EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Pacific Division has been the NHL's most difficult to figure out when it comes to projections for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.As play begins Tuesday, the Anaheim Ducks are in first, with 77 points through 67 games, followed by the Vegas Golden Knights (76 through 67) and Edmonton Oilers (75 through 68). Those teams have been flipping positions all season, and it's been a similar scenario for the three clubs behind them: The Seattle Kraken hold the second wild card, with 71 points in 66 games, with the Los Angeles Kings (71 through 67) and San Jose Sharks (70 through 65) battling for that spot.The projections from Stathletes have the Golden Knights and Ducks both finishing with 96 points, followed by the Oilers at 91.6 and the Sharks at 87.9. Given that the Sharks haven't qualified for the playoffs since 2018-19, any postseason opportunity is a welcome change.Of course, earning the second wild card comes with a first-round matchup against the Colorado Avalanche or Dallas Stars -- the Sharks have a win and two losses against both clubs. Could San Jose sneak into one of the higher positions in the Pacific?That journey continues Tuesday with a game against the Oilers (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+). The Sharks have a win and an overtime loss to the Oilers so far, with an additional game on the books for April 8. These "four-point swing" games are critical, and they have two more such games left against the Ducks as well.Aside from the games against the Oilers and Ducks, the Sharks play 13 more games this season, with just one current playoff team on the docket: the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.So while San Jose starts this final stretch of the season five to seven points behind its divisional competition, the opportunity is certainly there to eclipse all of those teams based on that strength of remaining schedule.Every team has around 15 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 pickCurrent playoff matchupsEastern ConferenceA1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Detroit Red WingsA2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal CanadiensM1 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 OilersTuesday's gamesNote: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).New York Islanders at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.Carolina Hurricanes at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)Nashville Predators at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m.San Jose Sharks at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m.Florida Panthers at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.Buffalo Sabres at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.Tampa Bay Lightning at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m. (TNT)Monday night's scoreboardDetroit Red Wings 5, Calgary Flames 2New Jersey Devils 4, Boston Bruins 3 (OT)Los Angeles Kings 4, New York Rangers 1Utah Mammoth 6, Dallas Stars 3Pittsburgh Penguins 7, Colorado Avalanche 2Expanded standingsAtlantic DivisionBuffalo SabresPoints: 88Regulation wins: 34Playoff position: A1Games left: 15Points pace: 107.7Next game: @ VGK (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.8%Tragic number: N/ATampa Bay LightningPoints: 84Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: A2Games left: 17Points pace: 106.0Next game: @ SEA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.6%Tragic number: N/AMontreal CanadiensPoints: 82Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: A3Games left: 16Points pace: 101.9Next game: vs. BOS (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 93.5%Tragic number: N/ADetroit Red WingsPoints: 82Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: WC1Games left: 14Points pace: 98.9Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 27%Tragic number: N/ABoston BruinsPoints: 81Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC2Games left: 15Points pace: 99.1Next game: @ MTL (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 73.2%Tragic number: N/AOttawa SenatorsPoints: 77Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 95.7Next game: @ WSH (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 65.2%Tragic number: 28Toronto Maple LeafsPoints: 70Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 84.4Next game: vs. NYI (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 17Florida PanthersPoints: 69Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 85.7Next game: @ VAN (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 20Metro DivisionCarolina HurricanesPoints: 90Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: M1Games left: 16Points pace: 111.8Next game: @ CBJ (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/APittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 83Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: M2Games left: 15Points pace: 101.6Next game: @ CAR (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 81.5%Tragic number: N/ANew York IslandersPoints: 81Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: M3Games left: 15Points pace: 99.1Next game: @ TOR (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 68.8%Tragic number: N/AColumbus Blue JacketsPoints: 79Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 98.2Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 77.2%Tragic number: 30Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 74Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 91.9Next game: @ ANA (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 7%Tragic number: 25Washington CapitalsPoints: 74Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 89.2Next game: vs. OTT (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 6.3%Tragic number: 21New Jersey DevilsPoints: 70Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 85.7Next game: @ NYR (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 1%Tragic number: 19New York RangersPoints: 64Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 78.3Next game: vs. NJ (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 13Central DivisionColorado AvalanchePoints: 97Regulation wins: 39Playoff position: C1Games left: 16Points pace: 120.5Next game: vs. DAL (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/ADallas StarsPoints: 94Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: C2Games left: 15Points pace: 115.1Next game: @ COL (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AMinnesota WildPoints: 88Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: C3Games left: 14Points pace: 106.1Next game: @ CHI (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AUtah MammothPoints: 76Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC1Games left: 14Points pace: 91.7Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)Playoff chances: 96.6%Tragic number: N/ANashville PredatorsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 83.2Next game: @ WPG (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 3.3%Tragic number: 28Winnipeg JetsPoints: 66Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 82Next game: vs. NSH (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 1.7%Tragic number: 27St. Louis BluesPoints: 64Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 78.3Next game: @ CGY (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 0.8%Tragic number: 23Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 61Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 75.8Next game: vs. MIN (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 0.5%Tragic number: 22Pacific DivisionAnaheim DucksPoints: 77Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: P1Games left: 15Points pace: 94.2Next game: vs. PHI (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 99.6%Tragic number: N/AVegas Golden KnightsPoints: 76Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: P2Games left: 15Points pace: 93.0Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 96.4%Tragic number: N/AEdmonton OilersPoints: 75Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: P3Games left: 14Points pace: 90.4Next game: vs. SJ (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 86.1%Tragic number: N/ASeattle KrakenPoints: 71Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: WC2Games left: 16Points pace: 88.2Next game: vs. TB (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 32.3%Tragic number: N/ALos Angeles KingsPoints: 71Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 86.9Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 18.1%Tragic number: 30San Jose SharksPoints: 70Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 17Points pace: 88.3Next game: @ EDM (Tuesday)Playoff chances: 64.7%Tragic number: 33Calgary FlamesPoints: 59Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 72.2Next game: vs. STL (Wednesday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 18Vancouver CanucksPoints: 48Regulation wins: 13Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 59.6Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 9Race 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: 66Regulation wins: 237. Nashville PredatorsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 228. Florida PanthersPoints: 69Regulation wins: 269. Toronto Maple Leafs*Points: 70Regulation wins: 2110. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 70Regulation wins: 2211. San Jose SharksPoints: 70Regulation wins: 2012. Los Angeles KingsPoints: 71Regulation wins: 1813. Washington CapitalsPoints: 74Regulation wins: 2814. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 74Regulation wins: 2015. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 77Regulation wins: 2816. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 79Regulation wins: 23*Note: The Maple Leafs' pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five.
