For the first time since the 2020-21 season, none of the regular-season division winners have made it to the Eastern or Western Conference finals in the NHL playoffs. That means teams like the Winnipeg Jets, Washington Capitals, Vegas Golden Knights, and Toronto Maple Leafs are all out.
While that might sound surprising, it actually isn’t all that rare.
Division Winners Don’t Always Go Far
Since the NHL switched to a four-division format in 2014, this kind of situation has happened four times. So clearly, winning your division doesn’t always mean you’re going to make a deep playoff run.
Yes, it gets you home-ice advantage for the first two rounds. But as we saw this year, that didn’t help the top teams much in Round 2. Many of them were eliminated by lower-seeded teams who were simply playing better hockey at the right time.
What Happened in Round 2?
In this year’s Round 2, the teams that had higher standings and home-ice advantage didn’t use it well. They couldn’t turn that advantage into wins. Teams that were expected to dominate instead struggled, and the underdogs rose to the occasion.
That’s what makes the NHL playoffs so unpredictable and exciting. A lower-ranked team can beat a top team with solid teamwork, good goaltending, and momentum.
It’s More Common Than You Think
People often assume that the best regular-season teams are sure to go far in the playoffs. But that’s not always true in hockey. In fact, recent history shows that even winning your division isn’t a guarantee of playoff success.
Since 2014, this is now the fourth time no division winner has reached the final four. So while it might sound like a shock, it’s actually part of a pattern.
Why Home-Ice Advantage Doesn’t Always Help
There’s a reason fans often talk about “playoff hockey” being different. In the regular season, teams focus on consistency. In the playoffs, intensity, experience, and physical play matter more. Sometimes, a hot goalie or a clutch goal scorer makes the difference.
Also, pressure can be higher for top teams. Fans expect them to win, and if they don’t start strong, they can crumble under the weight of those expectations.
So while playing more games at home sounds helpful, it doesn’t always lead to victories.
This year’s NHL playoffs have reminded us once again: regular-season success doesn’t always carry over into the playoffs. Division winners like the Jets, Leafs, Capitals, and Golden Knights are out, and other teams have taken their place. But don’t be too surprised — this is just part of the game’s beauty. In hockey, anything can happen, and that’s exactly why we love it.
