NHL playoff standings (3/26): Tight race for No. 1 overall seed in East

The 2025-26 NHL season is almost finished. It’s been a thrilling season, with breakout teams surging (Buffalo Sabres) and disappointing teams on the outside looking in (looking at you, New Jersey Devils ... ).

HAVE YOU JOINED OUR YOUTUBE PAGE? DEVILS REPORTER RYAN NOVOZINSKY BREAKS DOWN EVERY GAME — WITH YOUR HELP We’ll see how things shake out when the playoffs officially begin on Saturday, April 18, but for now, let’s check out what the dance would look like if the season ended today (March 26). Sign up for our Speaking of the Devils newsletter here !

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Here goes: EASTERN CONFERENCE Metropolitan Division Carolina Hurricanes (96) Columbus Blue Jackets (87) Pittsburgh Penguins (86) Atlantic Division Buffalo Sabres (96) Tampa Bay Lightning (93) Montreal Canadiens (88) Wild card Boston Bruins (88) Ottawa Senators (85) Out of playoff spot: New York Islanders (85), Detroit Red Wings (84), Philadelphia Flyers (80), Washington Capitals (79), Toronto Maple Leafs (75), New Jersey Devils (74), Florida Panthers (73), z-New York Rangers (65) WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division x-Colorado Avalanche (104) x-Dallas Stars (97) Minnesota Wild (92) Pacific Division Anaheim Ducks (84) Edmonton Oilers (79) Vegas Golden Knights (78) Wild card Utah Mammoth (80) Nashville Predators (77) Out of playoff spot: Los Angeles Kings (74), Seattle Kraken (72), Winnipeg Jets (72), San Jose Sharks (70), St. Louis Blues (69), Calgary Flames (67), Chicago Blackhawks (67), z-Vancouver Canucks (50) Here’s what the Eastern Conference playoff picture would look like if the playoffs started today: Carolina (M1) vs. Ottawa (WC2) Columbus (M2) vs.