Apr 8, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Vancouver Canucks left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) and center Pius Suter (24) and right wing Brock Boeser (6) and right wing Conor Garland (8) and defenseman Filip Hronek (17) and defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) celebrates the game tying goal scored by Suter against the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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NHL Playoff Tiebreakers Explained: How Teams Secure Their Spot in Tight Races

Understanding the NHL’s tiebreaking rules and how they impact playoff standings, with real examples like the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues.

With the NHL regular season nearing its climax, every point matters; sometimes, tiebreakers make all the difference. Wednesday night provided a perfect example when the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues found themselves deadlocked at 93 points in the standings. The Wild’s victory over the San Jose Sharks and the Blues’ loss to the Edmonton Oilers created a tie in the Western Conference wild-card race.

With only a handful of games left in the season, every win, especially in regulation, could mean the difference between making the postseason, securing home-ice advantage, or missing out entirely. Let’s take a closer look at the NHL’s tiebreaking system and how it shapes the road to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Who's in NHL playoffs? Updated 2025 bracket, standings, tiebreakers https://t.co/QoW4c3yyXQ
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) April 6, 2025

The NHL’s tiebreaking system ensures that playoff positioning is based on performance and consistency throughout the season. Regulation wins and ROW matter more than shootout victories, encouraging teams to win games outright. Goal differential and head-to-head results also play crucial roles, especially in a tight race.

With playoff berths, home-ice advantage, and Stanley Cup aspirations on the line, understanding these tiebreakers could make all the difference in the postseason picture.

NHL Playoff Tiebreaking Procedure

When teams are tied in points at the end of the regular season, the NHL applies the following tiebreakers in order:

Fewer Number of Games Played: Teams with fewer games played (i.e., higher points percentage) are ranked higher.
Regulation Wins (RW): The team with more wins in regulation time.
Regulation and Overtime Wins (ROW): exclude shootout victories.
Total Wins: Including all wins, regardless of how they were achieved.
Head-to-Head Points: Points earned in games between the tied teams.
Goal Differential: The difference between goals scored and goals allowed.
Goals For (GF): Total goals scored during the season.

Current Standings and Tiebreaker Implications

Eastern Conference Wild Card Race

The battle for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference is fierce, with the New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and Montreal Canadiens all in contention.

New York Rangers: 72 points, 33 RW, 47 ROW, +0 goal differential.

Ottawa Senators: 77 points, 27 RW, 52 ROW, +8 goal differential.

Montreal Canadiens: 71 points, 23 RW, 48 ROW, -19 goal differential.

The Senators hold the edge in ROW and goal differential, which could be decisive if teams finish with equal points.

Western Conference Central Division

The Winnipeg Jets have surged ahead in the Central Division, but the Dallas Stars remain within striking distance.

Winnipeg Jets: 112 points, 54 wins.

Dallas Stars: 106 points, 50 wins.

The Jets’ superior number of wins, including regulation victories, positions them favorably in tiebreaker scenarios.

Pacific Division Showdown

The Vegas Golden Knights and Los Angeles Kings are vying for the Pacific Division title. Current standings:

Vegas Golden Knights: 105 points, 48-22-9 record.

Los Angeles Kings: 99 points.

Vegas’s lead in points and potential advantages in regulation and overtime wins give them the upper hand in tiebreaker situations.

With tight standings and only a few games left, every regulation win, goal differential, and head-to-head matchup could be the deciding factor in securing a postseason spot. The Wild’s recent leap over the Blues is a prime example of how these tie-breaking rules shape the playoff picture. Now, we can expect more shifts in the standings, where these tiebreakers will play a crucial role in determining which teams earn a shot at the Stanley Cup.

Image Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

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NHL Playoff Tiebreakers

Anamika Shrivastava

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I’ve always loved writing and storytelling, and hockey gives me a perfect stage for endless stories to tell. Whether it’s breaking down a game, analyzing a big trade, or capturing the emotions on the ice, I bring the NHL to life through words. So what’s the best part you ask? Watching the action unfold and turning it into something fans can connect with. To my readers: Hockey is more than just a game—it’s the highs, the heartbreaks, and the moments that make us jump off our seats. So, keep cheering, keep debating, and never stop loving the madness of the sport!