Here's How NHL Eastern Conference Playoff Teams Did Against Each Other During The Regular Season, And Why It Doesn't Matter For The Playoffs

With just three days left in the regular season, not a single Eastern Conference playoff matchup is set in stone. What happens in the season’s final days will determine who finishes first in the conference and who misses out on the postseason all together.

Most of us are guilty of looking ahead and debating which potential opponent would be the best and worst draw for our team. One of the most frequently cited bits of information is how a team has done against its potential opponents during the regular season. Below, I compiled a list of how each potential Eastern Conference playoff team performed against potential playoff foes during the regular season.

Some interesting tidbits:

• The conference leading Washington Capitals could face any of Montreal, Buffalo, Carolina, or New York in the first round. Washington is 11-0-3 against the first three, but just 1-2-1 against the Rangers.

• If you watched “24/7” you got the distinct impression that Washington was the underdog in the Caps rivalry with the Pittsburgh Penguins. This season, Alex Ovechkin’s crew went 3-0-1 against Pittsburgh.

• If Carolina sneaks into the playoffs, the Hurricanes won’t be thrilled about any of their potential matchups. They have a losing record against all of the East’s top four seeds, a combined 4-12-2.

• Boston vs. Montreal looks like a likely matchup, and it would be a great one. The bad blood between the two teams culminating in Zdeno Chara’s hit on Max Pacioretty is palpable, and the teams have played each other very tough during the regular season.

• The Flyers may be giving their fans panic attacks as the season wears down, but the Philly faithful might be comforted to know that their team has a winning record against Montreal, Buffalo, New York and Carolina.Philly had better not lose hold of the division to Pittsburgh though; the Flyers went just 1-3-0 against TampaBay.

• Pittsburgh, on the other hand, would love to snatch the lead from Philly and draw a first round matchup with the Buffalo Sabres. The Penguins went 4-0-0 against Buffalo, but just 13-17-2 against the East’s other playoff teams.

• Boston isn’t afraid of any of the East’s big dogs, as the Bruins have a winning record against the first, second, fourth, and fifth seeds. However, Boston is just 8-9-3 against the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth seeds, one of which the Bruins will face in the first round.

• If the Rangers do make the playoffs, their first round opponent might not be thrilled. New York is 12-7-1 against the top four seeds in the East, but just 4-10-2 against the fifth, sixth, seventh, and ninth seeds.

• The Canadiens shocked the world during the playoffs last year, but their playoff foes from a year ago, all of whom they could meet again, didn’t take them lightly during the regular season this year. Montreal went 1-3-0 against Philadelphia and Washington, but the Canadiens did go 3-1-0 against the Penguins.

• In 2010, the sixth seeded Boston Bruins upset the third seeded Buffalo Sabres in the first round 4-2. Buffalowent 4-1-1 against Boston this season, so this potential three-six matchup could be particularly intriguing.

• A potential matchup between the Capitals and Flyers down the line could feature lots of bonus hockey, all four games between the two this season were decided by overtime or shootout.

But does the regular season matter? If the 2010 season is any indication, not really. In the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the team that won the regular season matchup was 2-1, with Pittsburgh splitting its regular season with Ottawa. The Canadiens beat Pittsburgh in the Conference Semi-finals despite losing their regular season series to the Penguins, but the Flyers beat the Bruins after winning the regular season series between the two.Philadelphia and Montreal split their regular season series, but the Flyers came out on top in the Conference Finals.

In other words, it’s not a bad idea to take note of how your team did against potential playoff foes, but it may not mean as much as you think.

