Just one detail left to iron out for official playoff schedule!

The 2024-25 playoffs are right around the corner with the schedule officially getting underway on Saturday, April 19. But 15 of the 16 spots in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs have been claimed as the NHL regular season nears the finish line.

As insiders Frank Seravalli and Chris Johnston put out on social media on Tuesday night, we have all four matchups in the Western conference while we await to see if Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals will face off against the Montreal Canadiens or the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Habs currently hold the final wild-card position in the Eastern Conference with 89 points, maintaining a two-point lead over the Blue Jackets, who have also have one game left. Montreal faces the Carolina Hurricanes later tonight.

These are the first-round matchups that are already set:

To officially secure their postseason berth, the Canadiens have two clear routes: either earn at least one point in their final regular-season game against the Hurricanes on Wednesday or hope that Columbus loses on Thursday evening against the New York Islanders on the very final day of the 2024-25 regular calendar.

Stay tuned and then it’s game on for the 2025 postseason!