NHL playoff standings: How high will the Sharks finish?

The Pacific Division has been the NHL’s most tough to determine relating to projections for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.

As play begins Tuesday, the Anaheim Ducks are in first, with 77 factors by means of 67 video games, adopted by the Vegas Golden Knights (76 by means of 67) and Edmonton Oilers (75 by means of 68). Those groups have been flipping positions all season, and it has been the same state of affairs for the three golf equipment behind them: The Seattle Kraken maintain the second wild card, with 71 factors in 66 video games, with the Los Angeles Kings (71 by means of 67) and San Jose Sharks (70 by means of 65) battling for that spot.

The projections from Stathletes have the Golden Knights and Ducks each ending with 96 factors, adopted by the Oilers at 91.6 and the Sharks at 87.9. Given that the Sharks have not certified for the playoffs since 2018-19, any postseason alternative is a welcome change.

Of course, incomes the second wild card comes with a first-round matchup in opposition to the Colorado Avalanche or Dallas Stars — the Sharks have a win and two losses in opposition to each golf equipment. Could San Jose sneak into certainly one of the increased positions in the Pacific?

That journey continues Tuesday with a sport in opposition to the Oilers (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+). The Sharks have a win and an time beyond regulation loss to the Oilers to date, with a further sport on the books for April 8. These “four-point swing” video games are crucial, and so they have two extra such video games left in opposition to the Ducks as properly.

Aside from the video games in opposition to the Oilers and Ducks, the Sharks play 13 extra video games this season, with simply one present playoff crew on the docket: the Buffalo Sabers on Thursday.

So whereas San Jose begins this last stretch of the season 5 to seven factors behind its divisional competitors, the alternative is definitely there to eclipse all of these groups based mostly on that power of remaining schedule.

Every crew has round 15 video games remaining earlier than the common season concludes April 16, and we’ll provide help to maintain monitor of all of it right here on the NHL playoff watch day by day. As we traverse the last stretch, we’ll present particulars on all the playoff races — together with the groups jockeying for place in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are high by way of Stathletes.

Jump forward:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Last night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Buffalo Sabers vs. WC1 Detroit Red Wings
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens

M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Boston Bruins
M2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 New York Islanders

Western Conference

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Seattle Kraken
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild

P1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah Mammoth
P2 Vegas Golden Knights vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Tuesday’s video games

Note: All instances ET. All video games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (native blackout restrictions apply).

New York Islanders at Toronto Maple Leafs7 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens7 p.m.
Carolina Hurricanes at Columbus Blue Jackets7 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks7:30 pm (TNT)
Nashville Predators at Winnipeg Jets8 p.m.
San Jose Sharks at Edmonton Oilers9 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Vancouver Canucks10 p.m.
Buffalo Sabers at Vegas Golden Knights10 p.m.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Seattle Kraken10 pm (TNT)

Monday evening’s scoreboard

Detroit Red Wings 5, Calgary Flames 2
New Jersey Devils 4, Boston Bruins 3 (OT)
Los Angeles Kings 4, New York Rangers 1
Utah Mammoth 6, Dallas Stars 3
Pittsburgh Penguins 7, Colorado Avalanche 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff place: A1
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 107.7
Next sport: @VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.8%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: A2
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 106.0
Next sport: @SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.6%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: A3
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 101.9
Next sport: vs. BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 93.5%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: WC1
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 98.9
Next sport: vs. MTL (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 27%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: WC2
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 99.1
Next sport: @MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 73.2%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 95.7
Next sport: @WSH (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 65.2%
Tragic quantity: 28

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 84.4
Next sport: vs. NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.1%
Tragic quantity: 17

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 85.7
Next sport: @ VAN (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.1%
Tragic quantity: 20

Metro Division

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff place: M1
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 111.8
Next sport: @CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff place: M2
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 101.6
Next sport: @CAR (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 81.5%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: M3
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 99.1
Next sport: @TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 68.8%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 98.2
Next sport: vs. CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 77.2%
Tragic quantity: 30

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 91.9
Next sport: @ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 7%
Tragic quantity: 25

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 89.2
Next sport: vs. OTT (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 6.3%
Tragic quantity: 21

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 85.7
Next sport: @NYR (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 1%
Tragic quantity: 19

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 78.3
Next sport: vs. NJ (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.1%
Tragic quantity: 13

Central Division

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff place: C1
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 120.5
Next sport: vs. DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff place: C2
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 115.1
Next sport: @COL (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: C3
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 106.1
Next sport: @CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.9%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff place: WC1
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 91.7
Next sport: @VGK (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 96.6%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 83.2
Next sport: @WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 3.3%
Tragic quantity: 28

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 82
Next sport: vs. NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 1.7%
Tragic quantity: 27

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 78.3
Next sport: @CGY (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.8%
Tragic quantity: 23

Points: 61
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 75.8
Next sport: vs. MIN (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.5%
Tragic quantity: 22

Pacific Division

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: P1
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 94.2
Next sport: vs. PHI (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 99.6%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff place: P2
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 93.0
Next sport: vs. BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 96.4%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: P3
Games left: 14
Points tempo: 90.4
Next sport: vs. SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 86.1%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff place: WC2
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 88.2
Next sport: vs. TB (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 32.3%
Tragic quantity: N/A

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 86.9
Next sport: vs. PHI (Thursday)
Playoff probabilities: 18.1%
Tragic quantity: 30

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 17
Points tempo: 88.3
Next sport: @EDM (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: 64.7%
Tragic quantity: 33

Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 15
Points tempo: 72.2
Next sport: vs. STL (Wednesday)
Playoff probabilities: 0.1%
Tragic quantity: 18

Points: 48
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff place: N/A
Games left: 16
Points tempo: 59.6
Next sport: vs. FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff probabilities: ~0%
Tragic quantity: 9

Race for the No. 1 decide

The NHL makes use of a draft lottery to find out the order of the first spherical, so the crew that finishes in final place is just not assured the No. 1 choice. As of 2021, a crew can transfer up a most of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so solely 11 groups are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 decide. Full details on the process can be found here. Atop draft boards for this summer season is Gavin McKenna, a ahead for Penn State.

Points: 48
Regulation wins: 13

Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22

Points: 61
Regulation wins: 18

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 24

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 22

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 21

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 22

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 18

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 23

*Note: The Maple Leafs’ decide belongs to the Bruins, except it lands in the prime 5.