NHL playoff standings: Updated wild-card-race projections

With 30 out of 32 NHL teams in action during Showdown Saturday — and close races for many spots in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs — the standings and projections have shifted again.

Ahead of Sunday’s slate of six contests, how are the races shaping up?

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

In the East, the Boston Bruins (90 points and 30 regulation wins through 73 games) and Columbus Blue Jackets (87 points, 27 regulation wins in 73 games) hold the precious wild-card positions. They are trailed most closely by the Ottawa Senators (86 points, 32 regulation wins in 73 games) and Detroit Red Wings (86 points, 28 regulation wins in 73 games).

With the B’s and Blue Jackets squaring off Sunday (5 p.m. ET, ESPN+), the Sens, Wings and other teams on the outside will be hoping for a regulation win for one team or the other (an overtime/shootout loss provides an extra point). The Philadelphia Flyers are also in action Sunday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+) vs. the Dallas Stars. If Philly (84 points, 23 regulation wins in 72 games) is going to make a run to the postseason, grabbing two points off Dallas would be a nice boost.

The Washington Capitals (83 points, 31 regulation wins in 74 games) are idle Sunday, but remain on the fringes.

How do the projections look? Stathletes has the Blue Jackets qualifying as the No. 3 seed in the Metro Division (99.5 points), with the Senators (98.6) and Bruins (98.2) earning the wild cards. The idle New York Islanders (who entered the day as the No. 3 Metro team) and the Red Wings both miss out.

Playoff Hockey Challenge

Who will lift the Stanley Cup? Create up to two brackets today. Create A Bracket

Fewer teams of interest in the Western wild-card race hit the ice Sunday — but the one that does is pretty important: the Nashville Predators, who currently hold the No. 2 wild card.

The Preds visit the Tampa Bay Lightning (5 p.m. ET, ESPN+), looking to bolster their buffer. Nashville enters play Sunday with 77 points and 25 regulation wins in 73 games, ahead of the Los Angeles Kings (76 points, 19 regulation wins in 73 games), Seattle Kraken (75 points, 25 regulation wins in 72 games), Winnipeg Jets (74 points, 25 regulation wins in 73 games) and San Jose Sharks (73 points, 21 regulation wins in 71 games).

The projections fall the Kings’ way. Stathletes has L.A. finishing in the second wild-card spot with 86.6 points, ahead of Nashville (85.3), San Jose (84.9), Seattle (81.9) and Winnipeg (81.1).

Every team has around 10 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 Columbus Blue JacketsM2 New York Islanders vs. M3 Pittsburgh Penguins

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).

Florida Panthers at New York Rangers, 1 p.m. (NHLN)Nashville Predators at Tampa Bay Lightning, 5 p.m.Montreal Canadiens at Carolina Hurricanes, 5 p.m.Boston Bruins at Columbus Blue Jackets, 5 p.m.Chicago Blackhawks at New Jersey Devils, 7 p.m. (NHLN)Dallas Stars at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.

Saturday night’s scoreboard

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

Carolina Hurricanes 5, New Jersey Devils 2Tampa Bay Lightning 4, Ottawa Senators 2New York Islanders 5, Florida Panthers 2Edmonton Oilers 4, Anaheim Ducks 2Boston Bruins 6, Minnesota Wild 3Dallas Stars 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 3San Jose Sharks 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 2Buffalo Sabres 3, Seattle Kraken 2 (SO)St. Louis Blues 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 1Montreal Canadiens 4, Nashville Predators 1Winnipeg Jets 4, Colorado Avalanche 2Philadelphia Flyers 5, Detroit Red Wings 3Utah Mammoth 6, Los Angeles Kings 2Calgary Flames 7, Vancouver Canucks 3Washington Capitals 5, Vegas Golden Knights 4 (SO)

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 98Regulation wins: 37Playoff position: A1Games left: 8Points pace: 108.6Next game: vs. NYI (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 6Tragic number: N/A

