasenko and Kyle Okposo to bolster the roster for what should be a deep playoff run.