Formed in 2013 as part of the league realignment and often known as the “Metro Division”, the Metropolitan Division is one of the 2 Eastern Conference divisions along with the Atlantic Division. It is home to some of the league’s largest markets with teams from New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. The top 3 teams in the division will qualify for the playoffs and will be joined by the 2 next highest-scoring teams across the entire Eastern Conference.
The current 8 franchises in the Metropolitan Division (in alphabetical order) and their home rinks are:
- Carolina Hurricanes(PNC Arena, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA)
- Columbus Blue Jackets (Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio, USA)
- Philadelphia Flyers(Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)
- Pittsburgh Penguins(PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA)
- New Jersey Devils(Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey, USA)
- New York Islanders(UBS Arena, Elmont, New York, USA)
- New York Rangers(Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USA)
- Washington Capitals(Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C., USA)
The Carolina Hurricanes have been having a strong season so far totting up around twice the points as the Columbus Blue Jackets at the other end of the table. The 2 New York teams – Islanders and Rangers – look like they’ll be battling it out for a confirmed position in the top 3 of the division to guarantee making the playoffs.
Rivalries
As there are several teams that consider each other neighbours and that fight to represent a major East Coast city, the Metropolitan Division is full of fiery rivalries! There are no Canadian teams in this division, but there are many historic all-American confrontations. There’s the Islanders-Rangers Battle of New York, the Flyers-Penguins Battle of Pennsylvania, the Devils-Rangers Battle of the Hudson River, the Devils-Flyers Battle of the Turnpikes, and many more! Some of the big games to look forward to in the 2022-23 season are:
- Pittsburgh Penguins v Philadelphia Flyers · 11 Mar 2023
- New York Rangers v Washington Capitals · 14 Mar 2023
- New Jersey Devils v New York Rangers · 30 Mar 2023
- Washington Capitals v New York Rangers · 2 Apr 2023
- Pittsburgh Penguins v Philadelphia Flyers · 2 Apr 2023
2022-23 Schedule
The first Metropolitan Division games in the 2022-23 NHL Regular Season were in early October 2022. Teams from each conference play 28 games in their own division (4 against each of their 7 Central Division opponents) and 24 games against the 8 opponents in the other division (Pacific) in their conference (3 games against every team) after which they may progress to the NHL Playoffs.
You can find the full 2022-23 NHL schedule here.
2022-23 Playoffs and Finals
The 2023 playoffs will begin after the regular season has finished in mid-April. Of the 32 regular season teams, 16 qualify with 8 from each conference (the top 3 teams from each division plus 2 conference teams with the next highest points). There are 4 rounds of best-of-7 series: first round with 16 teams in 8 x best-of-7 series; second round with 8 teams in 4 x best-of-7 series; Conference Finals with 4 teams in 2 x best-of-7 series; and the Stanley Cup Finals with 2 teams in 1 x best-of-7 series to determine who lifts the Stanley Cup.
2022-23 Ticket & Prices
Each arena has its own seating chart and each will vary, however, NHL venues typically have: a lower level close to the ice with seats in the front rows offering premium views from beside the plexiglass; a club or mezzanine level with elevated views of the game; suite levels offering an exclusive experience with additional perks such as catering, a wait service, and a private entrance; and an upper level furthest from the ice, but offering views across the entire arena and the most affordable tickets.
Some of the most affordable tickets in the Metropolitan Division are USD $10 (CAD $13) for basic tickets to $31,250 (CAD $42,601) for the most premium tickets.
How to Get Cheap Tickets
The price of tickets will be affected by the stage of the league, the teams playing, the arena, and the day of the week (weekends are typically more expensive). Prices for the same game vary from seller to seller and over time. There may be last-minute deals on games that aren't as popular; Waiting, on the other hand, can also result in ticket shortages or increased costs if there is a high demand. By comparing prices from primary and secondary sellers, Koobit enables you to locate the right tickets for you at the most affordable prices.
Where to Buy Tickets
For most teams, you can purchase tickets at the on-site arena box office, however, opening hours and ticket availability will vary. Buying your ticket online is generally considered more convenient and reliable as you can easily compare options and prices and guarantee a seat before arriving at the arena.
How to Get to a Game
Most NHL arenas are located in the heart of a city or urban area and are surrounded by garages and lots with nearby car parking spaces that can be pre-booked. Venues are often easily accessible by public transportation due to their central locations. Visit the relevant arena’s travel & parking page for more information. For event-specific information, click through to an event and view the Travel & Parking section.
2022-23 Merchandise & Apparel
If you want to look the part when attending a game in the Metropolitan Division, Fanatics sells official NHL merchandise, offering everything from team sweaters to branded caps.
To stay up to date with the latest schedule and ticketing information for this season and beyond, visit the National Hockey League (NHL) page.