2024 NHL playoffs: Bracket, updated standings, latest playoff picture and more

The Carolina Hurricanes can clinch a playoff berth, help the Boston Bruins clinch theirs and hurt the Detroit Red Wings' chances during Thursday's home game.

The Bruins didn't get in outright Wednesday night as they lost 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning, but a Hurricanes win against the Red Wings will extend Boston's playoff streak to eight seasons and Carolina's to six seasons. The Red Wings, meanwhile, need the win because they trail the Washington Capitals by two points in the battle for the second wild-card seed.

Multiple teams can clinch playoff berths on Thursday night. With three weeks left in the NHL regular season, here's where the playoff races stand as of the morning of March 28 (full standings here):

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Who can clinch an NHL playoff berth tonight?

▪ The Hurricanes will clinch if they beat the Red Wings. They'll also clinch if they get one point vs. the Red Wings and the Flyers lose to the Montreal Canadiens in regulation.

▪ The Florida Panthers will clinch if they beat the New York Islanders. They'll also clinch if they get one point vs. the Islanders and any of the following occurs: the Red Wings lose to the Hurricanes, the Flyers lose to the Canadiens in regulation or the Red Wings lose to the Hurricanes in regulation.

▪ The Dallas Stars will clinch if they beat the Vancouver Canucks. They'll also clinch if they get one point vs. the Canucks and the Blues lose to the Calgary Flames, or the Minnesota Wild lose to the San Jose Sharks and the Blues lose in regulation.

▪ The Canucks will clinch if they beat the Stars. They'll also clinch if they get one point vs. the Stars and the Blues lose to the Flames, or if the Wild lose to the Sharks and the Blues lose to the Flames in regulation.

▪ The Colorado Avalanche will clinch if they beat the New York Rangers and the Blues lose to the Flames. They'll also clinch if they get one point vs. the Rangers and both of the following occur: the Wild lose to the Sharks and the Blues lose to the Flames in regulation.

▪ The idle Bruins will clinch a playoff berth if the Red Wings lose or the Flyers lose to the Canadiens in regulation.

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2023-24

Metropolitan Division

x-New York Rangers (100 points)

Carolina Hurricanes (97)

Philadelphia Flyers (82)

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins (99)

Florida Panthers (97)

Toronto Maple Leafs (89)

Wild card

Tampa Bay Lightning (87)

Washington Capitals (81)

Remaining teams

Detroit Red Wings (79), New Jersey Devils (76), New York Islanders (75), Buffalo Sabres (73), Pittsburgh Penguins (72), Ottawa Senators (66), Montreal Canadiens (66), z-Columbus Blue Jackets (58)

x-clinched playoff spot; z-eliminated

NHL Western Conference Standings 2023-24

Central Division

Dallas Stars (99)

Colorado Avalanche (97)

Winnipeg Jets (94)

Pacific Division

Vancouver Canucks (98)

Edmonton Oilers (90)

Los Angeles Kings (87)

Wild card

Nashville Predators (90)

Vegas Golden Knights (86)

Remaining teams

St. Louis Blues (80), Minnesota Wild (77), Calgary Flames (71), Seattle Kraken (71), z-Arizona Coyotes (65), z-Anaheim Ducks (52), z-Chicago Blackhawks (47), z-San Jose Sharks (40)

z-eliminated

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended March 27:

New York Rangers (M1) vs. Washington Capitals (WC2)

Carolina Hurricanes (M2) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (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 March 27:

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

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.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoffs bracket: Updated standings, who can clinch