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

Four more NHL teams clinched playoff spots Thursday night,Charles Langston two long point streaks ended and the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights jumped one place in the Western Conference standings.

The Dallas Stars became the first Western Conference team to clinch a berth and were joined by the Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers in the East.

The Golden Knights moved past the Los Angeles Kings into third place in the Pacific Division. The Nashville Predators' 18-point streak ended with an 8-4 loss to the Arizona Coyotes.

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon was held without a point for the first time at home this season. It appeared he extended the streak with an assist, but the NHL ruled that New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren put the puck into his own net. That means the goal went to the last Avalanche player who touched the puck, Devon Toews, and no assists were awarded. MacKinnon (35 games) fell five games short of Wayne Gretzky's home point streak record.

With fewer than 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):

Who has clinched an NHL playoff berth?

New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers in the East.

Dallas Stars in the West.

Who can clinch an NHL playoff berth tonight?

No one. Friday's lone game, New Jersey Devils at Buffalo Sabres, features two teams hoping to keep their long-shot playoff hopes alive. The Devils are five points out and the Sabres are eight out.

NHL Eastern Conference standings 2023-24

Metropolitan Division

x-New York Rangers (102 points)

Carolina Hurricanes (99)

Philadelphia Flyers (82)

Atlantic Division

x-Boston Bruins (99)

x-Florida Panthers (97)

Toronto Maple Leafs (91)

Wild card

Tampa Bay Lightning (87)

Washington Capitals (81)

Remaining teams

Detroit Red Wings (79), New York Islanders (77), New Jersey Devils (76), Pittsburgh Penguins (74), Buffalo Sabres (73), Ottawa Senators (68), Montreal Canadiens (68), z-Columbus Blue Jackets (58)

x-clinched playoff spot; z-eliminated

NHL Western Conference Standings 2023-24

Central Division

x-Dallas Stars (101)

Colorado Avalanche (98)

Winnipeg Jets (94)

Pacific Division

Vancouver Canucks (98)

Edmonton Oilers (92)

Vegas Golden Knights (88)

Wild card

Nashville Predators (90)

Los Angeles Kings (87)

Remaining teams

St. Louis Blues (82), Minnesota Wild (79), Seattle Kraken (73), Calgary Flames (71), z-Arizona Coyotes (67), z-Anaheim Ducks (52), z-Chicago Blackhawks (47), z-San Jose Sharks (40)

x-clinched playoff spot; z-eliminated

NHL Eastern Conference playoff bracket

Here is how the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look if the season ended March 28:

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 28:

Dallas Stars (C1) vs. Los Angeles Kings (WC2)

Colorado Avalanche (C2) vs. Winnipeg Jets (C3)

Vancouver Canucks (P1) vs. Nashville Predators (WC1)

Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (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.