Latest 2025 NHL Playoff Picture, Standings Wild Card Odds and Bracket Predictions
The Ottawa Senators and Minnesota Wild currently sit in the top positions in their respective wild-card races.
However, they will be tested over the next few weeks and their spots could come under threat.
Ottawa plays the Detroit Red Wings, one of the Eastern Conference wild-card chasers, on Thursday, while the Wild welcome Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
Minnesota's upcoming stretch is more brutal than Ottawa's since it plays the New Jersey Devils, both New York teams and the Dallas Stars over the next six games.
The St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks and others are hoping the Wild slip up during that stretch to make the West wild-card race as congested as the East wild-card race currently is.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
- Toronto - 89 points
- Florida - 89
- Tampa Bay - 87
Metropolitan Division
- Washington - 103
- Carolina - 90
- New Jersey - 83
Wild-Card Race
- Ottawa - 79
- Montreal - 75
- New York Islanders - 74
- New York Rangers - 74
- Columbus - 73
- Detroit - 72
The East wild-card race could get tighter after Thursday's games.
Ottawa, who lost three of its last four, travels to Detroit to begin a vital two-game stretch that also includes a clash with Columbus on Saturday.
A Detroit win combined with Montreal's expected victory in Philadelphia would add more congested to the six-team hunt.
Entering Thursday, Ottawa is -3000 (bet $3,000 to win $100) to make the playoffs at DraftKings Sportsbook.
Montreal is 140, the New York Rangers are 300, the New York Islanders are 310, Columbus is 350 and Detroit sits at 1000.
Columbus and Ottawa play three times between Saturday and April 8, and in between, the Senators face Tampa Bay and Florida.
Ottawa might seem like a lock to qualify right now, but there are speed bumps in its upcoming schedule.
Montreal needs to win in Philadelphia on Thursday because its next three games come against Carolina and Florida.
The Rangers have the best short-term path to gaining ground because they play Anaheim and San Jose on Friday and Saturday. Two wins could catapult the Rangers over a handful of teams.
The Islanders blew a chance to pick up points on Wednesday at home against Vancouver. They could fade away in the next week-and-a-half since they play Tampa Bay twice, Carolina, Minnesota and Washington in the next five.
Columbus and Detroit trended in the wrong direction lately, but if they beat Ottawa in their head-to-head meetings, they can remain within striking distance.
Bracket Prediction
New York Rangers vs. Washington
Ottawa vs. Toronto
Tampa Bay vs. Florida
New Jersey vs. Carolina
Western Conference
Central Division
- Winnipeg - 102
- Dallas - 96
- Colorado - 91
Pacific Division
- Vegas - 94
- Los Angeles - 89
- Edmonton - 87
Wild-Card Race
- Minnesota - 85
- St. Louis - 83
- Vancouver - 80
- Calgary - 79
- Utah - 75
Vancouver made some headway in the West wild-card race with a Wednesday win over the Islanders.
The Canucks have won three of their last five games, and if they can beat Columbus or Winnipeg, or both, at the end of their road trip, then they are in great position to leapfrog the Wild or Blues.
Vancouver finishes with six of its last eight at home, where it is 15-13-7.
Minnesota has one of the toughest remaining schedules. Only two of its last 10 opponents are not involved in a playoff race.
The Wild face the Capitals on Thursday and Devils on Saturday at home before embarking on the three-game road swing in the New York-New Jersey market.
Minnesota is currently -900 to make the playoffs, but you can easily make the case against it to make the playoff field.
St. Louis is -115, Vancouver is 240, Calgary sits at 190 and Utah is 1300 to make the playoffs.
The Blues enter Thursday's game in Nashville on a seven-game winning streak. Colorado appears twice on St. Louis' remaining schedule and Winnipeg is on there once, but it is a much less difficult stretch than what Minnesota faces.
Calgary and Utah need to win and get some help to leapfrog the three teams ahead of them.
The Flames play Dallas, Edmonton and Colorado before a Tuesday clash with Utah, while Utah takes on Tampa Bay, Florida and Chicago in the buildup to that game.
Bracket Prediction
Minnesota vs. Winnipeg
St. Louis vs. Vegas
Los Angeles vs. Edmonton
Colorado vs. Dallas
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