Latest 2025 NHL Playoff Picture 2025, Conference Standings, Seeds, Bracket Predictions

The Montreal Canadiens made the latest move in the NHL's Eastern Conference wild-card race on Sunday.

Montreal knocked off the Florida Panthers on the road to end a losing streak and jump back over the New York Rangers for the final wild-card position.

That position could change hands multiple times in the next week since the Canadiens, Rangers, New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings are all separated by three points.

The Western Conference playoff field almost seems set thanks to the St. Louis Blues' nine-game winning streak.

St. Louis and the Minnesota Wild each have 87 points and a six-point edge over the Vancouver Canucks.

In fact, there's only one real close playoff race in the West. The Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers are fighting for second place in the Pacific Division and home-ice advantage in their first-round series.

Eastern Conference

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Atlantic Division

1. Toronto - 94 points
2. Tampa Bay - 91
3. Florida - 91

Metropolitan Division

1. Washington - 103
2. Carolina - 94
3. New Jersey - 85

Wild-Card Race

1. Ottawa - 84
2. Montreal - 77
3. New York Rangers - 77
4. Columbus - 75
5. Detroit - 74
6. New York Islanders - 74

All of the playoff drama is in the Eastern Conference.

The race for the second wild-card spot is wide open and will likely change hands many times before the end of the regular season on April 17.

Montreal jumped back into that spot after Sunday's surprising win over Florida.

However, it's hard to judge which team will get hot because, right now, all of them are struggling to create momentum for themselves.

None of the five teams in the hunt for the second wild-card spot have more than four wins over their last 10 games.

Montreal's 4-3-3 mark is the best of any team in that group over the last 10.

All members of the quintet are off on Monday. The Blue Jackets, Islanders and Red Wings are all in action on Tuesday.

The Atlantic Division title is still up for grabs as well. The winner earns the advantage of playing the first wild-card team, which right now will be the Ottawa Senators.

Florida visits Montreal and Tampa Bay takes on the Islanders on Tuesday. Both teams are hunting the Toronto Maple Leafs, who edged ahead by three points with a Sunday win over the Anaheim Ducks.

Toronto plays Florida twice and Tampa Bay once between now and next Wednesday. The Leafs are 3-0 against the Lightning and 0-2 versus the Panthers this season.

Both of those wins over Florida came with Matthew Tkachuk on the ice for the Panthers. Florida has played okay without Tkachuk and it has three wins over its last seven games.

Predictions

Montreal vs. Washington

Ottawa vs. Toronto

Florida vs. Tampa Bay

New Jersey vs. Carolina

Western Conference

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Central Division

1. Winnipeg - 106
2. Dallas - 100
3. Colorado - 93

Pacific Division

1. Vegas - 98
2. Los Angeles - 91
3. Edmonton - 89

Wild-Card Race

1. Minnesota - 87
2. St. Louis - 87
3. Vancouver - 81
4. Calgary - 80
5. Utah - 78

St. Louis' nine-game winning streak has taken most of the drama out of the wild-card race.

The Blues are now level with the Wild on points and they hold a six-point edge on Vancouver.

Minnesota has one of the toughest remaining schedules in the NHL. The Wild begin a three-game swing of the New York market against the New Jersey Devils on Monday.

Minnesota then hosts the Dallas Stars on Sunday, but after that, it closes with four games against teams beneath it in the standings.

The Wild would need to go on their worst losing run of the season to lose their playoff position to either Vancouver or Calgary.

The Wild and Blues could swap positions in the standings. The Winnipeg Jets are set to play the second wild-card team, while the Vegas Golden Knights are aligned with the No. 1 wild-card.

The biggest question in the West right now is whether the Kings or Oilers will finish second in the Pacific Division.

Los Angeles moved ahead by two points with its Sunday win over the San Jose Sharks. The Kings and Oilers will meet on April 5 and 14. Edmonton has the easier remaining schedule that is highlighted by three games against the Sharks and one meeting with the Ducks.

Prediction

Minnesota vs. Winnipeg

Colorado vs. Dallas

St. Louis vs. Vegas

Los Angeles vs. Edmonton