Examining Latest NHL Playoff Picture 2026 and Wild-Card Races in Conference Standings
While it may feel like the 2025-26 NHL season didn't begin that long ago, the postseason is already in sight. The final regular-season games will be played on April 16, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs will get underway on April 18.
Some tight playoff races remain undecided entering the final weeks of the regular season. Things are particularly open in the Eastern Conference, where several teams still have a shot at a wild-card berth. Things are a little more settled in the West, though few postseason spots have actually been clinched.
Friday's schedule will feature just two games—The Chicago Blackhawks will take on the New York Rangers, while the Detroit Red Wings will battle the Buffalo Sabres—and only one of them will carry playoff implications.
Following a much larger Thursday slate, let's examine where things stand in each conference and make a few predictions.
Eastern Conference
1 of 2
Atlantic Division
1. Buffalo Sabres - 96 Points
2. Tampa Bay Lightning - 94
3. Montreal Canadiens - 90
Metropolitan Division
1. Carolina Hurricanes - 96
2. Pittsburgh Penguins - 88
3. Columbus Blue Jackets - 87
Wild Card Race
Boston Bruins - 88
New York Islanders - 87
Ottawa Senators - 86
Detroit Red Wings - 84
Philadelphia Flyers - 82
Washington Capitals - 81
No teams in the East have clinched a playoff spot yet, and that includes the Atlantic-leading Sabres. However, Buffalo is positioned to end the NHL's longest active playoff drought. On Friday, they'll face the Red Wings, who own the league's second-longest drought.
Detroit is within striking distance of a wild-card spot but will need some help down the stretch to get in. It does not have any remaining games against the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, or Ottawa Senators. The Red Wings are currently +120 (bet $100 to win $120) to make the playoffs, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Boston stayed atop the wild-card race with an overtime win on Wednesday, but it has some tough matchups in the immediate future. On Saturday, the Bruins will face the Minnesota Wild. On Sunday, they'll get the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Boston is -185 (bet $185 to win $100) to reach the postseason.
The Islanders picked up a 2-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday, increasing their playoff odds to -170. Their next two games will come against the Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Senators lost a 4-3 shootout decision against the Penguins on Thursday but remain -200 to make the playoffs. Upcoming games against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Panthers can potentially vault Ottawa back into a wild-card position.
Pittsburgh's win allowed the Penguins to gain some ground in the Metro Division on Thursday. The Columbus Blue Jackets lost, moving Pittsburgh into the No. 2 spot, albeit nine wins and eight points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for the top spot.
Carolina will be in action against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
Bracket Predictions
New York Islanders vs. Buffalo Sabres
Ottawa Senators vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference
2 of 2
Central Division
1. Colorado Avalanche* - 106 Points
2. Dallas Stars* - 97
3. Minnesota Wild - 94
Pacific Division
1. Anaheim Ducks - 86
2. Edmonton Oilers - 81
3. Vegas Golden Knights - 79
Wild Card Race
Utah Mammoth - 80
Nashville Predators - 77
Los Angeles Kings - 76
Seattle Kraken - 74
Winnipeg Jets - 72
San Jose Sharks - 71
* = clinched playoff spot
The Colorado Avalanche picked up a 3-2 regulation win over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, pushing their league-high total to 48 wins and 106 points. Colorado remains one of two teams, along with the Dallas Stars, that have already clinched a playoff spot.
The Anaheim Ducks won a 3-2 overtime game against the Calgary Flames on Thursday, allowing them to maintain a five-point lead in the Pacific Division. The Edmonton Oilers notched an overtime win over the Vegas Golden Knights, keeping them within striking distance of Anaheim and increasing their lead over Vegas by a point.
Anaheim and Edmonton are considered virtual locks to make the playoffs, while Vegas is -200 to reach the tournament.
While the Western Conference wild-card race isn't quite as tight as its Eastern counterpart, things got a little more interesting on Thursday. Nashville lost to the Devils 4-2, while the L.A. Kings won 4-0 over the Vancouver Canucks, narrowing the gap to just one point.
The Mammoth also lost on Thursday (7-4 to the Washington Capitals), though they maintain a reasonable playoff cushion. Utah is -900 to make the playoffs, while L.A. is -160 and Nashville is +140.
Utah and the Kings will face off on Saturday.
Bracket Prediction
Nashville Predators vs. Colorado Avalanche
Utah Mammoth vs. Anaheim Ducks
Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers
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