NHL Playoff Picture
Updated 2026-10-25T03:38:07.675855+00:00 · ESPN public data
Source: ESPN public standings (records + ESPN playoff seeds). Guide only: not an official clinch or elimination; bubble lines and scenarios use simple wins/points pace and ignore complex tiebreakers.
Your teams
NHL
8 teams per conference (top 3 in each division + 2 wild cards). Ranked by points (2 per win, 1 per OT/SO loss). 82-game season.
Eastern Conference
1Carolina Hurricanes9-2-2, 20 PTSIn position · No. 1 seed
To make it: Magic number 137: any combination of points by them + points dropped by New York Islanders totaling 137 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 78 more points in 69 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~98 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if New York Islanders passes them — they're 8 points clear of the first team out.
2Boston Bruins9-2-1, 19 PTSIn position · No. 2 seed
To make it: Magic number 138: any combination of points by them + points dropped by New York Islanders totaling 138 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 79 more points in 70 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~98 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if New York Islanders passes them — they're 7 points clear of the first team out.
3Ottawa Senators8-4-0, 16 PTSIn position · No. 3 seed
To make it: Magic number 141: any combination of points by them + points dropped by New York Islanders totaling 141 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 82 more points in 70 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~98 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if New York Islanders passes them — they're 4 points clear of the first team out.
4Toronto Maple Leafs7-4-2, 16 PTSIn position · No. 4 seed
To make it: Magic number 141: any combination of points by them + points dropped by New York Islanders totaling 141 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 82 more points in 69 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~98 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if New York Islanders passes them — they're 4 points clear of the first team out.
5New York Rangers7-5-1, 15 PTSIn position · No. 5 seed
To make it: Magic number 142: any combination of points by them + points dropped by New York Islanders totaling 142 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 83 more points in 69 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~98 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if New York Islanders passes them — they're 3 points clear of the first team out.
6Tampa Bay Lightning7-3-0, 14 PTSIn position · No. 6 seed
To make it: Magic number 143: any combination of points by them + points dropped by New York Islanders totaling 143 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 84 more points in 72 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~98 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if New York Islanders passes them — they're 2 points clear of the first team out.
7New Jersey Devils7-4-0, 14 PTSIn position · No. 7 seed
To make it: Magic number 143: any combination of points by them + points dropped by New York Islanders totaling 143 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 84 more points in 71 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~98 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if New York Islanders passes them — they're 2 points clear of the first team out.
8Washington Capitals6-4-0, 12 PTSIn position · No. 8 seed
To make it: Magic number 145: any combination of points by them + points dropped by New York Islanders totaling 145 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 86 more points in 72 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~98 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if New York Islanders passes them — they're 0 points clear of the first team out.
9New York Islanders5-3-2, 12 PTSOn the bubble · 0 points back
To make it: Needs ~86 points in their final 72 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~98 points), and to stay ahead of Washington Capitals.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 30 more of 72 makes ~98 points impossible.
10Montreal Canadiens5-3-2, 12 PTSOn the bubble · 0 points back
To make it: Needs ~86 points in their final 72 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~98 points), and to stay ahead of Washington Capitals.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 30 more of 72 makes ~98 points impossible.
11Florida Panthers5-4-2, 12 PTSOn the bubble · 0 points back
To make it: Needs ~86 points in their final 71 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~98 points), and to stay ahead of Washington Capitals.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 29 more of 71 makes ~98 points impossible.
12Detroit Red Wings4-3-3, 11 PTSOn the bubble · 1 points back
To make it: Needs ~87 points in their final 72 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~98 points), and to stay ahead of Washington Capitals.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 29 more of 72 makes ~98 points impossible.
13Buffalo Sabres4-4-3, 11 PTSOn the bubble · 1 points back
To make it: Needs ~87 points in their final 71 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~98 points), and to stay ahead of Washington Capitals.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 28 more of 71 makes ~98 points impossible.
14Pittsburgh Penguins5-6-1, 11 PTSOn the bubble · 1 points back
To make it: Needs ~87 points in their final 70 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~98 points), and to stay ahead of Washington Capitals.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 27 more of 70 makes ~98 points impossible.
15Philadelphia Flyers3-7-3, 9 PTSOn the bubble · 3 points back
To make it: Needs ~89 points in their final 69 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~98 points), and to stay ahead of Washington Capitals.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 25 more of 69 makes ~98 points impossible.
16Columbus Blue Jackets4-5-0, 8 PTSOn the bubble · 4 points back
To make it: Needs ~90 points in their final 73 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~98 points), and to stay ahead of Washington Capitals.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 29 more of 73 makes ~98 points impossible.
Western Conference
1Edmonton Oilers8-2-1, 17 PTSIn position · No. 1 seed
To make it: Magic number 139: any combination of points by them + points dropped by Winnipeg Jets totaling 139 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 72 more points in 71 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~89 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if Winnipeg Jets passes them — they're 6 points clear of the first team out.