Washington

Against Philadelphia 2-0-2

Nov. 7 vs. Flyers, W 3-2 OT

Nov. 20 vs. Flyers L 5-4 SO

Jan 18. @ Flyers L 3-2 OT

Mar. 22 @ Flyers W 5-4 SO

Against Boston 1-3-0

Oct. 19 vs. Bruins L 3-1

Oct 21 @ Bruins L 4-1

Nov. 5 vs. Bruins W 5-3

Dec 18. @ Bruins L 3-2

Against Pittsburgh 3-0-1

Dec. 23 vs. Penguins L 3-2 SO

Jan. 1 @ Penguins W 3-1

Feb. 6 vs. Penguins W 3-0

Feb. 21 @ Penguins W 1-0

Against Tampa Bay 4-1-1

Nov. 11 vs. Lightning W 6-3

Nov. 26 vs. Lightning W 6-0

Jan. 4 vs. Lightning L 1-0 OT

Jan. 12 @ Lightning L 3-0

Feb 4. @ Lightning W 5-2

Mar. 7 @ Lightning W 2-1 SO

Against Montreal 3-0-1

Dec. 28 vs. Canadiens W 3-0

Feb. 1 vs. Canadiens L 3-2 SO

Mar. 15 @ Canadiens W 4-2

Mar. 26 @ Canadiens W 2-0

Against Buffalo 3-0-1

Nov. 13 @ Sabres L 3-2 OT

Nov. 17 vs. Sabres W 4-2

Feb. 20 @ Sabres W 2-1

Apr. 2 vs. Sabres W 5-4 OT

Against New York 1-2-1

Nov. 9 @ Rangers W 5-3

Dec. 12 @ Rangers L 7-0

Jan. 24 vs. Rangers L 2-1 SO

Feb. 25 vs. Rangers L 6-0

Against Carolina 5-0-1

Oct. 27 @ Hurricanes W 3-0

Nov. 24 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Nov. 28 vs. Hurricanes W 3-2 SO

Dec. 26 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Mar. 11 vs. Hurricanes W 2-1

