The NHL playoff picture is coming into focus, but there’s still a lot on the line in both the Eastern and Western Conferences. While 12 teams have already clinched their playoff spots, a few places are still open, and one win—or loss—could make all the difference in matchups, especially in the first round.
Let’s take a closer look at the latest developments in the playoff race.
Canadiens Closing In on Senators for Wild Card Spot
The Montreal Canadiens are finishing strong at the perfect time. With a six-game win streak, they’re now just three points behind the Ottawa Senators for the first Eastern Conference wild-card position. And the timing couldn’t be better—they face Ottawa on Friday, in a game that could decide who gets the higher spot.
Montreal seems to have created enough distance to keep teams like the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders, and Columbus Blue Jackets out of the playoff race. They hold an eight-point lead over those squads, which gives them a comfortable cushion going into the final stretch.
There’s also a slim chance Ottawa could overtake the Florida Panthers for third place in the Atlantic Division. But that would mean Ottawa needs to close a four-point gap quickly, with very few games remaining.
Western Wild Card Battle Still Tight
Over in the West, the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues are neck and neck, both sitting on 93 points. Right now, Minnesota holds the first wild-card spot, while St. Louis is second. However, Minnesota has one more game in hand, which gives them a slight edge.
The Calgary Flames are still technically in the race, but with a maximum possible finish of 96 points, their chances are slim. They need other teams to drop points while winning their own remaining games.
Jets vs Stars: Who Will Top the Central Division?
The Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets are fighting for the top spot in both the Central Division and the entire Western Conference. Winnipeg currently leads by four points, but both teams still have four games left, and they will face each other once more before the season ends.
The team that finishes first will likely avoid a tough first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche, who are heating up at just the right time. Finishing second means a probable rematch of last year’s Stars vs Avalanche playoff battle, which Dallas won in the second round.
A first-place finish could offer an easier path by matching up with either the Blues, Wild, or Flames.
Maple Leafs Strengthen Grip on Atlantic Division
In the East, the Toronto Maple Leafs bounced back from a loss against Florida by defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in overtime. This win kept Toronto three points ahead of the Lightning and six points ahead of the Panthers at the top of the Atlantic Division.
All three teams—Toronto, Tampa Bay, and Florida—have four games left. The Lightning and Panthers will face each other once more, meaning one of them is guaranteed to lose at least one more game.
The Leafs now have an upper hand and will be looking to finish strong to lock in home-ice advantage and possibly avoid a first-round matchup against a tough rival like Tampa or Florida.
Toronto’s remaining games are against Montreal, Carolina, Buffalo, and Detroit. Winning at least a few of those will give them control over their playoff path.
As the NHL regular season nears its end, the playoff picture is getting clearer, but it’s not fully set. Teams like the Canadiens and Senators are still battling for wild-card spots in the East, while the Wild, Blues, and Flames fight it out in the West. At the same time, the Stars and Jets, and the Leafs and Lightning are all in tight races for division titles and better playoff matchups.
These final games will determine not only who makes it into the playoffs but also who gets the easier matchups—and who might face an early exit. With big games on the horizon, fans are in for an exciting finish to the regular season.
