It’s not every day that one of the top players in the NHL refers to his division’s playoff race as a “pillow fight,” but such was the case this past weekend when Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid did so in regard to the 2025-26 Pacific Division.
Saturday was the second time in a three-day stretch that the Pacific teams went winless with six of them in action, which was the immediate cause for McDavid’s remarks. From a longer-term standpoint, two Eastern Conference teams that are currently out of playoff position — the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings — would be leading the Pacific, and two more — the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals — would be in second place.
Nevertheless, the Pacific will qualify at least three teams for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. And the good news is that three games on Thursday feature Pacific teams playing one another, so the division will get at least three wins!
Editor’s Picks
2 Related
Heading into Thursday night, the Anaheim Ducks lead the division with 84 points and 24 regulation wins through 71 games. They take on the Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+), who are battling for the No. 2 slot in the draft lottery. The team Calgary is “chasing” for the No. 1 spot in the lottery, the Vancouver Canucks, faces off against the Los Angeles Kings (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+); the Kings begin the night three points and seven regulation wins behind the Nashville Predators for the second wild-card spot.
The final Pacific-on-Pacific battle is between McDavid’s Oilers and the Vegas Golden Knights (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). This is the current No. 2 vs. No. 3 matchup in the division and is the fourth-most-likely first-round series according to Stathletes’ projections, at 62.54%.
The Seattle Kraken, who are five points behind the Preds in the wild-card race and tied in regulation wins, visit the Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+). Finally, the San Jose Sharks, whose playoff chances have taken a nosedive the past few days, are facing off against the St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+). San Jose is seven points and five regulation wins in back of Nashville.
Playoff Hockey Challenge
Who will lift the Stanley Cup? Create up to two brackets today. Create A Bracket
Stathletes projects the division to finish in a similar order to what it is now: The Ducks earn the No. 1 seed (96.7 points), followed by the Golden Knights (92.0) and the Oilers (89.3). Next are the Kings (85.9), Sharks (83.7) and Kraken (80.1), all of whom fall short of the Predators (86.2) for wild card No. 2.
Every team has around 12 games remaining before the regular season concludes April 16, and we’ll help you keep track of it all here on the NHL playoff watch every day. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide details on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:Current playoff matchupsToday’s scheduleLast night’s scoresExpanded standingsRace for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Boston BruinsA2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Ottawa SenatorsM2 Columbus Blue Jackets vs. M3 Pittsburgh Penguins
Western Conference
C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Nashville PredatorsC2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah MammothP2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Vegas Golden Knights
Thursday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
All of ESPN. All in one place.
Watch your favorite events in the newly enhanced ESPN App. Learn more about what plan is right for you. Sign Up Now
Columbus Blue Jackets at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators, 7 p.m.Seattle Kraken at Tampa Bay Lightning, 7 p.m.Minnesota Wild at Florida Panthers, 7 p.m. (ESPN)Dallas Stars at New York Islanders, 7 p.m.Chicago Blackhawks at Philadelphia Flyers, 7 p.m.San Jose Sharks at St. Louis Blues, 8 p.m.New Jersey Devils at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.Colorado Avalanche at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m.Washington Capitals at Utah Mammoth, 9 p.m.Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames, 9 p.m.Edmonton Oilers at Vegas Golden Knights, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)Los Angeles Kings at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.