Mar. 29 vs. Hurricanes L 3-2 SO

Philadelphia

Against Washington 2-0-2

Nov. 7 @ Capitals, L 3-2 OT

Nov. 20 @ Capitals W 5-4 SO

Jan 18. vs. Capitals W 3-2 OT

Mar. 22 vs. Capitals L 5-4 SO

Against Boston 1-3-0

Dec. 1 vs. Bruins L 3-0

Dec. 11 @ Bruins W 2-1 OT

Jan. 13 @ Bruins L 7-5

Mar. 27 vs. Bruins L 2-1

Against Pittsburgh 4-1-1

Oct. 7 @ Penguins W 3-2

Oct. 16 vs. Penguins L 5-1

Oct. 29 @ Penguins W 3-2

Dec. 14 vs. Penguins W 3-2

Mar. 24 vs. Penguins L 2-1 SO

Mar. 29 @ Penguins W 5-2

Against Tampa Bay 1-3-0

Oct. 14 vs. Lightning L 3-2

Nov. 18 vs. Lightening L 8-7

Feb. 1 @ Lightning L 4-0

Feb. 15 @ Lightning W 4-3 SO

Against Montreal 3-1-0

Nov. 16 @ Canadiens L 3-0

Nov. 22 vs. Canadiens W 3-2

Dec. 15 @ Canadiens W 5-3

Jan. 25 vs. Canadiens W 5-2

Against Buffalo 2-1-0

Oct. 26 vs. Sabres W 6-3

Jan. 11 @ Sabres W 5-2

Mar. 5 vs. Sabres L 5-3

Apr. 8 @ Sabres

Against New York 4-1-1

Nov. 4 vs. Rangers W 4-1

Dec. 18 vs. Rangers W 4-1

Jan. 16 @ Rangers W 3-2

Feb. 20 @ Rangers W 4-2

Mar. 6 @ Rangers L 6-0

Apr. 3 vs. Rangers L 3-2 SO

Against Carolina 3-1-0

Nov. 1 vs. Hurricanes W 3-2

Nov. 11 @ Hurricanes W 8-1

Feb. 10 vs. Hurricanes W 2-1

Feb. 18 @ Hurricanes L 3-2

Boston

Against Washington 3-1-0

Oct. 19 @ Capitals W 3-1

Oct 21 vs. Capitals W 4-1

Nov. 5 @ Capitals L 5-3

Dec 18. vs. Capitals W 3-2

Against Philadelphia 3-0-1

Dec. 1 @ Flyers W 3-0

Dec. 11 vs. Flyers L 2-1 OT

Jan. 13 vs. Flyers W 7-5

Mar. 27 @ Flyers W 2-1

Against Pittsburgh 2-1-1

Nov. 10 @ Penguins W 7-4

Jan. 10 @ Penguins W 4-2

Jan. 15 vs. Penguins L 3-2

Mar. 5 vs. Penguins L 3-2 OT

Against Tampa Bay 3-1-0

Nov. 22 @ Lightning L 3-1

Dec. 2 vs. Lightning W 8-1

Dec. 28 @ Lightning W 4-3

Mar. 3 vs. Lightning W 2-1

Against Montreal 2-3-1

Nov. 11 vs. Canadiens L 3-1

Dec. 16 @ Canadiens L 4-3

Jan. 8 @ Canadiens L 3-2 OT

Feb. 9 vs. Canadiens W 8-6

Mar. 8 @ Canadiens L 4-1

Mar. 24 vs. Canadiens W 7-0

Against Buffalo 2-2-2

Nov. 3 @ Sabres W 5-2

Dec. 7 vs. Sabres W 3-2 OT

Dec. 15 @ Sabres L 3-2

Jan. 1 @ Sabres L 7-6 SO

Jan 20 vs. Sabres L 4-2

Mar. 10 vs. Sabres L 4-3 OT

Against New York 1-3-0

Oct. 23 vs. Rangers L 3-2

Nov. 17 @ Rangers W 3-2

Mar. 26 vs. Rangers L 1-0

Apr. 4 @ Rangers L 5-3

Against Carolina 3-1-0

Nov. 26 vs. Hurricanes L 3-0

Jan. 17 vs. Hurricanes W 7-0

Jan. 18 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Feb. 1 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Pittsburgh