2Vegas Golden Knights8-4-1, 17 PTSIn position · No. 2 seed
To make it: Magic number 139: any combination of points by them + points dropped by Winnipeg Jets totaling 139 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 72 more points in 69 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~89 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if Winnipeg Jets passes them — they're 6 points clear of the first team out.
3Seattle Kraken7-3-1, 15 PTSIn position · No. 3 seed
To make it: Magic number 141: any combination of points by them + points dropped by Winnipeg Jets totaling 141 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 74 more points in 71 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~89 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if Winnipeg Jets passes them — they're 4 points clear of the first team out.
4Utah Mammoth7-4-0, 14 PTSIn position · No. 4 seed
To make it: Magic number 142: any combination of points by them + points dropped by Winnipeg Jets totaling 142 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 75 more points in 71 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~89 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if Winnipeg Jets passes them — they're 3 points clear of the first team out.
5Minnesota Wild6-3-2, 14 PTSIn position · No. 5 seed
To make it: Magic number 142: any combination of points by them + points dropped by Winnipeg Jets totaling 142 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 75 more points in 71 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~89 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if Winnipeg Jets passes them — they're 3 points clear of the first team out.
6Dallas Stars6-3-1, 13 PTSIn position · No. 6 seed
To make it: Magic number 143: any combination of points by them + points dropped by Winnipeg Jets totaling 143 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 76 more points in 72 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~89 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if Winnipeg Jets passes them — they're 2 points clear of the first team out.
7Colorado Avalanche6-4-1, 13 PTSIn position · No. 7 seed
To make it: Magic number 143: any combination of points by them + points dropped by Winnipeg Jets totaling 143 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 76 more points in 71 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~89 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if Winnipeg Jets passes them — they're 2 points clear of the first team out.
8San Jose Sharks6-5-1, 13 PTSIn position · No. 8 seed
To make it: Magic number 143: any combination of points by them + points dropped by Winnipeg Jets totaling 143 locks a top-8 spot. Keep pace: about 76 more points in 70 games (the current 8-seed pace is ~89 points).
What leaves them out: Falls out if Winnipeg Jets passes them — they're 2 points clear of the first team out.
9Winnipeg Jets4-3-3, 11 PTSOn the bubble · 2 points back
To make it: Needs ~78 points in their final 72 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~89 points), and to stay ahead of San Jose Sharks.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 34 more of 72 makes ~89 points impossible.
10St. Louis Blues5-5-1, 11 PTSOn the bubble · 2 points back
To make it: Needs ~78 points in their final 71 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~89 points), and to stay ahead of San Jose Sharks.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 33 more of 71 makes ~89 points impossible.
11Nashville Predators3-3-4, 10 PTSOn the bubble · 3 points back
To make it: Needs ~79 points in their final 72 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~89 points), and to stay ahead of San Jose Sharks.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 33 more of 72 makes ~89 points impossible.
12Anaheim Ducks5-6-0, 10 PTSOn the bubble · 3 points back
To make it: Needs ~79 points in their final 71 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~89 points), and to stay ahead of San Jose Sharks.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 32 more of 71 makes ~89 points impossible.
13Calgary Flames3-6-0, 6 PTSOut · 7 points back
To make it: Needs ~83 points in their final 73 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~89 points), and to stay ahead of San Jose Sharks.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 32 more of 73 makes ~89 points impossible.
14Los Angeles Kings2-5-2, 6 PTSOut · 7 points back
To make it: Needs ~83 points in their final 73 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~89 points), and to stay ahead of San Jose Sharks.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 32 more of 73 makes ~89 points impossible.
15Chicago Blackhawks3-7-0, 6 PTSOut · 7 points back
To make it: Needs ~83 points in their final 72 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~89 points), and to stay ahead of San Jose Sharks.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 31 more of 72 makes ~89 points impossible.
16Vancouver Canucks2-9-1, 5 PTSOut · 8 points back
To make it: Needs ~84 points in their final 70 games to reach the current 8-seed pace (~89 points), and to stay ahead of San Jose Sharks.
What leaves them out: Every loss shrinks the margin: losing 29 more of 70 makes ~89 points impossible.
How this is calculated
Seeds and records come straight from ESPN public standings. Remaining games = season length − games played. Floor = current wins (or points); ceiling = floor + every remaining game won. Eliminated (math) = ceiling is below the current last playoff spot. Clinched (math) = already ahead of the first team out's ceiling. Magic number = own wins + that chaser's losses needed to lock it. Official tiebreakers (head-to-head, division, conference record, etc.) are not fully resolved, so ties can go either way.
How we figure it: seeds come straight from ESPN's standings feed. "Bubble" and scenario lines are simple points/wins math (pace of the last playoff spot) and ignore tiebreakers, so treat them as a guide, not an official clinch/elimination. Refreshed with the site's ESPN data cadence.