NHL Playoff Picture: Eastern Conference Bracket if Season Ended Today

The NHL season hasn’t hit the halfway point yet, but it’s never too early to start talking about playoffs.

Here’s what the Eastern Conference playoff bracket would look like if the playoffs began today.

RELATED: NHL Playoff Picture: Western Conference Bracket if Season Ended Today

NHL Eastern Conference Playoff Picture if the Season Ended Today

• No. 1 Atlantic Division – Boston Bruins vs. No. 2 Wild Card – Pittsburgh Penguins
• No. 1 Metropolitan Division – Carolina Hurricanes vs. No. 1 Wild Card – Washington Capitals
• No. 2 Atlantic Division – Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 3 Atlantic Division – Tampa Bay Lightning
• No 2. Metropolitan Division – New Jersey Devils vs. No. 3 Metropolitan Division – New York Rangers

Compared to last week, the playoff seedings and matchups have not changed. The Bruins maintained distance from the second-place Hurricanes, despite a three-game losing streak. During the last week of January, they had their first consecutive losing skid, including losses to the Hurricanes, Panthers, and Lightning. However, they still finished the week with an impressive 81 points.

That’s seven points ahead of the Hurricanes and 24 points ahead of the eighth-placed Penguins. If their slump stays at three games, it’s not something Bruins fans should worry about. Still, it proves that this team is not invincible. They are susceptible to losing games to “worse” teams if they don’t play to their potential on any given night.

As far as the remaining playoff spots, they will likely fluctuate in the coming weeks. For example, the Rangers have hit their stride in the new year. At the same time, the Devils have cooled off since their 13-game winning streak in the fall.