The NHL regular season is approaching its end, and the race for playoff spots remains close. Some have already secured their positions, but most are still fighting for seeding or a wild-card place.
Since the trade deadline, teams like Buffalo have been the most impressive with a 7-1-2 record, along with St. Louis. Other teams with strong pushes include Ottawa and Philadelphia.
What to Know About the Final NHL Regular Season Game on April 16
The regular season is set to end on Thursday, April 16, with the Colorado Avalanche facing the Seattle Kraken in one of the final games. The game will start at 10:30 p.m. ET at Ball Arena in Denver.
Right now, Colorado has already secured its playoff berth with a 48-13-10 record and leads the league with 106 points. Meanwhile, Seattle is three points out of the Western Conference wild-card spot with a 32-29-10 record and looks to close that gap and qualify for the playoffs.
Updated NHL Playoff Picture After March 26 Games
Eastern Conference Standings
The Eastern race remains tight with multiple teams level on points. The Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres share the top spot, while others stay close behind.
Atlantic Division
Buffalo Sabres: 96 pts (44-20-8)
Tampa Bay Lightning: 94 pts (44-21-6)
Montreal Canadiens: 90 pts (40-21-10)
Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes: 96 pts (45-20-6)
Pittsburgh Penguins: 88 pts (36-20-16)
Columbus Blue Jackets: 87 pts (38-23-11)
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Wild-Card Standings
Boston Bruins: 88 pts (40-24-8)
New York Islanders: 87 pts (41-27-5)
The Ottawa Senators sit just outside with 86 points. The Washington Capitals remain in the mix with 81 points, needing a strong finish. On the other hand, the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, have fallen behind by 14 points, 14 points short of the second wild-card position.
Western Conference Standings
The West shows a clearer separation at the top. The Avalanche continues to lead comfortably, while competition builds in the middle.
Central Division
Colorado Avalanche: 106 pts (48-13-10)
Dallas Stars: 97 pts (43-18-11)
Minnesota Wild: 94 pts (41-20-12)
Pacific Division
Anaheim Ducks: 86 pts (41-27-4)
Edmonton Oilers: 81 pts (36-28-9)
Vegas Golden Knights: 79 pts (32-26-15)
Wild-Card Standings
Utah Mammoth: 80 pts (37-30-6)
Nashville Predators: 77 pts (34-29-9)
Apart from the Avalanche, the Dallas Stars have also secured a playoff spot. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings are also close with 76 points, just one point behind the Predators. The remaining race, especially in the East, stays wide open with little margin for error.
If the playoffs began now, division leaders would face wild-card teams, while second- and third-place teams would meet within their divisions. However, with only a few points separating multiple teams, these matchups are likely to change before the regular season ends.
