NHL playoff bracket 2020: Up to date standings, seeds & Spherical 1 projections for Stanley Cup playoffs

The chase for the Cup is again on.

After a four-month layoff, the ice is cooled, the groups are sizzling and the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs formally get underway on Aug. 11. The coronavirus pandemic has compelled the NHL to get a bit artistic with its restart, and due to that, hockey-starved followers get slightly dose of semi-playoffs with groups jockeying for playoff place and playoff spots over per week span beginning on Saturday.

The gist: The highest 4 groups in every convention will play one another as soon as to find out seeding within the Stanley Cup playoffs, whereas the remaining eight groups in every convention play qualifiers to make the dance.

Scotiabank Enviornment in Toronto, Ont. and Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alta., will play host to the primary two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs, with Rogers Place housing the convention finals and the Stanley Cup remaining. Ought to all go based on plan, with gamers staying wholesome inside the NHL’s bubble, the season is scheduled to finish no later than Oct. 4. 

Here is what you should know concerning the round-robin and qualifying rounds and the beginning of the 2020 NHL playoffs:

MORE: Everything to know about the NHL’s bubble cities

NHL playoff bracket 2020

Jap Convention

Spherical robin

The highest 4 groups will compete in a seeding round-robin tourney:

Qualifying spherical

The next are the matchups for the qualifying spherical, based mostly on common season standings/level proportion:

Western Convention

Spherical robin

The highest 4 groups within the West face one another as soon as:

Qualifying spherical

Primarily based on regular-season standings, the next are the matchups for the qualifying spherical within the west:

NHL playoff projections

Here is what the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs would appear to be if the qualifying rounds ended at present (up to date Aug. 4):

Jap Convention

— Flyers (1) vs. Canadiens (12)

— Lightning (2) vs. Maple Leafs (8)

— Capitals (3) vs. Islanders (7)

— Bruins (4) vs. Hurricanes (6)

Western Convention

— Avalanche (1) vs. Oilers (5)

— Golden Knights (2) vs. Predators (6)

— Stars (3) vs. Wild (10)

— Blues (4) vs. Flames (8)

MORE: Here is a complete schedule for the NHL’s 2020 restart

When do the NHL playoffs begin in 2020?

The 2020 Stanley Cup playoff qualifiers get underway on Saturday, Aug. 1. The Rangers and Hurricanes kick off the qualifying spherical with a Saturday matinee matchup in Scotiabank Enviornment in Toronto, Ont. The final video games in each the qualifying and round-robin rounds are scheduled happen on Sunday, Aug. 9.

The primary spherical of the Stanley Cup playoffs formally get underway on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Groups will likely be re-seeded after the primary two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

How do the NHL playoffs work?

Previous to the beginning of the official Stanley Cup playoffs on Aug. 11, there are a number of bells and whistles which are going to find out qualification and seeding in each conferences. Here is how that can work:

• The highest 4 groups in every convention play round-robin type to find out seeding for the highest spots within the playoffs. Every group will play one another as soon as, amounting in six video games between Aug 2. and Aug. 9. The video games will likely be performed underneath common season time beyond regulation and shootout guidelines.
• The remaining eight groups in every convention will play in a best-of-five collection to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Seeding is predicated on regular-season standings. These video games are performed underneath playoff time beyond regulation guidelines (golden purpose). 
• After the qualifying rounds and round-robin play is accomplished, groups advance to the primary spherical of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs. The best seeds will play the bottom seeds, per standard, with re-seeding after each the primary and second rounds.
• Each collection from the primary spherical to the final horn of the Stanley Cup Closing are seven video games, per standard, with the NHL’s two hub cities internet hosting the primary two rounds. The convention finals and Stanley Cup Closing will likely be held in Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alta.

NHL standings 2020

Jap Convention

The Sabres, Devils, Senators and Crimson Wings all missed the playoffs.

Western Convention

The Geese, Kings and Sharks all miss out on the chase for the Cup.