Points: 96Regulation wins: 36Playoff position: A2Games left: 10Points pace: 109.3Next game: vs. NSH (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 8Tragic number: N/A

Points: 92Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: A3Games left: 10Points pace: 104.8Next game: @ CAR (Sunday)Playoff chances: 93.2%Magic number: 12Tragic number: N/A

Points: 90Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: WC1Games left: 9Points pace: 101.1Next game: @ CBJ (Sunday)Playoff chances: 62.2%Magic number: 14Tragic number: N/A

Points: 86Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 96.6Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 73%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 17

Points: 86Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 96.6Next game: @ PIT (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 39.8%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 17

Points: 75Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 83.1Next game: @ ANA (Monday)Playoff chances: ~0%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 4

Points: 73Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 83.1Next game: @ NYR (Sunday)Playoff chances: ~0%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 6

Metro Division

Points: 98Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: M1Games left: 10Points pace: 111.6Next game: vs. MTL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 6Tragic number: N/A

Points: 89Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: M2Games left: 8Points pace: 98.6Next game: vs. PIT (Monday)Playoff chances: 47.4%Magic number: 15Tragic number: N/A

Points: 88Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: M3Games left: 9Points pace: 98.9Next game: @ NYI (Monday)Playoff chances: 89.6%Magic number: 16Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC2Games left: 9Points pace: 97.7Next game: vs. BOS (Sunday)Playoff chances: 81.8%Magic number: 17Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 95.7Next game: vs. DAL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 10.6%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 17

Points: 83Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 92.0Next game: vs. PHI (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 2.2%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 12

Points: 76Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 86.6Next game: vs. CHI (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.3%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 9

Points: 67Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 75.3Next game: vs. NYI (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0%Magic number: N/ATragic number: OUT

Central Division

Points: 106Regulation wins: 42Playoff position: C1Games left: 10Points pace: 120.7Next game: vs. CGY (Monday)Playoff chances: 100%Magic number: INTragic number: N/A

Points: 99Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: C2Games left: 9Points pace: 111.2Next game: @ PHI (Sunday)Playoff chances: 100%Magic number: INTragic number: N/A

Points: 94Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: C3Games left: 8Points pace: 104.2Next game: vs. VAN (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 1Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: WC1Games left: 8Points pace: 90.9Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 95.8%Magic number: 12Tragic number: N/A

Points: 77Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: WC2Games left: 9Points pace: 86.5Next game: @ TB (Sunday)Playoff chances: 32.6%Magic number: 17Tragic number: N/A

Points: 74Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 83.1Next game: @ CHI (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 2.2%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 15

Points: 73Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 83.1Next game: @ SJ (Monday)Playoff chances: 4.6%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 16

Points: 67Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 75.3Next game: @ NJ (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 8

Pacific Division

Points: 86Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: P1Games left: 9Points pace: 96.6Next game: vs. TOR (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 8Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: P2Games left: 8Points pace: 92.0Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 93.7%Magic number: 11Tragic number: N/A

Points: 80Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: P3Games left: 8Points pace: 88.7Next game: vs. VAN (Monday)Playoff chances: 97.3%Magic number: 14Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 85.4Next game: vs. STL (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 43.7%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 17

Points: 75Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 85.4Next game: @ EDM (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 5.5%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 18

Points: 73Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 84.3Next game: vs. STL (Monday)Playoff chances: 24.6%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 18

Points: 70Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 78.6Next game: @ COL (Monday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 11

Points: 50Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 56.9Next game: @ VGK (Monday)Playoff chances: 0%Magic number: N/ATragic number: OUT

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

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: 67Regulation wins: 20

Points: 70Regulation wins: 24

Points: 73Regulation wins: 27

Points: 73Regulation wins: 21

Points: 74Regulation wins: 25

Points: 75Regulation wins: 23

Points: 75Regulation wins: 25

Points: 76Regulation wins: 19

Points: 76Regulation wins: 25

Points: 83Regulation wins: 31

Points: 84Regulation wins: 23