EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe trade deadline for the 2025-26 NHL season was Friday at 3 p.m. ET, and although several deals weren't announced until over an hour later, we can officially say that there won't be any more. It was quite a wild deadline week, including Nazem Kadri heading back to the Colorado Avalanche, John Carlson joining the Anaheim Ducks, and the Buffalo Sabres adding a trio of veterans in Logan Stanley, Luke Schenn and Sam Carrick.Now, the race for the playoffs is officially on!In the Eastern Conference, two teams have reigned supreme for much of the season, and as play begins Saturday, the Tampa Bay Lightning (80 points in 60 games) and Carolina Hurricanes (86 in 62) remain the division leaders. The race is far from over for the Lightning, however, as the resurgent Sabres (80 in 62) are deadlocked with Tampa Bay in the points column, while the Detroit Red Wings (77 in 63) and Montreal Canadiens (76 in 61) aren't far behind.As for the Canes, their lead in the Metro Division is more substantial, as the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins both have 75 points, and the Isles have played two additional games.The Eastern wild-card race includes the Canadiens and Boston Bruins in the coveted spots. The Columbus Blue Jackets -- who added Conor Garland at the deadline -- are a point back of the B's, and the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals are four points back.Out West, six teams have a playoff chance percentage greater than 90%, per Stathletes: the three Central Division juggernauts -- the Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars -- along with the Utah Mammoth, Vegas Golden Knights and Ducks.You'll notice the Edmonton Oilers aren't in that cohort: Connor McDavid & Co. have an 85% chance of qualifying, and the San Jose Sharks are just behind at 74.8%. Interestingly, the team currently in the second wild-card spot in the West, the Seattle Kraken, has a much lower projection at 33.1%.Though it's unlikely that the West's top three will be caught, the Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators both have 64 points, putting them just three behind the Kraken for that second wild card.Every team has about 20 games left before the season concludes on 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 detail 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 matchupsSaturday's scheduleFriday's scoresExpanded standingsRace for No. 1 pickCurrent playoff matchupsEastern ConferenceA1 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. WC1 Montreal CanadiensA2 Buffalo Sabres vs. A3 Detroit Red WingsM1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Boston BruinsM2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 New York IslandersWestern ConferenceC1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Seattle KrakenC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota WildP1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah MammothP2 Vegas Golden Knights vs. P3 Edmonton OilersSaturday's gamesNote: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins, 12:30 p.m. | ABCNew York Rangers at New Jersey Devils, 3 p.m. | ABCNashville Predators at Buffalo Sabres, 5:30 p.m.Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins, 5:30 p.m.Tampa Bay Lightning at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. | NHLNUtah Mammoth at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.Vancouver Canucks at Winnipeg Jets, 7 p.m.Montreal Canadiens at Los Angeles Kings, 7 p.m.Carolina Hurricanes at Calgary Flames, 10 p.m.New York Islanders at San Jose Sharks, 10 p.m.Ottawa Senators at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.Friday's scoreboardFlorida Panthers 3, Detroit Red Wings 1Colorado Avalanche 5, Dallas Stars 4 (SO)Vancouver Canucks 6, Chicago Blackhawks 3Carolina Hurricanes 6, Edmonton Oilers 3Anaheim Ducks 6, Montreal Canadiens 5 (SO)Minnesota Wild 4, Vegas Golden Knights 2St. Louis Blues 3, San Jose Sharks 2 (OT)Expanded standingsAtlantic DivisionTampa Bay LightningPoints: 80Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: A1Games left: 22Points pace: 109.3Next game: @ TOR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/ABuffalo SabresPoints: 80Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: A2Games left: 20Points pace: 105.8Next game: vs. NSH (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.1%Tragic number: N/ADetroit Red WingsPoints: 77Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: A3Games left: 19Points pace: 100.2Next game: @ NJ (Sunday)Playoff chances: 91.6%Tragic number: N/AMontreal CanadiensPoints: 76Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: WC1Games left: 21Points pace: 102.2Next game: @ LA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 73.1%Tragic number: N/ABoston BruinsPoints: 73Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: WC2Games left: 21Points pace: 98.1Next game: vs. WSH (Saturday)Playoff chances: 60%Tragic number: N/AOttawa SenatorsPoints: 69Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 21Points pace: 92.8Next game: @ SEA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 56.5%Tragic number: 38Florida PanthersPoints: 65Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 19Points pace: 84.6Next game: vs. DET (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 2.3%Tragic number: 30Toronto Maple LeafsPoints: 65Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 19Points pace: 84.6Next game: vs. TB (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 