The battle for the final NHL wild-card spots is heating up, and the race is tighter than ever. Every night brings high-stakes matchups and dramatic shifts in the standings. In the Eastern Conference, young, up-and-coming teams are eager to end their playoff droughts, but they’ll have to get past experienced contenders, including last year’s Presidents’ Trophy winners. Over in the West, few of the teams are locked in a fierce fight for a single postseason berth.<\/p>
As the season nears its climax, we break down the playoff hopes of each team for you, weighing the reasons for optimism and the obstacles standing in their way.<\/p>
The Canadiens hold a 33-27-7 record with 73 points and 15 games remaining in the season and are catching fire at the perfect time. Their dominant 6-3 win over the Senators pushed them into a playoff spot, extending their hot streak to 8-1-2 since the 4 Nations break. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovský have been thriving, outscoring opponents 11-4 at five-on-five over the last 11 games.<\/p>
Lane Hutson is making an impact from the blue line, showing confidence in his offensive game while improving defensively. Meanwhile, Sam Montembeault has been a rock in net, posting seven quality starts in his last eight outings and saving 12 goals above expected.<\/p>
Montreal now has a 40% chance to claim the final wild-card spot. Even if they fall short, this playoff push is a huge step forward in their rebuild, proving this young core is on the right track.<\/p>
The Rangers stand at 33-30-6 with 72 points and 13 games left in the season. Igor Shesterkin has been a game-changer in net, ranking third in the league with nearly 30 goals saved above expected. He’s been even better lately, delivering nine quality starts in his last 11 games while stopping 11.7 goals above expected. If anyone can carry this team into the playoffs—and even steal a series—it’s him.<\/p>
Fortunately, he’s getting some help. Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad have picked up their form in 2025, while J.T. Miller’s arrival, Adam Fox’s return, and Will Cuylle’s emergence have given the Rangers some much-needed energy.<\/p>
With a 31-28-8 record and 70 points, the Blue Jackets have 15 games left to chase a playoff spot. They’ve been one of the league’s biggest surprises, fueled by players exceeding expectations. Zach Werenski has been a force on the blue line, driving play at both ends and earning buzz for both the Norris and Hart trophies.<\/p>