Against Washington 1-3-0

Dec. 23 @ Capitals W 3-2 SO

Jan. 1 vs. Capitals L 3-1

Feb. 6 @ Capitals L 3-0

Feb. 21 vs. Capitals L 1-0

Against Philadelphia 2-4-0

Oct. 7 vs. Flyers L 3-2

Oct. 16 @ Flyers W 5-1

Oct. 29 vs. Flyers L 3-2

Dec. 14 @ Flyers L 3-2

Mar. 24 @ Flyers W 2-1 SO

Mar. 29 vs. Flyers L 5-2

Against Boston 2-2-0

Nov. 10 vs. Bruins L 7-4

Jan. 10 vs. Bruins L 4-2

Jan. 15 @ Bruins W 3-2

Mar. 5 @ Bruins W 3-2 OT

Against Tampa Bay 2-2-0

Oct. 27 @ Lightning L 5-3

Nov. 12 vs. Lightning W 5-1

Jan. 5 vs. Lightning W 8-1

Mar. 31 @ Lightning L 2-1

Against Montreal 1-2-1

Oct. 9 vs. Canadiens L 3-2

Jan. 6 @ Canadiens L 2-1 SO

Jan. 12 @ Canadiens W 5-2

Mar. 12 vs. Canadiens L 3-0

Against Buffalo 4-0-0

Nov. 24 @ Sabres W 1-0

Dec. 11 @ Sabres W 5-2

Feb. 4 vs. Sabres W 3-2

Mar. 8 vs. Sabres W 3-1

Against New York 2-3-1

Nov. 15 vs. Rangers L 3-2 OT

Nov. 29 @ Rangers W 3-1

Dec. 15 vs. Rangers L 4-1

Feb. 1 @ Rangers W 4-3 SO

Feb 13 @ Rangers L 5-3

Mar. 20 vs. Rangers L 5-2

Against Carolina 3-1-0

Oct. 30 @ Hurricanes W 3-0

Nov. 19 vs. Hurricanes W 5-4 SO

Jan. 22 vs. Hurricanes W 3-2

Feb. 25 @ Hurricanes L 4-1

Tampa Bay

Against Washington 2-3-1

Nov. 11 @ Capitals L 6-3

Nov. 26 @ Capitals L 6-0

Jan. 4 @ Capitals W 1-0 OT

Jan. 12 vs. Capitals W 3-0

Feb 4. vs. Capitals L 5-2

Mar. 7 vs. Capitals L 2-1 SO

Against Philadelphia 3-0-1

Oct. 14 @ Flyers W 3-2

Nov. 18 @ Flyers W 8-7

Feb. 1 vs. Flyers W 4-0

Feb. 15 vs. Flyers L 4-3 SO

Against Boston 1-3-0

Nov. 22 vs. Bruins W 3-1

Dec. 2 @ Bruins L 8-1

Dec. 28 vs. Bruins L 4-3

Mar. 3 @ Bruins L 2-1

Against Pittsburgh 2-2-0

Oct. 27 vs. Penguins W 5-3

Nov. 12 @ Penguins L 5-1

Jan. 5 @ Penguins L 8-1

Mar. 31 vs. Penguins W 2-1

Against Montreal 2-1-1

Oct. 13 @ Canadiens W 4-3 OT

Dec. 30 vs. Canadiens W 4-1

Mar. 5 vs. Canadiens L 4-2

Mar. 17 @ Canadiens L 3-2 SO

Against Buffalo 2-2-0

Nov. 20 @ Sabres W 2-1

Dec. 18 vs. Sabres W 3-1

Feb. 8 vs. Sabres L 7-4

Apr. 5 @ Sabres L 4-2

Against New York 4-0-0

Nov. 24 vs. Rangers W 5-3

Dec. 23 @ Rangers W 4-3 SO

Jan. 1 vs. Rangers W 2-1 OT

Feb 27. @ Rangers W 2-1

Against Carolina 3-2-0

Dec. 20 vs. Hurricanes W 5-1

Jan. 15 @ Hurricanes L 6-4

Feb. 12 vs. Hurricanes W 4-3 OT

Mar. 25 vs. Hurricanes L 4-3

Mar. 26 @ Hurricanes W 4-2

Apr. 9 @ Hurricanes

Montreal

Against Washington 1-3-0

Dec. 28 @ Capitals L 3-0

Feb. 1 @ Capitals W 3-2 SO

Mar. 15 vs. Capitals L 4-2

Mar. 26 vs. Capitals L 2-0

Against Philadelphia 1-3-0

Nov. 16 vs. Flyers W 3-0

Nov. 22 @ Flyers L 3-2

Dec. 15 vs. Flyers L 5-3

Jan. 25 @ Flyers L 5-2

Against Boston 4-2-0

Nov. 11 @ Bruins W 3-1

Dec. 16 vs. Bruins W 4-3

Jan. 8 vs. Bruins W 3-2 OT

Feb. 9 @ Bruins L 8-6

Mar. 8 vs. Bruins W 4-1

Mar. 24 @ Bruins L 7-0

Against Pittsburgh 3-1-0

Oct. 9 @ Penguins W 3-2

Jan. 6 vs. Penguins W 2-1 SO

Jan. 12 vs. Penguins L 5-2

Mar. 12 @ Penguins W 3-0

Against Tampa Bay 2-1-1

Oct. 13 vs. Lightning L 4-3 OT

Dec. 30 @ Lightning L 4-1

Mar. 5 @ Lightning W 4-2

Mar. 17 vs. Lightning W 3-2 SO

Against Buffalo 3-1-2

Oct. 15 @ Sabres W 2-1

Nov. 5 @ Sabres W 3-2

Nov. 27 vs. Sabres W 3-1

Jan. 18 @ Sabres L 2-1 OT

Feb. 15 vs. Sabres L 3-2 SO

Mar. 22 vs. Sabres L 2-0

Against New York 3-1-0

Jan. 11 @ Rangers W 2-1

Jan. 15 vs. Rangers W 3-2

Feb. 5 vs. Rangers W 2-0

Mar. 18 @ Rangers L 6-3

Against Carolina 3-1-0

Nov. 13 vs. Hurricanes W 7-2

Dec. 23 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Feb. 26 vs. Hurricanes W 4-3

