There have been a number of permutations of Eastern Conference playoff teams in the past few weeks beyond the Buffalo Sabres, Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes, who appear pretty stable in their positions atop the Atlantic and Metropolitan divisions, respectively.
Two of the teams that have been riding the teacups are the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Islanders.
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The ship probably has sailed on either club catching the Canes for the No. 1 seed in the division, but both are squarely in the mix for the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds; and if the pair do wind up in those slots, they’d square off in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Monday is the final regular-season matchup between the clubs (7 p.m. ET, NHL Network), and they’ve split the season series to this point. So this final game will have a major impact on the standings.
Heading into Monday’s game, the Isles will be in the No. 2 position, with 89 points and 28 regulation wins through 74 games; the Penguins are No. 3, with 88 points and 29 regulation wins through 73 games. What are the chances they wind up matched up in Round 1?
According to Stathletes projections, there is a 27.03% chance of Penguins-Islanders being one of the first matchups in the 2026 bracket. But there’s a greater chance that the third Metro team in the mix — the Columbus Blue Jackets — takes the Isles’ place; Stathletes projects a Penguins-Blue Jackets first-round series occurring in 33.34% of simulations.
Given the small margins, expect this race to come right down to the final days of the regular season.
Every team has no more than 11 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 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. WC2 Columbus Blue JacketsA2 Buffalo Sabres vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Boston BruinsM2 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
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).
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders, 7 p.m. (NHLN)Calgary Flames at Colorado Avalanche, 8:30 p.m.Vancouver Canucks at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.Toronto Maple Leafs at Anaheim Ducks, 10 p.m.St. Louis Blues at San Jose Sharks, 10 p.m.
Last night’s scoreboard
New York Rangers 3, Florida Panthers 1Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Nashville Predators 2Montreal Canadiens 3, Carolina Hurricanes 1Boston Bruins 4, Columbus Blue Jackets 3 (SO)New Jersey Devils 5, Chicago Blackhawks 3Philadelphia Flyers 2, Dallas Stars 1 (OT)
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 98Regulation wins: 37Playoff position: A1Games left: 9Points pace: 110.1Next game: vs. MTL (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 6Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98Regulation wins: 37Playoff position: A2Games left: 8Points pace: 108.6Next game: vs. NYI (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 6Tragic number: N/A
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Points: 94Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: A3Games left: 9Points pace: 105.6Next game: @ TB (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 98.1%Magic number: 10Tragic number: N/A
Points: 92Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: WC1Games left: 8Points pace: 102.0Next game: vs. DAL (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 81.2%Magic number: 12Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 96.6Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 69.3%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 17
Points: 86Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 96.6Next game: @ PIT (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 24.9%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: 9Points pace: 82.0Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 4
Metro Division
Points: 98Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: M1Games left: 9Points pace: 110.1Next game: @ CBJ (Tuesday)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: 62.4%Magic number: 15Tragic number: N/A
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Points: 88Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: M3Games left: 9Points pace: 98.9Next game: @ NYI (Monday)Playoff chances: 73.1%Magic number: 16Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC2Games left: 8Points pace: 97.5Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 68.3%Magic number: 16Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 96.6Next game: @ WSH (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 16.4%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 16
Points: 83Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 92.0Next game: vs. PHI (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 6.3%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 11
Points: 78Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 87.6Next game: @ NYR (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 8
Points: 69Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 76.5Next game: vs. NJ (Tuesday)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: 100Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: C2Games left: 8Points pace: 110.8Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)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
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Points: 82Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: WC1Games left: 8Points pace: 90.9Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 98.5%Magic number: 13Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: WC2Games left: 8Points pace: 85.3Next game: @ LA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 17.3%Magic number: 18Tragic number: N/A
Points: 74Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 83.1Next game: @ CHI (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 2.4%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 15
Points: 73Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 83.1Next game: @ SJ (Monday)Playoff chances: 14%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 16
Points: 67Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 8Points pace: 74.2Next game: vs. WPG (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 6
Pacific Division
Points: 86Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: P1Games left: 9Points pace: 96.6Next game: vs. TOR (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 9Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: P2Games left: 8Points pace: 92.0Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 96.8%Magic number: 12Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: P3Games left: 8Points pace: 88.7Next game: vs. VAN (Monday)Playoff chances: 96.7%Magic number: 15Tragic number: N/A
Points: 76Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 85.4Next game: vs. STL (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 24.7%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 17
Points: 75Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 85.4Next game: @ EDM (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 9.3%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 18
Points: 73Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 84.3Next game: vs. STL (Monday)Playoff chances: 40.4%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: 69Regulation wins: 21
Points: 70Regulation wins: 24
Points: 73Regulation wins: 27
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: 78Regulation wins: 26
Points: 83Regulation wins: 31
Points: 86Regulation wins: 23
Points: 86Regulation wins: 28
Points: 86Regulation wins: 32
*Note: The Maple Leafs’ pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five.
