EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWith less than a month left in the 2025-26 NHL regular season, fans have been closely watching the standings to keep track of the current playoff matchups -- and how they could shift in the final weeks.Unless something truly disastrous happens for any of the top three teams in the Central Division, the Utah Mammoth's most likely path to a playoff spot is via the wild card. And as of now, it's looking more likely than not that their subsequent first-round opponent will be the winner of the Pacific Division.Given how tight those standings are, any of the top three teams -- the Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers and Vegas Golden Knights -- could be on the other side of the ice for the first playoff series in Mammoth history.On Thursday, the Mammoth will get another chance to set the tone against the Golden Knights specifically, as the teams face off for their final regular-season matchup (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu). Each team has won one game against the other this season.So how likely is it that these two meet up in Round 1? Stathletes gives the Mammoth a 91.5% chance of finishing in the top wild-card spot, but it's a little foggier in the Pacific.The Ducks, with 78 points through 68 games, have a 52.2% chance of winning the Pacific title; the Golden Knights, with 76 through 68, have the second-highest chance, at 41.2%. The Oilers -- who will be without Leon Draisaitl for the rest of the regular season -- have just a 5.2% chance.Is Thursday's matchup the start of a beautiful Utah-Vegas rivalry? This is one to watch closely.Every team has about 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 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 Seattle KrakenC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota WildP1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah MammothP2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden KnightsThursday's gamesNote: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).Winnipeg Jets at Boston Bruins, 7 p.m.New York Islanders at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.Montreal Canadiens at Detroit Red Wings, 7 p.m.New York Rangers at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.Chicago Blackhawks at Minnesota Wild, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)Seattle Kraken at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m.Tampa Bay Lightning at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m. (ESPN+/Hulu)Buffalo Sabres at San Jose Sharks, 10 p.m.Philadelphia Flyers at Los Angeles Kings, 10:30 p.m.Wednesday night's scoreboardNew Jersey Devils 6, New York Rangers 3Carolina Hurricanes 6, Pittsburgh Penguins 5 (OT)Washington Capitals 4, Ottawa Senators 1Dallas Stars 2, Colorado Avalanche 1 (SO)Calgary Flames 2, St. Louis Blues 1 (SO)Philadelphia Flyers 3, Anaheim Ducks 2 (OT)Expanded standingsAtlantic DivisionBuffalo SabresPoints: 90Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A1Games left: 14Points pace: 108.5Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.5%Tragic number: N/ATampa Bay LightningPoints: 86Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: A2Games left: 16Points pace: 106.9Next game: @ VAN (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AMontreal CanadiensPoints: 84Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: A3Games left: 15Points pace: 102.8Next game: @ DET (Thursday)Playoff chances: 87.9%Tragic number: N/ABoston BruinsPoints: 82Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC1Games left: 14Points pace: 98.9Next game: vs. WPG (Thursday)Playoff chances: 55.8%Tragic number: N/ADetroit Red WingsPoints: 82Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: WC2Games left: 14Points pace: 98.9Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 40.8%Tragic number: N/AOttawa SenatorsPoints: 77Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 94.2Next game: vs. NYI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 65%Tragic number: 25Toronto Maple LeafsPoints: 70Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 83.2Next game: vs. CAR (Friday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 14Florida PanthersPoints: 69Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 84.5Next game: @ EDM (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Tragic number: 17Metro DivisionCarolina HurricanesPoints: 92Regulation wins: 31Playoff position: M1Games left: 14Points pace: 110.9Next game: @ TOR (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/APittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 84Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: M2Games left: 14Points pace: 101.3Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday)Playoff chances: 82.7%Tragic number: N/ANew York IslandersPoints: 83Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: M3Games left: 14Points pace: 100.1Next game: @ OTT (Thursday)Playoff chances: 77%Tragic number: N/AColumbus Blue JacketsPoints: 81Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 99.1Next game: vs. NYR (Thursday)Playoff chances: 85.5%Tragic number: 29Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 76Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 93.0Next game: @ LA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 2.8%Tragic number: 24Washington CapitalsPoints: 76Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 90.3Next game: vs. NJ (Friday)Playoff chances: 2.7%Tragic number: 20New Jersey DevilsPoints: 72Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 86.8Next game: @ WSH (Friday)Playoff chances: 0.4%Tragic number: 18New York RangersPoints: 64Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 77.2Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 10Central DivisionColorado AvalanchePoints: 98Regulation wins: 39Playoff position: C1Games left: 15Points pace: 119.9Next game: @ CHI (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/ADallas StarsPoints: 96Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: C2Games left: 14Points pace: 115.8Next game: @ MIN (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AMinnesota WildPoints: 90Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: C3Games left: 13Points pace: 107.0Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Tragic number: N/AUtah MammothPoints: 76Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: WC1Games left: 14Points pace: 91.7Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)Playoff chances: 97.5%Tragic number: N/ANashville PredatorsPoints: 69Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 84.5Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 6.3%Tragic number: 28Winnipeg JetsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 82.0Next game: @ BOS (Thursday)Playoff chances: 3.5%Tragic number: 26St. Louis BluesPoints: 65Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 78.4Next game: @ VAN (Saturday)Playoff chances: 2.3%Tragic number: 22Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 62Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 75.9Next game: @ MIN (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.2%Tragic number: 21Pacific DivisionAnaheim DucksPoints: 78Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: P1Games left: 14Points pace: 94.1Next game: @ UTA (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.5%Tragic number: N/AEdmonton OilersPoints: 77Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: P2Games left: 13Points pace: 91.5Next game: vs. FLA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 85.9%Tragic number: N/AVegas Golden KnightsPoints: 76Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: P3Games left: 14Points pace: 91.7Next game: vs. UTA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.1%Tragic number: N/ASeattle KrakenPoints: 71Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: WC2Games left: 15Points pace: 86.9Next game: @ NSH (Thursday)Playoff chances: 11.6%Tragic number: N/ALos Angeles KingsPoints: 71Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 86.9Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 35.4%Tragic number: 30San Jose SharksPoints: 70Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 16Points pace: 87.0Next game: vs. BUF (Thursday)Playoff chances: 58.7%Tragic number: 31Calgary FlamesPoints: 61Regulation wins: 22Playoff position: N/AGames left: 14Points pace: 73.6Next game: s. FLA (Friday)Playoff chances: ~0%Tragic number: 18Vancouver CanucksPoints: 50Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 15Points pace: 61.2Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)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: 50Regulation wins: 142. Calgary FlamesPoints: 61Regulation wins: 223. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 62Regulation wins: 184. New York RangersPoints: 64Regulation wins: 195. St. Louis BluesPoints: 65Regulation wins: 246. Winnipeg JetsPoints: 67Regulation wins: 237. Nashville PredatorsPoints: 69Regulation wins: 228. Florida PanthersPoints: 69Regulation wins: 269. Toronto Maple Leafs*Points: 70Regulation wins: 2110. San Jose SharksPoints: 70Regulation wins: 2011. Los Angeles KingsPoints: 71Regulation wins: 1812. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 72Regulation wins: 2313. Washington CapitalsPoints: 76Regulation wins: 2914. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 76Regulation wins: 2015. Ottawa SenatorsPoints: 77Regulation wins: 2816. Columbus Blue JacketsPoints: 81Regulation wins: 24*Note: The Maple Leafs' pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five.
