The NHL playoff race is heating up, with just a few games left before the season concludes on April 16. The Eastern Conference is particularly intriguing, with several teams vying for the two wild-card spots. The Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins currently hold the top two positions, but the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Washington Capitals, and Philadelphia Flyers are all in the mix. The Blue Jackets, in particular, have a strong shot at making the playoffs, with 18 games left and 11 of those against teams currently in playoff spots. The Senators, with 18 games remaining, have 10 of those against teams in playoff position. The Capitals, with just 16 games left, have eight of those against playoff teams, while the Flyers, with 18 games remaining, have 10 of those against playoff clubs. The Canadiens, with 19 games left, have an 84.2% chance of making the playoffs, followed by the Bruins at 71.8%, Senators at 68%, Blue Jackets at 65.9%, Capitals at 18%, and Flyers at 5.7%. The Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, and Detroit Red Wings are also in the running, but their chances are lower. The final stretch of the season promises to be exciting, with several teams jockeying for position in the 2026 NHL draft lottery. The race for the No. 1 pick is also heating up, with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators, New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Minnesota Wild all in the running. The Maple Leafs' pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five. The NHL is a highly competitive league, and the final stretch of the season will be crucial in determining the playoff picture and the draft lottery.
