NHL Playoffs Preview: Analyzing Today’s Potential Matchups

Mo. Basuony

Published: March 24, 2026 10:15 PM ET

The NHL postseason opens on April 18. Two clubs have already clinched berths: the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars.

This NHL Playoffs preview analyzes today’s potential matchups. Filmogaz.com examines which teams sit on the bubble.

Overview

Many teams still battle for spots in both conferences. The Eastern Conference has multiple wild-card contenders within six points.

In the West, four teams lie within five points of the final playoff spot. Several clubs that made deep runs last year sit outside the cut today.

Carolina reached the Eastern Conference final twice in the last three seasons. This season may offer its best path to the Stanley Cup Final.

The Hurricanes rate highly on Corsi and expected-goals metrics. A prominent model places Carolina among the teams with the fourth-best odds.

Hurricanes remaining (12 games): at Montreal (Tue), vs. New Jersey (Sat), vs. Montreal (Mar 29).
Hurricanes cont. : at Columbus (Mar 31), vs. Columbus (Apr 2), vs. Islanders (Apr 4).
Islanders remaining (11 games): vs. Chicago (Tue), vs. Dallas (Thu), vs. Florida (Sat).
Islanders cont. : vs. Pittsburgh (Mar 30), at Buffalo (Mar 31), vs. Philadelphia (Apr 3).

Pittsburgh looks set to return to the playoffs for the first time in four years. Erik Karlsson has 10 points in his last four games.

Columbus improved dramatically under Rick Bowness. The Blue Jackets are 18-3-4 since his hiring on Jan. 12.

Penguins remaining (12 games): vs. Colorado (Tue), at Ottawa (Thu), vs. Dallas (Sat).
Blue Jackets remaining (12 games): at Philadelphia (Tue), at Montreal (Thu), vs. San Jose (Sat).

Buffalo has surged since early December. The Sabres were 33-6-3 since Dec. 9.

Buffalo has not reached the playoffs since 2011. Tampa Bay trails Buffalo by four points in the division race.

Sabres remaining (11 games): vs. Boston (Wed), vs. Detroit (Fri), vs. Seattle (Sat).
Bruins remaining (12 games): vs. Toronto (Tue), at Buffalo (Wed), vs. Minnesota (Sat).

Tampa Bay maintains strong odds in many analytic projections. The team is powered by Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Montreal shows offensive growth under Martin St. Louis. Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki lead the Canadiens’ attack.

Lightning remaining (13 games): vs. Minnesota (Tue), vs. Seattle (Thu), vs. Ottawa (Sat).
Canadiens remaining (13 games): vs. Carolina (Tue), vs. Columbus (Thu), at Nashville (Sat).

Detroit Red Wings — 84 points, one point out of a playoff spot.
Ottawa Senators — 83 points; positive, double-digit goal differential.
Philadelphia Flyers — 80 points and in the chase.
Washington Capitals — 79 points; also holds a positive, double-digit goal differential.

Colorado became the first team to reach 100 points this season. The Avalanche lead the league in goals per game and goals allowed.

Scott Wedgewood leads the club in goals-against average and save percentage. Colorado posts a strong penalty kill at 82.8 percent.

Avalanche remaining (13 games): at Pittsburgh (Tue), at Winnipeg (Thu), vs. Winnipeg (Sat).
Predators remaining (12 games): vs. San Jose (Tue), vs. New Jersey (Thu), vs. Montreal (Sat).

The Stars have clinched a playoff spot. Dallas ranks among the top offenses and allows the second-fewest goals.

Minnesota made a major offseason signing for Kirill Kaprizov and later acquired Quinn Hughes. The Wild boast a strong goaltending tandem.

Stars remaining (12 games): vs. New Jersey (Tue), at New York Islanders (Thu), at Pittsburgh (Sat).
Wild remaining (11 games): at Tampa Bay (Tue), at Florida (Thu), at Boston (Sat).

The Ducks lead the Pacific Division as younger players drive their rise. Anaheim added veteran help at the deadline.

The Utah Mammoth continued a multi-year rebuild. The club added MacKenzie Weegar to bolster its playoff bid.

Ducks remaining (12 games): at Vancouver (Tue), at Calgary (Thu), at Edmonton (Sat).
Mammoth remaining (11 games): vs. Edmonton (Tue), vs. Washington (Thu), at Los Angeles (Sat).

Vegas acquired Mitch Marner in the offseason. He has delivered roughly a point per game this season.

Edmonton waits for Leon Draisaitl’s return. Connor McDavid and his teammates face recent inconsistency.

Golden Knights remaining (11 games): at Winnipeg (Tue), vs. Edmonton (Thu), vs. Washington (Sat).
Oilers remaining (11 games): at Utah (Tue), at Vegas (Thu), vs. Anaheim (Sat).