EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsIt's not every day that one of the top players in the NHL refers to his division's playoff race as a "pillow fight," but such was the case this past weekend when Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid did so in regard to the 2025-26 Pacific Division.Saturday was the second time in a three-day stretch that the Pacific teams went winless with six of them in action, which was the immediate cause for McDavid's remarks. From a longer-term standpoint, two Eastern Conference teams that are currently out of playoff position -- the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings -- would be leading the Pacific, and two more -- the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals -- would be in second place.Nevertheless, the Pacific will qualify at least three teams for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. And the good news is that three games on Thursday feature Pacific teams playing one another, so the division will get at least three wins!Heading into Thursday night, the Anaheim Ducks lead the division with 84 points and 24 regulation wins through 71 games. They take on the Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+), who are battling for the No. 2 slot in the draft lottery. The team Calgary is "chasing" for the No. 1 spot in the lottery, the Vancouver Canucks, faces off against the Los Angeles Kings (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+); the Kings begin the night three points and seven regulation wins behind the Nashville Predators for the second wild-card spot.The final Pacific-on-Pacific battle is between McDavid's Oilers and the Vegas Golden Knights (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). This is the current No. 2 vs. No. 3 matchup in the division and is the fourth-most-likely first-round series according to Stathletes' projections, at 62.54%.The Seattle Kraken, who are five points behind the Preds in the wild-card race and tied in regulation wins, visit the Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+). Finally, the San Jose Sharks, whose playoff chances have taken a nosedive the past few days, are facing off against the St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+). San Jose is seven points and five regulation wins in back of Nashville.Stathletes projects the division to finish in a similar order to what it is now: The Ducks earn the No. 1 seed (96.7 points), followed by the Golden Knights (92.0) and the Oilers (89.3). Next are the Kings (85.9), Sharks (83.7) and Kraken (80.1), all of whom fall short of the Predators (86.2) for wild card No. 2.Every team has around 12 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 Ottawa SenatorsM2 Columbus Blue Jackets vs. M3 Pittsburgh PenguinsWestern ConferenceC1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Nashville PredatorsC2 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).Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.Seattle Kraken at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.Minnesota Wild at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m. (ESPN)Dallas Stars at New York Islanders, 7 p.m.Chicago Blackhawks at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.San Jose Sharks at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.New Jersey Devils at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.Colorado Avalanche at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m.Washington Capitals at Utah Mammoth, 9 p.m.Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)Los Angeles Kings at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.Wednesday night's scoreboardBoston Bruins 4, Buffalo Sabres 3 (OT)Toronto Maple Leafs 4, New York Rangers 3Expanded standingsAtlantic DivisionBuffalo SabresPoints: 96Regulation wins: 37Playoff position: A1Games left: 10Points pace: 109.3Next game: vs. DET (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 9Tragic number: N/ATampa Bay LightningPoints: 93Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A2Games left: 12Points pace: 108.9Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 12Tragic number: N/AMontreal CanadiensPoints: 88Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: A3Games left: 12Points pace: 103.1Next game: vs. CBJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 94.3%Magic number: 17Tragic number: N/ABoston BruinsPoints: 88Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: WC1Games left: 10Points pace: 100.2Next game: vs. MIN (Saturday)Playoff chances: 54.7%Magic number: 17Tragic number: N/AOttawa SenatorsPoints: 85Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: WC2Games left: 11Points pace: 98.2Next game: vs. PIT (Thursday)Playoff chances: 81.8%Magic number: 20Tragic number: N/ADetroit Red WingsPoints: 84Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 97.0Next game: @ BUF (Friday)Playoff chances: 39.4%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 21Toronto Maple LeafsPoints: 75Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 84.3Next game: @ STL (Saturday)Playoff chances: ~0%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 8Florida PanthersPoints: 73Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 85.5Next game: vs. MIN (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 12Metro DivisionCarolina HurricanesPoints: 96Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: M1Games left: 11Points pace: 110.9Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 9Tragic number: N/AColumbus Blue JacketsPoints: 87Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: