NHL playoff field set as Stars clinch, eliminating Golden Knights

The NHL’s 16-team field for the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs is officially set.

The Dallas Stars secured the final playoff spot in the Western Conference by earning a point in their 4-3 overtime loss to the Arizona Coyotes. That point also eliminated the Vegas Golden Knights from playoff contention who were 4-3 shootout losers to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.

Entering play the Golden Knights not only needed to beat Chicago, they needed Dallas to lose to Arizona in regulation to keep its playoff hopes alive. Neither outcome happened.

Not only did Vegas lose, but Dallas also gained the single point it needed despite allowing a 3-0 third period lead to slip away. The Stars may not be totally happy with the way they clinched, but they are in in the playoffs and that is all that matters at the moment.

The playoff teams in each conference are as follows:

Atlantic Division

Florida Panthers Toronto Maple Leafs Tampa Bay Lightning Boston Bruins

Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes New York Rangers Pittsburgh Penguins Washington Capitals

Central Division

Colorado Avalanche Minnesota Wild St. Louis Blues Nashville Predators Dallas Stars

Pacific Division

Calgary Flames Edmonton Oilers Los Angeles Kings

At this point only a handful of the actual playoff matchups are set. We know who the division champions are (Florida, Carolina, Colorado, Calgary), a handful of the 2-3 matchups (Minnesota vs. St. Louis in the Central; Edmonton vs. Los Angeles in the Pacific), and that New York and Toronto will have home-ice advantage in their First Round matchups.

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Adam Gretz is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line atphtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @AGretz.