EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOn March 15, 2025, the Anaheim Ducks had 65 points through 66 games. They had a 0.1% chance of making the playoffs, and sure enough they did not; Anaheim finished with 80 points, 16 behind the St. Louis Blues, who earned the second wild card.On March 15, 2026, the Ducks have 75 points through 66 games. They have a 98.2% chance of making the playoffs, and in fact are in second place in their division prior to Sunday's games. The Vegas Golden Knights are one point ahead, with 76 through 67 contests.While a playoff berth seems highly likely, what are the chances they pull off a division title after missing the playoffs entirely last season?Sunday's game is the next step down that path. After a loss to the Ottawa Senators in Canada's capital on Saturday, they'll head to la belle province to skate against the Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+). These two teams met on March 6 in Anaheim, and the Ducks earned a 6-5 shootout victory.After the game against Montreal, the Ducks will have 15 games remaining this season, including just four against teams currently in playoff position. How does that compare to their top Pacific Division competition?The Golden Knights also have 15 games remaining, with six against current playoff teams.The Edmonton Oilers take on the Nashville Predators on Sunday, then have 14 games thereafter, including eight against current playoff teams.Stathletes gives a slight edge to the Golden Knights; their 95.7 projected point total is ahead of the Ducks (95) and the Oilers (90.3). But this race may well come down to the very end of the season, as Anaheim and Edmonton both play on that day.Every team has fewer than 20 games left 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 pickCurrent playoff matchupsEastern ConferenceA1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Boston BruinsA2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal CanadiensM1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Detroit Red WingsM2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 New York IslandersWestern ConferenceC1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 San Jose SharksC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota WildP1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Utah MammothP2 Anaheim Ducks vs. P3 Edmonton OilersToday's gamesNote: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).St. Louis Blues at Winnipeg Jets, 3 p.m. (NHL Network)San Jose Sharks at Ottawa Senators, 5 p.m.Anaheim Ducks at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.Toronto Maple Leafs at Minnesota Wild, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)Nashville Predators at Edmonton Oilers, 8 p.m.Florida Panthers at Seattle Kraken, 8 p.m.Last night's scoreboardOttawa Senators 2, Anaheim Ducks 0Boston Bruins 3, Washington Capitals 2 (SO)Winnipeg Jets 3, Colorado Avalanche 1New York Rangers 4, Minnesota Wild 2Buffalo Sabres 3, Toronto Maple Leafs 2 (SO)San Jose Sharks 4, Montreal Canadiens 2Carolina Hurricanes 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 2New Jersey Devils 6, Los Angeles Kings 4New York Islanders 3, Calgary Flames 2Columbus Blue Jackets 2, Philadelphia Flyers 1 (SO)Dallas Stars 3, Detroit Red Wings 2 (OT)Pittsburgh Penguins 4, Utah Mammoth 3Seattle Kraken 5, Vancouver Canucks 2Vegas Golden Knights 4, Chicago Blackhawks 0Expanded standingsAtlantic DivisionBuffalo SabresPoints: 88Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: A1Games left: 15Points pace: 107.7Next game: @ VGK (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.4%Tragic number: N/ATampa Bay LightningPoints: 84Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: A2Games left: 17Points pace: 106.0Next game: @ SEA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AMontreal CanadiensPoints: 82Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: A3Games left: 17Points pace: 103.5Next game: vs. ANA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 94.4%Tragic number: N/ABoston BruinsPoints: 80Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC1Games left: 16Points pace: 99.4Next game: @ NJ (Monday)Playoff chances: 71.5%Tragic number: N/ADetroit Red WingsPoints: 80Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: WC2Games left: 15Points pace: 97.9Next game: vs. CGY (Monday)Playoff chances: 34.2%Tragic number: N/AOttawa SenatorsPoints: 75Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 94.6Next game: vs. SJ (Sunday)Playoff chances: 60.7%Tragic number: 29Florida PanthersPoints: 69Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 87.1Next game: @ SEA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 2%Tragic number: 23Toronto Maple LeafsPoints: 68Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 83.2Next game: @ MIN (Sunday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 18Metro DivisionCarolina HurricanesPoints: 90Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: M1Games left: 16Points pace: 111.8Next game: @ CBJ (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/APittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 81Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: M2Games left: 16Points pace: 100.6Next game: @ COL (Monday)Playoff chances: 63.3%Tragic number: N/ANew York IslandersPoints: 81Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: M3Games left: 15Points pace: 99.1Next game: @ TOR (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 63.8%Tragic number: N/AColumbus Blue JacketsPoints: 79Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 98.2Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 85.9%Tragic number: 31Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 74Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 91.9Next game: @ ANA (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 11.9%Tragic number: 26Washington CapitalsPoints: 74Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 89.2Next game: vs. OTT (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 11%Tragic number: 22New Jersey DevilsPoints: 68Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 84.5Next game: vs. BOS (Monday)Playoff chances: 1.7%Tragic number: 20New York RangersPoints: 64Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 79.5Next game: vs. LA (Monday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 16Central DivisionColorado AvalanchePoints: 97Regulation wins: 39Playoff position: C1Games left: 17Points pace: 122.4Next game: vs. PIT (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/ADallas StarsPoints: 94Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: C2Games left: 16Points pace: 116.8Next game: vs. UTA (Monday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AMinnesota WildPoints: 88Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: C3Games left: 15Points pace: 107.7Next game: vs. TOR (Sunday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AUtah MammothPoints: 74Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: WC1Games left: 15Points pace: 90.6Next game: @ DAL (Monday)Playoff chances: 96.8%Tragic number: N/ANashville PredatorsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 84.5Next game: @ EDM (Sunday)Playoff chances: 7.8%Tragic number: 31Winnipeg JetsPoints: 64Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 80.7Next game: vs. STL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 2.8%Tragic number: 28St. Louis BluesPoints: 64Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 79.5Next game: @ WPG (Sunday)Playoff chances: 3.7%Tragic number: 26Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 61Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 75.8Next game: vs. MIN (Monday)Playoff chances: 0.2%Tragic number: 23Pacific DivisionVegas Golden KnightsPoints: 76Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: P1Games left: 15Points pace: 93.0Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 98.9%Tragic number: N/AAnaheim DucksPoints: 75Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: P2Games left: 16Points pace: 93.2Next game: @ MTL (Sunday)Playoff chances: 98.2%Tragic number: N/AEdmonton OilersPoints: 73Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: P3Games left: 15Points pace: 89.3Next game: vs. NSH (Sunday)Playoff chances: 84.6%Tragic number: N/ASan Jose SharksPoints: 70Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: WC2Games left: 18Points pace: 89.7Next game: @ OTT (Sunday)Playoff chances: 69.4%Tragic number: N/ASeattle KrakenPoints: 69Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 87.1Next game: vs. FLA (Sunday)Playoff chances: 12.1%Tragic number: 33Los Angeles KingsPoints: 69Regulation wins: 17Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 85.7Next game: @ NYR (Monday)Playoff chances: 25.6%Tragic number: 31Calgary FlamesPoints: 59Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 73.3Next game: @ DET (Monday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 21Vancouver CanucksPoints: 48Regulation wins: 13Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 59.6Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 10Race 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. Atop draft boards for this summer is Gavin McKenna, a forward for Penn State.1. Vancouver CanucksPoints: 48Regulation wins: 132. Calgary FlamesPoints: 59Regulation wins: 223. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 61Regulation wins: 184. New York RangersPoints: 64Regulation wins: 195. St. Louis BluesPoints: 64Regulation wins: 246. Winnipeg JetsPoints: 64Regulation wins: 227. Nashville PredatorsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 228. Toronto Maple Leafs*Points: 68Regulation wins: 209. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 68Regulation wins: 2210. Los Angeles KingsPoints: 69Regulation wins: 1711. Seattle KrakenPoints: 69Regulation wins: 2412. Florida PanthersPoints: 69Regulation wins: 2613. Washington CapitalsPoints: 74Regulation wins: 2814. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 74Regulation wins: 2015. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 75Regulation wins: 2716. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 79Regulation wins: 23*Note: The Maple Leafs' pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five.
