As the 2025–25 regular season comes down to its final handful of games, the stage for the playoffs is being set. Let’s take a look around the league at some of the races as the season enters its final stretch.
Western Conference
Pacific Division
The Pacific Division is not set in stone, but the three teams in playoff spots are clear of the pack behind them. The Edmonton Oilers are joined by the Vegas Golden Knights and the Los Angeles Kings in these playoff spots, though the three teams can still finish in any order.
For now the Knights are favourites to finish first, with the Oilers and Kings fighting it out for home ice in a potential playoff rematch. The Oilers injuries might hurt their chase here, but at the very least the team should be healthy come the playoffs.
Central Division
Again, the top three teams are essentially determined, though there might still be some jockeying for seeding. Chances are the Winnipeg Jets will hang on to the division and the conference, though the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche have been on torrid stretches since the trade deadline.
This would set up a terrific first round series between two of the NHL’s best teams, likely the Avalanche and Stars. The potential matchup would feature Mikko Rantanen against his former team, as both teams were aggressive in reshaping their rosters throughout the season. Many would suggest that the Avs and Stars are the conference’s two best teams, pointing to the series as a reason to dislike the league’s current playoff format.
Wild Card
The St. Louis Blues are the hottest team in the league, and are cruising towards a playoff berth. Luckily for Jets fans it appears as though they will take the top Wild Card spot, setting up a matchup with the Pacific Division winner. The Blues have shot from the depths of the standings to win before, and their recent play is impossible to ignore.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild are stumbling. Without some of their best players this might not be unexpected, but their cushion has almost completely vanished. The Wild misfortunes are seedlings of hope for the upstart Calgary Flames and disappointing Vancouver Canucks, both still in striking distance.
To an extent the Utah Hockey Club is still in the hunt, though their chances are more mathematically possible than they are reasonable. Time is running thin, and none of these teams will match up well against their first round opponent.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
For now the Toronto Maple Leafs have pulled into first, but the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers are still in the mix. The Panthers have started to fade, missing several top players. The Lightning are playing their best hockey after some trade deadline reinforcements.
The matchup between the second and third seeds in this division will likely be considered the toughest first round series to predict in the conference. Of note, the Lightning have the highest discrepancy between home and road records, and their pulling ahead the Panthers should not be overlooked.
Metropolitan Division
The Washington Capitals are firmly in first, the Carolina Hurricanes cementing their position as the second seed. The New Jersey Devils have faltered, but appear to be safe for now. The Devils might not have much confidence in their chances once the playoffs start, but missing the playoffs altogether seems less and less likely.
The Hurricanes and Devils are almost certain to meet in the first round, where the odds will greatly favour the Canes. The Canes home/road splits are drastic, similar to the Lightning and Kings, where home ice will be a huge advantage.
Wild Card
The Ottawa Senators are a cut above the rest of the Wild Card hopefuls in the East, and do have a significant lead. The Montreal Canadiens are pulling off a fantastic second half of the season, and inspire more confidence than the teams below. If the playoffs started today the Habs would face the Capitals, while the Sens would play the Leafs. A battle of Ontario would be electric, and the Sens do seem to have the Leafs number.
Meanwhile, the teams on the outskirts have wilted under the pressure of the playoff race. The New York Rangers sport the best record of the group over the last 10 games at just 5–4–1. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings are young teams on the rise, and should have good chances to get the job next season. The New York Islanders do not seem to have enough to make up the difference. The Rangers clearly have the best chance to find a way in, and goalie Igor Shesterkin could easily steal some games if they do.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