30Metro DivisionCarolina HurricanesPoints: 86Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: M1Games left: 20Points pace: 113.7Next game: @ CGY (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/APittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 75Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: M2Games left: 21Points pace: 100.8Next game: vs. PHI (Saturday)Playoff chances: 78.4%Tragic number: N/ANew York IslandersPoints: 75Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: M3Games left: 19Points pace: 97.6Next game: @ SJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 49.8%Tragic number: N/AColumbus Blue JacketsPoints: 72Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 21Points pace: 96.8Next game: vs. UTA (Saturday)Playoff chances: 56%Tragic number: 41Washington CapitalsPoints: 69Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 19Points pace: 89.8Next game: @ BOS (Saturday)Playoff chances: 17.7%Tragic number: 34Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 67Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 21Points pace: 90.1Next game: @ PIT (Saturday)Playoff chances: 10%Tragic number: 36New Jersey DevilsPoints: 64Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 84.7Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 5.5%Tragic number: 31New York RangersPoints: 56Regulation wins: 15Playoff position: N/AGames left: 21Points pace: 75.3Next game: @ NJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 25Central DivisionColorado AvalanchePoints: 93Regulation wins: 38Playoff position: C1Games left: 21Points pace: 125.0Next game: vs. MIN (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/ADallas StarsPoints: 86Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: C2Games left: 20Points pace: 113.7Next game: vs. CHI (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AMinnesota WildPoints: 84Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: C3Games left: 19Points pace: 109.3Next game: @ COL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AUtah MammothPoints: 70Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: WC1Games left: 20Points pace: 92.6Next game: @ CBJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 98.3%Tragic number: N/ANashville PredatorsPoints: 64Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 84.7Next game: @ NSH (Saturday)Playoff chances: 5.4%Tragic number: 37Winnipeg JetsPoints: 60Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 21Points pace: 80.7Next game: vs. VAN (Saturday)Playoff chances: 5.4%Tragic number: 35St. Louis BluesPoints: 57Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 75.4Next game: @ ANA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.6%Tragic number: 30Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 56Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 74.1Next game: @ DAL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 29Pacific DivisionAnaheim DucksPoints: 73Regulation wins: 45Playoff position: P1Games left: 20Points pace: 96.6Next game: vs. STL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 92.9%Tragic number: N/AVegas Golden KnightsPoints: 72Regulation wins: 43Playoff position: P3Games left: 19Points pace: 93.7Next game: vs. EDM (Sunday)Playoff chances: 98.2%Tragic number: N/AEdmonton OilersPoints: 68Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: P2Games left: 19Points pace: 88.5Next game: @ VGK (Sunday)Playoff chances: 85%Tragic number: N/ASeattle KrakenPoints: 67Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: WC2Games left: 21Points pace: 90.1Next game: vs. OTT (Saturday)Playoff chances: 33.1%Tragic number: N/ASan Jose SharksPoints: 65Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 22Points pace: 88.8Next game: vs. NYI (Saturday)Playoff chances: 74.8%Tragic number: 42Los Angeles KingsPoints: 64Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 21Points pace: 86.0Next game: vs. MTL (Saturday)Playoff chances: 6.3%Tragic number: 39Calgary FlamesPoints: 55Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 21Points pace: 73.9Next game: vs. CAR (Saturday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 30Vancouver CanucksPoints: 45Regulation wins: 13Playoff position: N/AGames left: 20Points pace: 59.5Next game: @ WPG (Saturday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 18Race for the No. 1 pickThe 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. Sitting atop draft boards for this summer is Gavin McKenna, a forward for Penn State.1. Vancouver CanucksPoints: 45Regulation wins: 132. Calgary FlamesPoints: 55Regulation wins: 203. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 56Regulation wins: 184. New York RangersPoints: 56Regulation wins: 155. St. Louis BluesPoints: 57Regulation wins: 226. Winnipeg JetsPoints: 60Regulation wins: 217. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 64Regulation wins: 208. Nashville PredatorsPoints: 64Regulation wins: 219. Los Angeles KingsPoints: 64Regulation wins: 1610. Toronto Maple Leafs*Points: 65Regulation wins: 1911. Florida PanthersPoints: 65Regulation wins: 2512. San Jose SharksPoints: 65Regulation wins: 1813. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 67Regulation wins: 1914. Washington CapitalsPoints: 69Regulation wins: 2615. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 69Regulation wins: 2416. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 72Regulation wins: 22*Note: The Maple Leafs' pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five.
