NHL Division Standings

2020-21 National Hockey League Magic Numbers

Update to how "No Control" numbers are presented

We've previously shown the letters "NC" if a team has no control of their own destiny for a seed. We've had some user feedback that suggested we try showing the number anyway, even if the team needs help to secure that seed.

We'll be testing this out on the MLB & NHL standings pages. You'll now see a teams Magic Number, faded out and surrounded by brackets, when they have no control of their own destiny, but can still achieve a seed with help from the other teams.

Let us know what you think via email or Twitter.

Central

Central GP/R W L OTL PTS
CAR 56/0 36 12 8 80   ← ← ← ← ← ← ←
FLA 56/0 37 14 5 79 •   ← ← ← ← ← ←
TBL 56/0 36 17 3 75 • •   ← ← ← ← ←
NSH 56/0 31 23 2 64 • • •   ← ← ← ←
DAL 56/0 23 19 14 60 • • • •   ← ← ←
CHI 56/0 24 25 7 55 • • • • •   ← ←
DET 56/0 19 27 10 48 • • • • • •   —
CBJ 56/0 18 26 12 48 • • • • • • —  

East

East GP/R W L OTL PTS
PIT 56/0 37 16 3 77   — ← ← ← ← ← ←
WAS 56/0 36 15 5 77 —   ← ← ← ← ← ←
BOS 56/0 33 16 7 73 • •   ← ← ← ← ←
NYI 56/0 32 17 7 71 • • •   ← ← ← ←
NYR 56/0 27 23 6 60 • • • •   ← ← ←
PHI 56/0 25 23 8 58 • • • • •   ← ←
NJD 56/0 19 30 7 45 • • • • • •   ←
BUF 56/0 15 34 7 37 • • • • • • •  

North

North GP/R W L OTL PTS
TOR 56/0 35 14 7 77   ← ← ← ← ← ←
EDM 56/0 35 19 2 72 •   ← ← ← ← ←
WPG 56/0 30 23 3 63 • •   ← ← ← ←
MTL 56/0 24 21 11 59 • • •   ← ← ←
CGY 56/0 26 27 3 55 • • • •   ← ←
OTT 56/0 23 28 5 51 • • • • •   ←
VAN 56/0 23 29 4 50 • • • • • •  

West

West GP/R W L OTL PTS
COL 56/0 39 13 4 82   — ← ← ← ← ← ←
LAS 56/0 40 14 2 82 —   ← ← ← ← ← ←
MIN 56/0 35 16 5 75 • •   ← ← ← ← ←
STL 56/0 27 20 9 63 • • •   ← ← ← ←
ARI 56/0 24 26 6 54 • • • •   ← ← ←
LAK 56/0 21 28 7 49 • • • • •   — ←
SJS 56/0 21 28 7 49 • • • • • —   ←
ANA 56/0 17 30 9 43 • • • • • • •  
2020-21 NHL Season Notes
The National Hockey League has made adjustments for the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The 2020-21 NHL season will begin January 13.
  • The divisions have been temporarily realigned to limit travel, and keep the Canadian teams together as travel restrictions still apply between the United States and Canada
  • Teams will play all games within their division
  • Teams will play 56 games, instead of the usual 82

Four teams from each division qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs:

  • The top four teams from each division will play in an intra-divisional first two rounds - #1 vs. #4, #2 vs #3 for the first round, with the winners of each series playing each other the second round
  • The four divisional winners will be reseeded by their regular season points totals, and will play #1 vs. #4, #2 vs #3 in the Semifinal round
  • The two semifinal winners will play in the Stanley Cup Finals
Clinched playoff berth
Eliminated from the playoffs

Tie for the division, wildcard, or seeding

  1. The greater number of games won (not including games won in a shootout)
  2. The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs. If two clubs are tied, and have not played an equal number of home games against each other, points earned in the first game played in the city that had the extra game shall not be included. If more than two clubs are tied, the higher percentage of available points earned in games among those clubs, and not including any "odd" games, shall be used to determine the standing.
  3. Goal differential

Tiebreaking prodecures from nhl.com

Updated: September 17, 2021 10:00pm ET