NHL playoff watch: The Anaheim Ducks' Pacific title chances

On March 15, 2025, the Anaheim Ducks had 65 points through 66 games. They had a 0.1% chance of making the playoffs, and sure enough they did not; Anaheim finished with 80 points, 16 behind the St. Louis Blues, who earned the second wild card.

On March 15, 2026, the Ducks have 75 points through 66 games. They have a 98.2% chance of making the playoffs, and in fact are in second place in their division prior to Sunday’s games. The Vegas Golden Knights are one point ahead, with 76 through 67 contests.

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While a playoff berth seems highly likely, what are the chances they pull off a division title after missing the playoffs entirely last season?

Sunday’s game is the next step down that path. After a loss to the Ottawa Senators in Canada’s capital on Saturday, they’ll head to la belle province to skate against the Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+). These two teams met on March 6 in Anaheim, and the Ducks earned a 6-5 shootout victory.

After the game against Montreal, the Ducks will have 15 games remaining this season, including just four against teams currently in playoff position. How does that compare to their top Pacific Division competition?

The Golden Knights also have 15 games remaining, with six against current playoff teams.

The Edmonton Oilers take on the Nashville Predators on Sunday, then have 14 games thereafter, including eight against current playoff teams.

Stathletes gives a slight edge to the Golden Knights; their 95.7 projected point total is ahead of the Ducks (95) and the Oilers (90.3). But this race may well come down to the very end of the season, as Anaheim and Edmonton both play on that day.

Every team has fewer than 20 games left before the regular 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 details 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 matchupsToday’s scheduleLast night’s scoresExpanded standingsRace for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Boston BruinsA2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens

M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Detroit Red WingsM2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 New York Islanders

Western Conference

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 San Jose SharksC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild

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

Today’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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St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets, 3 p.m. (NHL Network)San Jose Sharks at Ottawa Senators, 5 p.m.Anaheim Ducks at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.Toronto Maple Leafs at Minnesota Wild, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)Nashville Predators at Edmonton Oilers, 8 p.m.Florida Panthers at Seattle Kraken, 8 p.m.

Last night’s scoreboard

Ottawa Senators 2, Anaheim Ducks 0Boston Bruins 3, Washington Capitals 2 (SO)Winnipeg Jets 3, Colorado Avalanche 1New York Rangers 4, Minnesota Wild 2Buffalo Sabres 3, Toronto Maple Leafs 2 (SO)San Jose Sharks 4, Montreal Canadiens 2Carolina Hurricanes 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 2New Jersey Devils 6, Los Angeles Kings 4New York Islanders 3, Calgary Flames 2Columbus Blue Jackets 2, Philadelphia Flyers 1 (SO)Dallas Stars 3, Detroit Red Wings 2 (OT)Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Utah Mammoth 3Seattle Kraken 5, Vancouver Canucks 2Vegas Golden Knights 4, Chicago Blackhawks 0

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 88Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: A1Games left: 15Points pace: 107.7Next game: @ VGK (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.4%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: A2Games left: 17Points pace: 106.0Next game: @ SEA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: A3Games left: 17Points pace: 103.5Next game: vs. ANA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 94.4%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 80Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC1Games left: 16Points pace: 99.4Next game: @ NJ (Monday)Playoff chances: 71.5%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 80Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: WC2Games left: 15Points pace: 97.9Next game: vs. CGY (Monday)Playoff chances: 34.2%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 94.6Next game: vs. SJ (Sunday)Playoff chances: 60.7%Tragic number: 29

Points: 69Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 87.1Next game: @ SEA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 2%Tragic number: 23

Points: 68Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 83.2Next game: @ MIN (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 18

Metro Division

Points: 90Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: M1Games left: 16Points pace: 111.8Next game: @ CBJ (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 81Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: M2Games left: 16Points pace: 100.6Next game: @ COL (Monday)Playoff chances: 63.3%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 81Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: M3Games left: 15Points pace: 99.1Next game: @ TOR (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 63.8%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 98.2Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 85.9%Tragic number: 31

Points: 74Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 91.9Next game: @ ANA (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 11.9%Tragic number: 26

Points: 74Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 89.2Next game: vs. OTT (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 11%Tragic number: 22

Points: 68Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 84.5Next game: vs. BOS (Monday)Playoff chances: 1.7%Tragic number: 20

Points: 64Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 79.5Next game: vs. LA (Monday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 16

Central Division

Points: 97Regulation wins: 39Playoff position: C1Games left: 17Points pace: 122.4Next game: vs. PIT (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 94Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: C2Games left: 16Points pace: 116.8Next game: vs. UTA (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 88Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: C3Games left: 15Points pace: 107.7Next game: vs. TOR (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 74Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: WC1Games left: 15Points pace: 90.6Next game: @ DAL (Monday)Playoff chances: 96.8%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 67Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 84.5Next game: @ EDM (Sunday)Playoff chances: 7.8%Tragic number: 31

Points: 64Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 80.7Next game: vs. STL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 2.8%Tragic number: 28

Points: 64Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 79.5Next game: @ WPG (Sunday)Playoff chances: 3.7%Tragic number: 26

Points: 61Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 75.8Next game: vs. MIN (Monday)Playoff chances: 0.2%Tragic number: 23

Pacific Division

Points: 76Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: P1Games left: 15Points pace: 93.0Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 98.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: P2Games left: 16Points pace: 93.2Next game: @ MTL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 98.2%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 73Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: P3Games left: 15Points pace: 89.3Next game: vs. NSH (Sunday)Playoff chances: 84.6%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 70Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: WC2Games left: 18Points pace: 89.7Next game: @ OTT (Sunday)Playoff chances: 69.4%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 69Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 87.1Next game: vs. FLA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 12.1%Tragic number: 33

Points: 69Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 85.7Next game: @ NYR (Monday)Playoff chances: 25.6%Tragic number: 31

Points: 59Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 73.3Next game: @ DET (Monday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 21

Points: 48Regulation wins: 13Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 59.6Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 10

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. Atop draft boards for this summer is Gavin McKenna, a forward for Penn State.

Points: 48Regulation wins: 13

Points: 59Regulation wins: 22

Points: 61Regulation wins: 18

Points: 64Regulation wins: 19

Points: 64Regulation wins: 24

Points: 64Regulation wins: 22

Points: 67Regulation wins: 22

Points: 68Regulation wins: 20

Points: 68Regulation wins: 22

Points: 69Regulation wins: 17

Points: 69Regulation wins: 24

Points: 69Regulation wins: 26