On most days on this house, we’re specializing in a specific sport (or a couple of video games) that may affect the wild-card races. But there are nonetheless some division title races nonetheless in play as the season strikes by its closing 30 days.
The battle at the prime of Wednesday’s card is Dallas Stars–Colorado Avalanche (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT), with the Avs holding a three-point edge and a sport in hand in the Central Division.
Shifting east, the staff that simply beat the mighty Avs 7-2 on Monday nonetheless has a shot at the Metropolitan Division crown.
The Pittsburgh Penguins weren’t anticipated to be a playoff staff in 2025-26; their preseason standings factors over/beneath was 77.5, a quantity that they’ve already blown previous as they sit in second place in the Metro.
On Wednesday, they sq. off in opposition to the staff on prime of the division, the Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+). The Canes have been at or close to the prime of the Metro all season and maintain a seven-point benefit in the standings. The Penguins will probably be bolstered by the return of Sidney Crosby, who’s expected to play Wednesday after sustaining a lower-body harm at the Olympics.
Obviously, the sport on Wednesday is a possible “four-point swing” for both staff. If Pittsburgh desires to take the division crown, this sport and the return match on March 22 in opposition to the Canes are principally must-wins given the deficit.
Aside from the two video games in opposition to the Canes, the Penguins’ remaining schedule contains simply 4 video games in opposition to present playoff groups. The Hurricanes’ closing 13 non-Pittsburgh video games embrace six in opposition to present playoff groups, and two in opposition to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who’re proper on the bubble and as sizzling as anybody proper now.
So the window is open … albeit barely. Stathletes initiatives the Hurricanes’ division title probabilities at 97.2%, with the Penguins’ at 1.5%. But hey, that is not zero.
Every staff has round 15 video games remaining earlier than the common season concludes April 16, and we’ll provide help to hold observe of all of it right here on the NHL playoff watch day-after-day. As we traverse the closing stretch, we’ll present particulars on all the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff likelihood is through Stathletes.
Jump forward:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Last night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Detroit Red Wings
M2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 New York Islanders
Western Conference
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Seattle Kraken
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah Mammoth
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights
Today’s video games
Note: All instances ET. All video games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (native blackout restrictions apply).
New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers, 7 p.m. (TNT)
Pittsburgh Penguins at Carolina Hurricanes, 7 p.m.
Ottawa Senators at Washington Capitals, 7:30 p.m.
Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)
St. Louis Blues at Calgary Flames, 9:30 p.m.
Philadelphia Flyers at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.
Last night time’s scoreboard
New York Islanders 3, Toronto Maple Leafs 1
Montreal Canadiens 3, Boston Bruins 2 (OT)
Columbus Blue Jackets 5, Carolina Hurricanes 1
Minnesota Wild 4, Chicago Blackhawks 3 (OT)
Nashville Predators 4, Winnipeg Jets 3 (SO)
Edmonton Oilers 5, San Jose Sharks 3
Vancouver Canucks 5, Florida Panthers 2
Buffalo Sabres 2, Vegas Golden Knights 0
Tampa Bay Lightning 6, Seattle Kraken 2
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff place: A1
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 108.5
Next sport: @ SJ (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.5%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 86
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff place: A2
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 106.9
Next sport: @ VAN (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.8%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 84
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: A3
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 102.8
Next sport: @ DET (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 83.3%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: WC1
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 98.9
Next sport: vs. WPG (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 68.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: WC2
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 98.9
Next sport: vs. MTL (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 41.8%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 95.7
Next sport: @ WSH (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 67.5%
Tragic quantity: 27
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 13
Points tempo: 83.2
Next sport: vs. CAR (Friday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.1%
Tragic quantity: 14
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 84.5
Next sport: @ EDM (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.1%
Tragic quantity: 17
Metro Division
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: M1
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 110.2
Next sport: vs. PIT (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff place: M2
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 101.6
Next sport: @ CAR (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 86.2%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: M3
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 100.1
Next sport: @ OTT (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 65.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 99.1
Next sport: vs. NYR (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 79.4%
Tragic quantity: 29
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 91.9
Next sport: @ ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 3.7%
Tragic quantity: 24
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 89.2
Next sport: vs. OTT (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 3.4%
Tragic quantity: 20
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 85.7
Next sport: @ NYR (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.7%
Tragic quantity: 18
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 78.3
Next sport: vs. NJ (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.1%
Tragic quantity: 12
Central Division
Points: 97
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff place: C1
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 120.5
Next sport: vs. DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff place: C2
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 115.1
Next sport: @ COL (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: C3
Games left: 13
Points tempo: 107.0
Next sport: vs. CHI (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: WC1
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 91.7
Next sport: @ VGK (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 96%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 84.5
Next sport: vs. SEA (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 4%
Tragic quantity: 28
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 82.0
Next sport: @ BOS (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 3.1%
Tragic quantity: 26
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 78.3
Next sport: @ CGY (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 2%
Tragic quantity: 23
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 75.9
Next sport: @ MIN (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.1%
Tragic quantity: 21
Pacific Division
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: P1
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 94.2
Next sport: vs. PHI (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.2%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: P2
Games left: 13
Points tempo: 91.5
Next sport: vs. FLA (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 91.3%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: P3
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 91.7
Next sport: vs. UTA (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.2%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: WC2
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 86.9
Next sport: @ NSH (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 17.3%
Tragic quantity: N/A
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 86.9
Next sport: vs. PHI (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 30.1%
Tragic quantity: 30
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 87.0
Next sport: vs. BUF (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 57.8%
Tragic quantity: 31
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 72.2
Next sport: vs. STL (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 18
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 61.2
Next sport: vs. TB (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 9
Race for the No. 1 decide
The NHL makes use of a draft lottery to find out the order of the first spherical, so the staff that finishes in final place just isn’t assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a staff can transfer up a most of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so solely 11 groups are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 decide. Full details on the process can be found here. Atop draft boards for this summer season is Gavin McKenna, a ahead for Penn State.
Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 62
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19
Points: 64
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 67
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 22
Points: 70
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 71
Regulation wins: 18
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 74
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 81
Regulation wins: 24
*Note: The Maple Leafs’ decide belongs to the Bruins, except it lands in the prime 5.
