NHL playoff standings: How will the Metro Division play out?

Much of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoff bracket remains to be determined. But it’s appearing more likely that we have our cast of final characters for the Metropolitan Division.

The Metro is guaranteed three playoff slots, and a fourth team can get in as a wild card (provided it finishes with enough standings points to do so). As play begins Sunday, here is where things stand:

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

There are no coincidences in the NHL Playoff Watch; the reason we’re discussing the Metro in depth is that those top-four teams are matched up Sunday.

First up is Hurricanes-Penguins (3 p.m. ET, ESPN+), followed by Blue Jackets-Islanders (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+). These should be excellent games! But what about the rest of the season? Including Sunday, here’s how the schedules look for each:

Carolina has 13 games remaining, including two more apiece against the Blue Jackets and Islanders. In total, they play seven of the final 13 against current playoff teams.

The Penguins also have 13 games left, but only five are against teams currently in playoff position.

You guessed it; Columbus also has 13 contests remaining, with eight against playoff teams, including the aforementioned pair against Carolina.

The Isles have 12 games left, with seven against current playoff clubs.

What do the analytics say? Stathletes projects the Hurricanes to finish atop the Metro (and the East), with 110.8 points, followed by the Blue Jackets in second (100.9), Penguins in third (99.5) and Islanders snagging wild card No. 2, finishing with 97.5 points, ahead of the Ottawa Senators (97.3) and Detroit Red Wings (97.2).

These races could come down to the end of the season. Each of these teams finishes its campaign April 14, and might have clinched a spot by then, with the Red Wings and Senators playing April 15.

Every team has 15 or fewer games remaining 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 Columbus Blue Jackets

Western Conference

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Nashville PredatorsC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild

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

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).

All of ESPN. All in one place.

Watch your favorite events in the newly enhanced ESPN App. Learn more about what plan is right for you. Sign Up Now

Winnipeg Jets at New York Rangers, 12 p.m.Colorado Avalanche at Washington Capitals, 12:30 p.m. (NHLN)Carolina Hurricanes at Pittsburgh Penguins, 3 p.m.Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks, 3 p.m.Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Islanders, 7 p.m.Vegas Golden Knights at Dallas Stars, 7 p.m. (NHLN)Tampa Bay Lightning at Calgary Flames, 8 p.m.Buffalo Sabres at Anaheim Ducks, 8 p.m.Los Angeles Kings at Utah Mammoth, 9 p.m.

Saturday night’s scoreboard

Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Winnipeg Jets 4 (SO)Nashville Predators 4, Vegas Golden Knights 1Minnesota Wild 2, Dallas Stars 1 (OT)Buffalo Sabres 4, Los Angeles Kings 1Philadelphia Flyers 4, San Jose Sharks 1Columbus Blue Jackets 5, Seattle Kraken 2Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Edmonton Oilers 2Montreal Canadiens 7, New York Islanders 3Ottawa Senators 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 2St. Louis Blues 3, Vancouver Canucks 1Boston Bruins 4, Detroit Red Wings 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 94Regulation wins: 37Playoff position: A1Games left: 12Points pace: 110.1Next game: @ ANA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 90Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: A2Games left: 14Points pace: 108.5Next game: @ CGY (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 86Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: A3Games left: 13Points pace: 102.2Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 79.5%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 86Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: WC1Games left: 12Points pace: 100.7Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 60.6%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC2Games left: 12Points pace: 98.4Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 53%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 81Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 96.3Next game: @ NYR (Monday)Playoff chances: 61%Tragic number: 23

Points: 71Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 84.4Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 13

Points: 71Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 82Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 9

Metro Division

Points: 94Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: M1Games left: 13Points pace: 111.7Next game: @ PIT (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 86Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: M2Games left: 13Points pace: 102.2Next game: vs. CAR (Sunday)Playoff chances: 82.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 85Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: M3Games left: 13Points pace: 101.0Next game: @ NYI (Sunday)Playoff chances: 89.2%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 97.2Next game: vs. CBJ (Sunday)Playoff chances: 59.1%Tragic number: 23

Points: 80Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 95.1Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 6.4%Tragic number: 22

Points: 78Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 91.4Next game: vs. COL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 8.3%Tragic number: 18

Points: 72Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 85.6Next game: @ DAL (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.2%Tragic number: 14

Points: 64Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 76.1Next game: vs. WPG (Sunday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 6

Central Division

Points: 100Regulation wins: 40Playoff position: C1Games left: 14Points pace: 120.6Next game: @ WSH (Sunday)Playoff chances: 100%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 97Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: C2Games left: 13Points pace: 115.3Next game: s. VGK (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 92Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: C3Games left: 11Points pace: 106.3Next game: @ TB (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: WC1Games left: 12Points pace: 91.4Next game: vs. LA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 98.6%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 73Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: WC2Games left: 13Points pace: 86.8Next game: @ CHI (Sunday)Playoff chances: 14.3%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 68Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 80.8Next game: @ NYR (Sunday)Playoff chances: 1.9%Tragic number: 21

Points: 67Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 79.6Next game: s. WSH (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 3.5%Tragic number: 20

Points: 64Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 76.1Next game: vs. NSH (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.3%Tragic number: 17

Pacific Division

Points: 80Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: P1Games left: 13Points pace: 95.1Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 77Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: P2Games left: 11Points pace: 88.9Next game: @ UTA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 84.3%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: P3Games left: 12Points pace: 89.0Next game: @ DAL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 98.6%Tragic number: N/A

Points: 72Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 85.6Next game: @ UTA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 47.9%Tragic number: 25

Points: 71Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 84.4Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 8.5%Tragic number: 24

Points: 70Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 84.4Next game: @ NSH (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 42.1%Tragic number: 25

Points: 63Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 74.9Next game: vs. TB (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 16

Points: 50Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 59.4Next game: vs. ANA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 3

Note: An “x” with a team’s name means the club has clinched a playoff spot.

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: 50Regulation wins: 14

Points: 63Regulation wins: 23

Points: 64Regulation wins: 19

Points: 67Regulation wins: 25

Points: 68Regulation wins: 23

Points: 70Regulation wins: 20

Points: 71Regulation wins: 21

Points: 71Regulation wins: 25

Points: 71Regulation wins: 27

Points: 72Regulation wins: 18

Points: 72Regulation wins: 23

Points: 78Regulation wins: 30