Mar. 30 @ Hurricanes L 6-2

Buffalo

Against Washington 1-2-1

Nov. 13 vs. Capitals W 3-2 OT

Nov. 17 @ Capitals L 4-2

Feb. 20 vs. Capitals L 2-1

Apr. 2 @ Capitals L 5-4 OT

Against Philadelphia 1-2-0

Oct. 26 @ Flyers L 6-3

Jan. 11 vs. Flyers L 5-2

Mar. 5 @ Flyers W 5-3

Apr. 8 vs. Flyers

Against Boston 4-1-1

Nov. 3 vs. Bruins L 5-2

Dec. 7 @ Bruins L 3-2 OT

Dec. 15 vs. Bruins W 3-2

Jan. 1 vs. Bruins W 7-6 SO

Jan 20 @ Bruins W 4-2

Mar. 10 @ Bruins W 4-3 OT

Against Pittsburgh 0-4-0

Nov. 24 vs. Penguins L 1-0

Dec. 11 vs. Penguins L 5-2

Feb. 4 @ Penguins L 3-2

Mar. 8 @ Penguins L 3-1

Against Tampa Bay 2-2-0

Nov. 20 vs. Lightning L 2-1

Dec. 18 @ Lightning L 3-1

Feb. 8 @ Lightning W 7-4

Apr. 5 vs. Lightning W 4-2

Against Montreal 3-3-0

Oct. 15 vs. Canadiens L 2-1

Nov. 5 vs. Canadiens L 3-2

Nov. 27 @ Canadiens L 3-1

Jan. 18 vs. Canadiens W 2-1 OT

Feb. 15 @ Canadiens W 3-2 SO

Mar. 22 @ Canadiens W 2-0

Against New York 3-1-0

Jan. 11 @ Rangers W 2-1

Jan. 15 vs. Rangers W 3-2

Feb. 5 vs. Rangers W 2-0

Mar. 18 @ Rangers L 6-3

Against Carolina 3-1-0

Nov. 13 vs. Hurricanes W 7-2

Dec. 23 @ Hurricanes W 3-2

Feb. 26 vs. Hurricanes W 4-3

Mar. 30 @ Hurricanes L 6-2

New York

Against Washington 3-1-0

Nov. 9 vs. Capitals L 5-3

Dec. 12 vs. Capitals W 7-0

Jan. 24 @ Capitals W 2-1 SO

Feb. 25 @ Capitals W 6-0

Against Philadelphia 2-4-0

Nov. 4 @ Flyers L 4-1

Dec. 18 @ Flyers L 4-1

Jan. 16 vs. Flyers L 3-2

Feb. 20 vs. Flyers L 4-2

Mar. 6 vs. Flyers W 6-0

Apr. 3 @ Flyers W 3-2 SO

Against Boston 3-1-0

Oct. 23 @ Bruins W 3-2

Nov. 17 vs. Bruins L 3-2

Mar. 26 @ Bruins W 1-0

Apr. 4 vs. Bruins W 5-3

Against Pittsburgh 4-1-1

Nov. 15 @ Penguins W 3-2 OT

Nov. 29 vs. Penguins L 3-1

Dec. 15 @ Penguins W 4-1

Feb. 1 vs. Penguins L 4-3 SO

Feb 13 vs. Penguins W 5-3

Mar. 20 @ Penguins W 5-2

Against Tampa Bay 0-2-2

Nov. 24 @ Lightning L 5-3

Dec. 23 vs. Lightning L 4-3 SO

Jan. 1 @ Lightning L 2-1 OT

Feb 27. vs. Lightning L 2-1

Against Montreal 1-3-0

Jan. 11 vs. Canadiens L 2-1

Jan. 15 @ Canadiens L 3-2

Feb. 5 @ Canadiens L 2-0

Mar. 18 vs. Canadiens W 6-3

Against Buffalo 1-3-0

Jan. 11 vs. Sabres L 2-1

Jan. 15 @ Sabres L 3-2

Feb. 5 @ Sabres L 2-0

Mar. 18 vs. Sabres W 6-3

Against Carolina 2-2-0

Oct. 29 vs. Hurricanes L 4-3

Jan. 5 vs. Hurricanes W 2-1 OT

Jan. 20 @ Hurricanes L 4-1

Feb. 22 @ Hurricanes W 4-3 SO

Carolina

Against Washington 1-4-1

Oct. 27 vs. Capitals L 3-0

Nov. 24 vs. Capitals L 3-2

Nov. 28 @ Capitals L 3-2 SO

Dec. 26 vs. Capitals L 3-2

Mar. 11 @ Capitals L 2-1

Mar. 29 @ Capitals W 3-2 SO

Against Philadelphia 1-3-0

Nov. 1 @ Flyers L 3-2

Nov. 11 vs. Flyers L 8-1

Feb. 10 @ Flyers L 2-1

Feb. 18 vs. Flyers W 3-2

Against Boston 1-3-0

Nov. 26 @ Bruins W 3-0

Jan. 17 @ Bruins L 7-0

Jan. 18 vs. Bruins L 3-2

Feb. 1 vs. Bruins L 3-2

Against Pittsburgh 1-2-1

Oct. 30 vs. Penguins L 3-0

Nov. 19 @ Penguins L 5-4 SO

Jan. 22 @ Penguins L 3-2

Feb. 25 vs. Penguins W 4-1

Against Tampa Bay 2-2-1

Dec. 20 @ Lightning L 5-1

Jan. 15 vs. Lightning W 6-4

Feb. 12 @ Lightning L 4-3 OT

Mar. 25 @ Lightning W 4-3

Mar. 26 vs. Lightning L 4-2

Apr. 9 vs. Lightning

Against Montreal 1-3-0

Nov. 13 @ Canadiens L 7-2

Dec. 23 vs. Canadiens L 3-2

Feb. 26 @ Canadiens L 4-3

Mar. 30 vs. Canadiens W 6-2

Against Buffalo 1-3-0

Nov. 13 @ Sabres L 7-2

Dec. 23 vs. Sabres L 3-2

Feb. 26 @ Sabres L 4-3

Mar. 30 vs. Sabres W 6-2

Against New York 2-0-2

Oct. 29 @ Rangers W 4-3

Jan. 5 @ Rangers L 2-1 OT

Jan. 20 vs. Rangers W 4-1

Feb. 22 vs. Rangers L 4-3 SO