Updated NHL Playoff Standings 2026, Stanley Cup Bracket Odds and Wild-Card Predictions
Eight teams are within two points of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern and Western Conference entering Tuesday's NHL slate.
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Nashville Predators are currently in possession of the second wild-card spots, but that could change over the next few days.
Nashville takes on the team directly behind it in the standings, the Los Angeles Kings, twice in the next week.
The Predators also have to take on the San Jose Sharks, who worked themselves back into the playoff mix with a win on Monday.
Stanley Cup Odds
1 of 3
Colorado (+310; bet $100 to win $310)
Tampa Bay (+360)
Carolina (+500)
Dallas (+1000)
Vegas (+1400)
Edmonton (+1500)
Minnesota (+1800)
Buffalo (+2000)
Ottawa (+2500)
Utah (+3300)
Montreal (+3500)
Anaheim (+4500)
Pittsburgh (+4500)
Columbus (+5000)
Eastern Conference
2 of 3
Atlantic Division
1 Tampa Bay - 98 points
2. Buffalo - 98
3. Montreal - 94
Metropolitan Division
1 Carolina - 98
2. Pittsburgh - 90
3. New York Islanders - 89
Wild-Card Race
1 Boston - 92
2. Columbus - 88
3. Ottawa - 86
4. Detroit - 86
5. Philadelphia - 86
6. Washington - 83
Nothing will be easy for any of the Eastern Conference wild-card contenders, including winning on Tuesday.
Boston is at home to Dallas, Columbus hosts Carolina and Ottawa, Detroit and Philadelphia are all on the road.
The Blue Jackets need to pick up some points in their two clashes with the Hurricanes on Tuesday and Thursday to avoid a drop back into the chaos beneath them.
The Senators have a five-game homestand upcoming after Tuesday's trip to Florida, but those games come against Buffalo, Minnesota, Carolina, Tampa Bay and Florida.
The Flyers might have an advantage not playing at home. They are 20-12-4 on the road. That's the best road mark of any of the wild-card contenders.
Rick Tocchet's team plays five of its next seven on the road. The two home games are vital clashes with the Red Wings and Bruins.
Washington, who is 15-17-4 on the road, plays five of its last eight games on the road, so it's logical to count out the Capitals.
The Red Wings have three matchups left with the Flyers and Blue Jackets. That might be the difference-maker for Detroit if Columbus slips up this week and Ottawa struggles during its homestand.
Ottawa owns the most ideal path to the postseason, but it needs to win at least three of its upcoming home games to do so.
The Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders are clear of the wild-card race for now. They just have to keep winning to avoid the drop to a wild-card position.
Wild-Card Prediction: 1. Boston, 2. Ottawa
Western Conference
3 of 3
Central Division
1 Colorado - 108
2. Dallas- 100
3. Minnesota - 94
Pacific Division
1 Anaheim - 87
2. Edmonton - 83
3. Vegas - 82
Wild-Card Race
1 Utah - 82
2. Nashville - 77
3. Los Angeles - 76
4. Seattle - 75
5. San Jose - 75
6. Winnipeg - 74
7. St. Louis - 73
San Jose inched closer to the final wild-card position with a Monday victory over St. Louis.
San Jose and Seattle each have games in hand on Nashville and Los Angeles. The Sharks play their next five contests on home ice. The Kraken have a tough week against Edmonton, Utah and Chicago.
Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks have to play Nashville twice, as do Artemi Panarin and the Kings.
Nashville could either cruise into the playoffs on the heels of its head-to-head wins, or be in a fight until the final regular-season game with the Kings and Sharks.
The Predators are now on a three-game losing streak and play their next five games on the road. They have to right things fast since the two clashes with the Kings and the showdown with the Sharks occur in the next week.
Los Angeles has an ideal homestand ahead because it plays St. Louis, Toronto and Vancouver, three teams beneath it in the standings, and then gets Nashville twice. Edmonton comes in to end the homestand, but the Kings can afford one loss if they win their next five.
Utah is safe at the moment with 82 points in the first wild-card spot. The Mammoth can solidify their position with wins over Seattle and Vancouver this week.
Wild-Card Prediction: 1. Utah, 2. Los Angeles
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