NHL Playoff Watch: A Tight Race in the Pacific and Beyond

As the NHL season enters its final stretch, the playoff picture remains fluid, particularly in the Western Conference. The Pacific Division, once seemingly settled, is now a three-team battle, while the wild card spots are hotly contested. This article provides an update on the current standings, projected matchups, and key storylines as teams jockey for position.

Current Playoff Matchups (as of March 17, 2026)

If the season ended today, the Western Conference playoff matchups would glance like this:

• C1: Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2: Seattle Kraken
• C2: Dallas Stars vs. C3: Minnesota Wild
• P1: Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1: Utah Mammoth
• P2: Vegas Golden Knights vs. P3: Edmonton Oilers

In the Eastern Conference:

• A1: Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1: Detroit Red Wings
• A2: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3: Montreal Canadiens
• M1: Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2: Boston Bruins
• M2: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3: Modern York Islanders

Pacific Division Showdown

The Anaheim Ducks currently lead the Pacific Division with 77 points in 67 games, closely followed by the Vegas Golden Knights (76 points in 67 games) and the Edmonton Oilers (75 points in 68 games). These teams have been consistently trading positions throughout the season. The Oilers are 2-0 against the Golden Knights with two games remaining, 1-1 against the Ducks with one game left, and 1-0 against the Utah Mammoth with two games remaining.

Stathletes projections give the Golden Knights and Ducks both a projected 96 points, followed by the Oilers at 91.6 points.

Wild Card Battle

The Seattle Kraken currently hold the second wild card spot with 71 points in 66 games, with the Los Angeles Kings (71 points in 67 games) and San Jose Sharks (70 points in 65 games) closely behind. The Sharks, who haven’t qualified for the playoffs since 2018-19, are making a strong push.

San Jose’s Playoff Push

The San Jose Sharks face a challenging but potentially rewarding path to the playoffs. They have a win and an overtime loss against the Edmonton Oilers so far, with one more game scheduled for April 8, and two crucial “four-point swing” games remaining against the Anaheim Ducks. Aside from these games, the Sharks have 13 games left, with only one against a current playoff team: the Buffalo Sabres.

Key Games on Tuesday, March 17, 2026

• New York Islanders at Toronto Maple Leafs (7 p.m. ET)
• Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET)
• Carolina Hurricanes at Columbus Blue Jackets (7 p.m. ET)
• Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks (7:30 p.m. ET)
• Nashville Predators at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET)
• San Jose Sharks at Edmonton Oilers (9 p.m. ET)
• Florida Panthers at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. ET)
• Buffalo Sabres at Vegas Golden Knights (10 p.m. ET)
• Tampa Bay Lightning at Seattle Kraken (10 p.m. ET)

Standings Snapshot (March 17, 2026)

Here’s a brief look at the standings as of today:

• Atlantic Division: Buffalo Sabres (90 points, 34 regulation wins)
• Metro Division: Carolina Hurricanes (97 points, 39 regulation wins)
• Central Division: Colorado Avalanche (97 points, 39 regulation wins)
• Pacific Division: Anaheim Ducks (77 points, 22 regulation wins)

Looking Ahead

With approximately 15 games remaining for most teams, every point is crucial. The race for playoff positioning will undoubtedly intensify, and the coming weeks promise exciting hockey action. The NHL playoff watch will continue to provide updates on these races and the teams vying for the 2026 Stanley Cup.