Full Breakdown
NHL Playoff Picture: 2026 Season Update
3/21/2026, 12:18:39 PM
Current Standings and Playoff Matchups
As the NHL regular season approaches its conclusion on April 16, 2026, the playoff picture is becoming clearer. The standings indicate a competitive race for playoff positions, with six teams within ten points of the top. The Colorado Avalanche are projected to finish with the most points at 117.3, followed by the Dallas Stars at 112.5, Carolina Hurricanes at 110.1, Tampa Bay Lightning at 108.1, Minnesota Wild at 106.4, and Buffalo Sabres at 105.8, according to Stathletes.
The current playoff matchups are as follows:
- Eastern Conference:
- A1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Boston Bruins
- A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens
- M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Detroit Red Wings
- M2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 Columbus Blue Jackets
- Western Conference:
- C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Los Angeles Kings
- C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
- P1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah Mammoth
- P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights
Upcoming Games
Several key matchups are scheduled, including:
- Carolina Hurricanes at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. (NHL Network)
- New Jersey Devils at Washington Capitals, 7 p.m.
- Colorado Avalanche at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m.
- Florida Panthers at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.
- Anaheim Ducks at Utah Mammoth, 10 p.m.
Recent Game Results
Recent games have seen significant outcomes, impacting playoff standings:
- Boston Bruins defeated Winnipeg Jets 6-1.
- Ottawa Senators edged New York Islanders 3-2.
- Detroit Red Wings triumphed over Montreal Canadiens 3-1.
- Columbus Blue Jackets won against New York Rangers 6-3.
- Chicago Blackhawks narrowly defeated Minnesota Wild 2-1.
- Florida Panthers achieved a decisive 4-0 victory over Edmonton Oilers.
- Tampa Bay Lightning dominated Vancouver Canucks 6-2.
- Utah Mammoth shut out Vegas Golden Knights 4-0.
- Buffalo Sabres overwhelmed San Jose Sharks 5-0.
- Philadelphia Flyers won against Los Angeles Kings 4-3 in a shootout.
Implications of the Presidents' Trophy
Historically, winning the Presidents' Trophy, awarded to the team with the best regular-season record, does not guarantee playoff success. Since the salary cap era began in 2005-06, only two teams—the 2007-08 Detroit Red Wings and the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks—have won both the trophy and the Stanley Cup. Furthermore, two of the last seven Presidents' Trophy winners were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. This statistic highlights the unpredictable nature of playoff success, despite the home-ice advantage that accompanies the trophy.
As the season progresses, teams will continue to jockey for position, both for playoff seeding and for a chance at the top pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The final stretch promises to be intense as teams aim to secure their playoff spots and improve their standings.
