Latest NHL Playoff Picture 2026 and Predictions for Postseason Bracket

There's more confusion in the NHL wild-card standings as the games continue to dwindle down in the regular season.

Only one of the contenders for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot won on Tuesday night.

Winnipeg added more drama to the Western Conference wild-card hunt, as it moved within one point of Nashville.

The Atlantic and Pacific Division titles are still up for grabs as well.

The only sure things about the NHL playoff bracket right now are that Colorado will win the Central, Dallas and Minnesota will play each other in the first round and Carolina will top the Metropolitan.

Eastern Conference

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Atlantic Division

1 Buffalo - 100 points

2. Tampa Bay - 98

3. Montreal - 96

Metropolitan Division

1 Carolina - 100

2. Pittsburgh - 92

3. New York Islanders - 89

Wild-Card Race

1 Boston - 94

2. Columbus - 88

3. Ottawa - 86

4. Detroit - 86

5. Philadelphia - 86

6. Washington - 85

Washington was the only East wild-card contender to win on Tuesday night.

The Capitals beat Philadelphia at home, while Columbus, Ottawa and Detroit all lost their respective games.

Boston is now in the clear by six points, a gap that seems insurmountable with seven or eight games left in the regular season for the wild-card contenders.

At least one of the contenders for the second wild-card spot will win on Thursday because the Red Wings square off with the Flyers.

The Flyers play a back-to-back on Thursday and Friday at home that could give them a vital four points in a race that no team seems to grab a hold of.

Ottawa begins a stretch of five games at home on Thursday. If the Senators can rebound from their three-game losing streak, they might be the favorite to claim the final playoff spot in the East.

Montreal's win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday tightened up the Atlantic Division title race. Buffalo is ahead of the Lightning by two points.

Nikita Kucherov and the Lightning play the Sabres and Canadiens once more and they have the schedule edge this week with two games at home versus Pittsburgh and Boston.

Playoff Prediction

Ottawa (WC2) vs. Carolina (Metropolitan 1)

Boston (WC1) vs. Tampa Bay (Atlantic 1)

New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh

Montreal vs. Buffalo

Western Conference

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Central Division

1 Colorado - 108

2. Dallas -100

3. Minnesota - 94

Pacific Division

1 Anaheim - 87

2. Edmonton - 85

3. Vegas - 82

Wild-Card Race

1 Utah - 82

2. Nashville - 77

3. Los Angeles - 76

4. Winnipeg - 76

5. San Jose - 75

6. Seattle - 75

7. St. Louis - 73

The West wild-card race gained more drama to it with Winnipeg's win and Seattle's loss on Tuesday.

The Jets moved within one point of Nashville for the final wild-card spot. They've won four of their last five games and could be in position to overtake both the Predators and Los Angeles in the standings.

Winnipeg's only remaining game that doesn't look winnable is Thursday's road trip to Dallas.

After that, the Jets play seven teams that are no higher than third place in their respective divisions. A majority of their opponents are wild-card contenders, including St. Louis, Seattle and San Jose.

Kyle Connor and Co. would love for the Predators and Kings to split their two games in the next week to level the playing field even more in the wild-card hunt.

The Kings need to beat the Blues on Wednesday night. The same goes for the Sharks at home against Anaheim.

The Ducks are on the verge of losing the Pacific Division title to Edmonton, who is now two points back after a win on Tuesday.

The Oilers are on a four-game winning streak that should extend to six from home games against Chicago and Vegas this week.

Playoff Predictions

Winnipeg (WC2) vs. Colorado (Central 1)

Utah (WC1) vs. Edmonton (Pacific 1)

Vegas vs. Anaheim

Minnesota vs. Dallas