Wednesday night’s scoreboard
Boston Bruins 4, Buffalo Sabres 3 (OT)Toronto Maple Leafs 4, New York Rangers 3
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 96Regulation wins: 37Playoff position: A1Games left: 10Points pace: 109.3Next game: vs. DET (Friday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 9Tragic number: N/A
Points: 93Regulation wins: 35Playoff position: A2Games left: 12Points pace: 108.9Next game: vs. SEA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 12Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: A3Games left: 12Points pace: 103.1Next game: vs. CBJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 94.3%Magic number: 17Tragic number: N/A
Points: 88Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: WC1Games left: 10Points pace: 100.2Next game: vs. MIN (Saturday)Playoff chances: 54.7%Magic number: 17Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: WC2Games left: 11Points pace: 98.2Next game: vs. PIT (Thursday)Playoff chances: 81.8%Magic number: 20Tragic number: N/A
Points: 84Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 97.0Next game: @ BUF (Friday)Playoff chances: 39.4%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 21
Points: 75Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 9Points pace: 84.3Next game: @ STL (Saturday)Playoff chances: ~0%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 8
Points: 73Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 85.5Next game: vs. MIN (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 12
Metro Division
Points: 96Regulation wins: 32Playoff position: M1Games left: 11Points pace: 110.9Next game: vs. NJ (Saturday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 9Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: M2Games left: 11Points pace: 100.5Next game: @ MTL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 92.1%Magic number: 18Tragic number: N/A
Points: 86Regulation wins: 29Playoff position: M3Games left: 11Points pace: 99.3Next game: @ OTT (Thursday)Playoff chances: 81.4%Magic number: 19Tragic number: N/A
Points: 85Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 96.8Next game: vs. DAL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 44.6%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 20
Points: 80Regulation wins: 21Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 93.7Next game: vs. CHI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 8%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 19
Points: 79Regulation wins: 30Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 90.0Next game: @ UTA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 3.4%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 14
Points: 74Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 86.7Next game: @ NSH (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.3%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 13
Points: 65Regulation wins: 19Playoff position: N/AGames left: 10Points pace: 74.0Next game: vs. CHI (Friday)Playoff chances: 0%Magic number: N/ATragic number: OUT
Central Division
Points: 104Regulation wins: 41Playoff position: C1Games left: 12Points pace: 121.8Next game: @ WPG (Thursday)Playoff chances: 100%Magic number: INTragic number: N/A
Points: 97Regulation wins: 33Playoff position: C2Games left: 11Points pace: 112.0Next game: @ NYI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 100%Magic number: INTragic number: N/A
Points: 92Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: C3Games left: 10Points pace: 104.8Next game: @ FLA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 4Tragic number: N/A
Points: 80Regulation wins: 28Playoff position: WC1Games left: 10Points pace: 91.1Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)Playoff chances: 98%Magic number: 16Tragic number: N/A
Points: 77Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: WC2Games left: 11Points pace: 88.9Next game: vs. NJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 46.9%Magic number: 19Tragic number: N/A
Points: 72Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 83.2Next game: vs. COL (Thursday)Playoff chances: 5.1%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 17
Points: 69Regulation wins: 26Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 80.8Next game: vs. SJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 7.8%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 16
Points: 67Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 77.4Next game: @ PHI (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 12
Pacific Division
Points: 84Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: P1Games left: 11Points pace: 97.0Next game: @ CGY (Thursday)Playoff chances: 99.9%Magic number: 12Tragic number: N/A
Points: 79Regulation wins: 27Playoff position: P2Games left: 10Points pace: 90.0Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)Playoff chances: 88.4%Magic number: 17Tragic number: N/A
Points: 78Regulation wins: 24Playoff position: P3Games left: 10Points pace: 88.8Next game: vs. EDM (Thursday)Playoff chances: 97.9%Magic number: 18Tragic number: N/A
Points: 74Regulation wins: 18Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 85.5Next game: @ VAN (Thursday)Playoff chances: 36.7%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 19
Points: 72Regulation wins: 25Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 84.3Next game: @ TB (Thursday)Playoff chances: 2.3%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 19
Points: 70Regulation wins: 20Playoff position: N/AGames left: 13Points pace: 83.2Next game: @ SJ (Thursday)Playoff chances: 16.9%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 19
Points: 67Regulation wins: 23Playoff position: N/AGames left: 11Points pace: 77.4Next game: vs. ANA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0.1%Magic number: N/ATragic number: 12
Points: 50Regulation wins: 14Playoff position: N/AGames left: 12Points pace: 58.6Next game: vs. LA (Thursday)Playoff chances: 0%Magic number: N/ATragic number: OUT
Note: An “x” with a team’s name means the club has clinched a playoff spot. An “e” means that the club has been mathematically eliminated.
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Atop draft boards for this summer is Gavin McKenna, a forward for Penn State.
Points: 50Regulation wins: 14
Points: 65Regulation wins: 19
Points: 67Regulation wins: 20
Points: 67Regulation wins: 23
Points: 69Regulation wins: 26
Points: 70Regulation wins: 20
Points: 72Regulation wins: 24
Points: 72Regulation wins: 25
Points: 73Regulation wins: 27
Points: 74Regulation wins: 18
Points: 74Regulation wins: 24
Points: 75Regulation wins: 23
Points: 79Regulation wins: 30
Points: 80Regulation wins: 21
Points: 84Regulation wins: 27
Points: 85Regulation wins: 26
*Note: The Maple Leafs’ pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five.
NHL playoff standings: How will the Pacific Division finish? NYT News Today.
Hence then, the article about nhl playoff standings how will the pacific division finish was published today ( ) and is available on NY Times News ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( NHL playoff standings: How will the Pacific Division finish? )
Also on site :