AWS Generative AI Innovation Center develops constraint programming system for NHL playoff scenarios

Automated Playoff Scenario Generation

The AWS Generative AI Innovation Center developed an automated system to determine NHL playoff clinching scenarios. This system utilizes constraint programming (CP) and a custom tree search algorithm to produce these scenarios.

The approach was validated by comparing its results against those officially published by the NHL, confirming its accuracy in identifying when a team is mathematically guaranteed a playoff spot.

Addressing Combinatorial Challenges

Determining NHL playoff clinching scenarios is a complex combinatorial challenge due to 32 teams, intricate tie-breaking rules, and numerous remaining games. Manual calculation has become increasingly difficult and prone to errors as the league's rules have evolved.

The automated system offers a mathematically rigorous and efficient solution for daily use, providing clarity on playoff guarantees regardless of future game outcomes.

NHL Playoff Structure Context

The NHL consists of 32 teams divided into two conferences, each with two divisions. Sixteen teams qualify for the playoffs: the top three from each division in each conference, plus two additional wild card teams per conference.

Game outcomes in the NHL include regulation wins, overtime wins, shootout wins, shootout losses, overtime losses, and regulation losses, with points awarded accordingly (2 points for a win, 1 for an overtime/shootout loss).