M2Games left: 11Points pace: 100.5Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 92.1%Magic number: 18Tragic number: N/APittsburgh PenguinsPoints: 86Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: M3Games left: 11Points pace: 99.3Next game: @ OTT (Thursday)Playoff chances: 81.4%Magic number: 19Tragic number: N/ANew York IslandersPoints: 85Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 96.8Next game: vs. DAL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 44.6%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 20Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 80Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 93.7Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 8%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 19Washington CapitalsPoints: 79Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 90.0Next game: @ UTA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 3.4%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 14New Jersey DevilsPoints: 74Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 86.7Next game: @ NSH (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.3%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 13e - New York RangersPoints: 65Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 74.0Next game: vs. CHI (Friday)Playoff chances: 0%Magic number: N/ATragic number: OUTCentral Divisionx - Colorado AvalanchePoints: 104Regulation wins: 41Playoff position: C1Games left: 12Points pace: 121.8Next game: @ WPG (Thursday)Playoff chances: 100%Magic number: INTragic number: N/Ax - Dallas StarsPoints: 97Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: C2Games left: 11Points pace: 112.0Next game: @ NYI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 100%Magic number: INTragic number: N/AMinnesota WildPoints: 92Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: C3Games left: 10Points pace: 104.8Next game: @ FLA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 4Tragic number: N/AUtah MammothPoints: 80Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: WC1Games left: 10Points pace: 91.1Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)Playoff chances: 98%Magic number: 16Tragic number: N/ANashville PredatorsPoints: 77Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: WC2Games left: 11Points pace: 88.9Next game: vs. NJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 46.9%Magic number: 19Tragic number: N/AWinnipeg JetsPoints: 72Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 83.2Next game: vs. COL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 5.1%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 17St. Louis BluesPoints: 69Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 80.8Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 7.8%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 16Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 67Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 77.4Next game: @ PHI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 12Pacific DivisionAnaheim DucksPoints: 84Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: P1Games left: 11Points pace: 97.0Next game: @ CGY (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 12Tragic number: N/AEdmonton OilersPoints: 79Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: P2Games left: 10Points pace: 90.0Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)Playoff chances: 88.4%Magic number: 17Tragic number: N/AVegas Golden KnightsPoints: 78Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: P3Games left: 10Points pace: 88.8Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday)Playoff chances: 97.9%Magic number: 18Tragic number: N/ALos Angeles KingsPoints: 74Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 85.5Next game: @ VAN (Thursday)Playoff chances: 36.7%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 19Seattle KrakenPoints: 72Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 84.3Next game: @ TB (Thursday)Playoff chances: 2.3%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 19San Jose SharksPoints: 70Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 83.2Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 16.9%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 19Calgary FlamesPoints: 67Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 77.4Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 12e - Vancouver CanucksPoints: 50Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 58.6Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0%Magic number: N/ATragic number: OUTNote: An "x" with a team's name means the club has clinched a playoff spot. An "e" means that the club has been mathematically eliminated.Race 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. New York RangersPoints: 65Regulation wins: 193. Chicago BlackhawksPoints: 67Regulation wins: 204. Calgary FlamesPoints: 67Regulation wins: 235. St. Louis BluesPoints: 69Regulation wins: 266. San Jose SharksPoints: 70Regulation wins: 207. Winnipeg JetsPoints: 72Regulation wins: 248. Seattle KrakenPoints: 72Regulation wins: 259. Florida PanthersPoints: 73Regulation wins: 2710. Los Angeles KingsPoints: 74Regulation wins: 1811. New Jersey DevilsPoints: 74Regulation wins: 2412. Toronto Maple Leafs*Points: 75Regulation wins: 2313. Washington CapitalsPoints: 79Regulation wins: 3014. Philadelphia FlyersPoints: 80Regulation wins: 2115. Detroit Red WingsPoints: 84Regulation wins: 2716. New York IslandersPoints: 85Regulation wins: 26*Note: The Maple Leafs' pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five.
