NHL playoff standings: Who will win the Pacific Division?

The NHL schedule makers don’t always give us great matchups each night of the week. However, sometimes they outdo themselves.

Sunday features four bangers:

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

It’s no surprise that the Knights and Oilers are vying for the division crown, and this game is a “four-point swing” if one of the two can win in regulation. What’s a little more surprising is the fact that this game will begin with the Anaheim Ducks in the No. 1 spot in the Pacific. So how will this race shake out?

Anaheim plays the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, and it could open up a three-point standings lead on Vegas with a W (and a Vegas loss). Beyond that game, the Ducks have 19 games left in the campaign; they play the Oilers one more time (March 28) but have completed their slate against the Knights. Of those 19 remaining games, Anaheim plays against a team currently in playoff position just five times.

The Knights have 18 games left after the Sunday tilt against the Oilers, and 10 of them are against current playoff teams, including two more against Edmonton (March 26 and April 4). They also face the juggernaut Avalanche once and the near-juggernaut Dallas Stars twice.

As for the Oilers, they also have 18 games left after Sunday, and also have 10 of those against teams in a playoff spot right now. They only have to play Dallas once … but have to play Colorado twice, as well as the Atlantic-leading Lightning.

They’ll still play out all of the games, of course, but just based on strength of remaining schedule, one has to give the Ducks a bit of an edge at this juncture.

Every team has about 20 games left before the season concludes April 16, and we’ll help you keep track of it all here on the NHL playoff watch every day. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide detail on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:Current playoff matchupsSunday’s scheduleSaturday’s scoresExpanded standingsRace for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. WC1 Detroit Red WingsA2 Buffalo Sabres vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens

M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Boston BruinsM2 New York Islanders vs. M3 Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Seattle KrakenC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild

P1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah MammothP2 Vegas Golden Knights vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Sunday’s games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

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Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche, 2 p.m. (TNT)Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins, 4:30 p.m. (TNT)Tampa Bay Lightning at Buffalo Sabres, 6 p.m.Chicago Blackhawks at Dallas Stars, 6 p.m.Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m. (ESPN)St. Louis Blues at Anaheim Ducks, 9 p.m.Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Saturday’s scoreboard

Boston Bruins 3, Washington Capitals 1New Jersey Devils 6, New York Rangers 3Buffalo Sabres 3, Nashville Predators 2Philadelphia Flyers 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 3 (SO)Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 2Utah Mammoth 5, Columbus Blue Jackets 4 (OT)Winnipeg Jets 3, Vancouver Canucks 2 (OT)Montreal Canadiens 4, Los Angeles Kings 3Calgary Flames 5, Carolina Hurricanes 4New York Islanders 2, San Jose Sharks 1 (OT)Ottawa Senators 7, Seattle Kraken 4

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 82Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: A1Games left: 21Points pace: 110.2Next game: @ BUF (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: A2Games left: 19Points pace: 106.7Next game: vs. TB (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.1%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: A3Games left: 20Points pace: 103.2Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 89.2%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 77Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: WC1Games left: 19Points pace: 100.2Next game: @ NJ (Sunday)Playoff chances: 53.7%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC2Games left: 20Points pace: 99.2Next game: @ PIT (Sunday)Playoff chances: 73.6%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 71Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 93.9Next game: @ VAN (Monday)Playoff chances: 59.1%Tragic number: 36

Points: 65Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 19Points pace: 84.6Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 5.1%Tragic number: 28

Points: 65Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 83.3Next game: @ MTL (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 26

Metro Division

Points: 86Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: M1Games left: 19Points pace: 111.9Next game: vs. PIT (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 77Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: M2Games left: 18Points pace: 98.7Next game: @ STL (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 51.1%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: M3Games left: 20Points pace: 100.5Next game: vs. BOS (Sunday)Playoff chances: 78.2%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 73Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 96.6Next game: vs. LA (Monday)Playoff chances: 56.5%Tragic number: 38

Points: 69Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 91.3Next game: vs. NYR (Monday)Playoff chances: 9.4%Tragic number: 34

Points: 69Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 18Points pace: 88.4Next game: vs. CGY (Monday)Playoff chances: 19.3%Tragic number: 30

Points: 66Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 19Points pace: 85.9Next game: vs. DET (Sunday)Playoff chances: 5.7%Tragic number: 29

Points: 56Regulation wins: 15Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 74.1Next game: @ PHI (Monday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 21

Central Division

Points: 93Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: C1Games left: 21Points pace: 125Next game: vs. MIN (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 86Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: C2Games left: 20Points pace: 113.7Next game: vs. CHI (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: C3Games left: 19Points pace: 109.3Next game: @ COL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 72Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: WC1Games left: 19Points pace: 93.7Next game: @ CHI (Monday)Playoff chances: 98.2%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 64Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 19Points pace: 83.3Next game: @ SEA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 5.4%Tragic number: 35

Points: 62Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 82Next game: vs. ANA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 5.7%Tragic number: 35

Points: 57Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 75.4Next game: @ ANA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.7%Tragic number: 30

Points: 56Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 74.1Next game: @ DAL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 29

Pacific Division

Points: 73Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: P1Games left: 20Points pace: 96.6Next game: vs. STL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 96.4%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 72Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: P3Games left: 19Points pace: 93.7Next game: vs. EDM (Sunday)Playoff chances: 96.3%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 68Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: P2Games left: 19Points pace: 88.5Next game: @ VGK (Sunday)Playoff chances: 77%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 67Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: WC2Games left: 20Points pace: 88.6Next game: vs. NSH (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 34%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 66Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 21Points pace: 88.7Next game: @ BUF (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 78.6%Tragic number: 41

Points: 64Regulation wins: 16Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 84.7Next game: @ CBJ (Monday)Playoff chances: 7.6%Tragic number: 37

Points: 57Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 75.4Next game: @ WSH (Monday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 30

Points: 46Regulation wins: 13Playoff position: N/AGames left: 19Points pace: 59.9Next game: vs. OTT (Monday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 17

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Sitting atop draft boards for this summer is Gavin McKenna, a forward for Penn State.

Points: 46Regulation wins: 13

Points: 56Regulation wins: 18

Points: 56Regulation wins: 15

Points: 57Regulation wins: 21

Points: 57Regulation wins: 22

Points: 62Regulation wins: 21

Points: 64Regulation wins: 21

Points: 64Regulation wins: 16

Points: 65Regulation wins: 19

Points: 65Regulation wins: 25

Points: 66Regulation wins: 21

Points: 66Regulation wins: 18