Mandatory Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

We have officially entered the final month of the 2025-26 NHL Regular Season, and every team has 10 or fewer games remaining on their schedule. Only two teams have officially clinched a playoff spot (Colorado and Dallas), and although we are sure to see more and more teams clinch over the next week or so, there are still many spots up for grabs. This sets up an exciting final stretch of games as we near the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Let’s look at the teams who are in the thick of the playoff race. These teams are within 5 points (above or below) the second wild card spot in their respective conference.

Starting with the Eastern Conference which has been a power conference this season with only 1 of 16 teams below .500 on the season, absolutely nuts. Someone is going to miss the playoffs that would make it in the average season, and we could see a new record set for most points by a non-playoff team (currently 96, done four times). There are SEVEN teams in the East who are in the threshold I set.

Pittsburgh Penguins, 38-21-16, 92 Points, +4 Points on WC2, 7 Games Remaining

Remaining Games vs. Teams in the Playoffs/Hunt: 4 (TBL, WSH x2, STL)

New York Islanders, 42-29-5, 89 Points, +1 Point on WC2, 6 Games Remaining

Remaining Games vs. Teams in the Playoffs/Hunt: 5 (PHI, CAR x2, OTT, MTL)

Columbus Blue Jackets, 38-25-12, 88 Points, WC2, 7 Games Remaining

Remaining Games vs. Teams in the Playoffs/Hunt: 7 (CAR, WPG, DET, BUF, MTL, BOS, WSH)

Ottawa Senators, 38-26-10, 86 Points, -2 Points of WC2, 8 Games Remaining

Remaining Games vs. Teams in the Playoffs/Hunt: 5 (BUF, MIN, CAR, TBL, NYI)

Detroit Red Wings, 39-27-8, 86 Points, -2 Points of WC2, 8 Games Remaining

Remaining Games vs. Teams in the Playoffs/Hunt: 5 (PHI x2, MIN, CBJ, TBL)

Philadelphia Flyers, 37-25-12, 86 Points, -2 Points of WC2, 8 Games Remaining

Remaining Games vs. Teams in the Playoffs/Hunt: 7 (DET x2, NYI, BOS, WPG, CAR, MTL)

Washington Capitals, 38-28-9, 85 Points, -3 Points of WC2, 7 Games Remaining

Remaining Games vs. Teams in the Playoffs/Hunt: 4 (BUF, PIT x2, CBJ)

I believe the Penguins are practically a lock, unless something drastic happens I see them as the most likely team from the bunch to make it, especially considering they are currently second in their division. 

Now it gets dicey, I believe that third spot in the Metro is very up for grabs, one of the Islanders, Blue Jackets, Flyers or Capitals will get in. Philadelphia has been playing well as of late and with games in hand they can make up some ground, although with two against Detroit I find it likely they will split those games and be fighting for the wild card rather than third in the division. Washington has a lot of ground to make up but they keep winning and Ovi has gotten hot lately, scoring 5 goals in the team’s last three games. The Islanders and Blue Jackets are currently in but face tough schedules to close out the season, and fewer games remaining than their competition.

The Senators and the Red Wings have had opposite seasons, with Ottawa starting slow and picking it up in the second half, while Detroit has really slowed down after it seemed like they were surely a playoff team midway through the season. They both aren’t playing their best right now, but with eight games remaining, enough opportunities to capture the crucial points needed to punch their ticket.

Of all the teams in the hunt, I am going to go out on a limb and say the Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Washington Capitals find their way into the postseason.

Now for the Western Conference which is much less impressive than the East, but should create an entertaining end to the season as well nonetheless. There are EIGHT teams in the West who are in the threshold I set.

Vegas Golden Knights, 33-26-16, 82 Points, +5 Points on WC2, 7 Games Remaining

Remaining Games vs. Teams in the Playoffs/Hunt: 5 (EDM, SEA x2, COL, WPG)

Utah Mammoth, 38-30-6, 82 Points, +5 Points on WC2, 8 Games Remaining

Remaining Games vs. Teams in the Playoffs/Hunt: 6 (SEA, EDM, NSH, CAR, WPG, STL)

Nashville Predators, 34-31-9, 77 Points, WC2, 8 Games Remaining

Remaining Games vs. Teams in the Playoffs/Hunt: 8 (LAK x2, SJS x2, ANA x2, UTA, MIN)

Los Angeles Kings, 29-26-18, 76 Points, -1 Point of WC2, 9 Games Remaining

Remaining Games vs. Teams in the Playoffs/Hunt: 5 (STL, NSH x2, EDM, SEA)

Winnipeg Jets, 32-30-12, 76 Points, -1 Point of WC2, 8 Games Remaining

Remaining Games vs. Teams in the Playoffs/Hunt: 8 (DAL, CBJ, SEA, STL, PHI, VGK, UTA, SJS)

San Jose Sharks, 34-31-7, 75 Points, -2 Points of WC2, 10 Games Remaining

Remaining Games vs. Teams in the Playoffs/Hunt: 6 (ANA x2, NSH x2, EDM, WPG)

Seattle Kraken, 32-30-11, 75 Points -2 Points of WC2, 9 Games Remaining

Remaining Games vs. Teams in the Playoffs/Hunt: 7 (UTA, WPG, MIN, VGK x2, LAK, COL)

St. Louis Blues, 31-31-11, 73 Points, -4 Points of WC2, 9 Games Remaining

Remaining Games vs. Teams in the Playoffs/Hunt: 8 (LAK, ANA, COL x2, WPG, MIN, PIT, UTA)

I have much less to say about this race despite there being more teams than in the East. Because in the East, there will be teams that deserve a spot in the playoffs that won’t get one, whereas in the West, there just so happens to be three spots available, when none of these teams really deserve them.

Vegas and Utah have a firm lead over the other teams, and should hold onto their spots as third in the Pacific and the WC1 team as long as they finish the season steadily. There is a slight chance Vegas falls into the Wild Card but it would take a disastrous end to the year for them to miss the playoffs outright, causing Torts to implode.

I look at the remaining six teams as three groups of two. 

Nashville and Winnipeg, the teams I like best on paper, but face grueling schedules to close to year with all of their games being against teams either in the playoffs, or in the hunt. Sadly I would not be shocked if both of these teams fail to qualify, robbing us of two cities with incredible playoff atmospheres.

Seattle and St. Louis, although not officially out, I see them having the biggest uphill battles towards getting into the dance. With the majority of their games coming against quality competition. The Kraken can’t seem to find consistent scoring, and while the Blues can, they are 4 points out currently and I don’t think this final push will be enough once Game 82 has been played.

Now the final pair of two, Los Angeles and San Jose, California rivals, and the two teams I believe are the most likely to be the team that completes the playoff bracket. Not to mention third in the Pacific is still within reach for either of these teams, certainly with 9 games left for the Kings and 10 remaining for San Jose. The Kings are the more ‘proven’ team in recent history, and the Sharks are very hot and cold. Yet despite those assessments of them, one thing is true, the Kings have only been able to find 29 wins thus far, and while they can pick up a consolation point like it’s nobody’s business, I think the Sharks have a slight edge in their ability to actually win games.

So with that said, the three teams in the Western Conference playoff hunt I believe will make the playoffs are the Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth and San Jose Sharks. Should be a fun race to the finish line.