NHL playoff standings: Who are winning the West wild cards? - ESPN
ESPN staff
Mar 10, 2026, 07:00 AM ET
With a quarter of the season left, the NHL playoff race is heating up. As of March 10, the Eastern Conference is looking more competitive, with a higher points threshold for playoff qualification compared to the West. Nevertheless, eight teams from each conference will make the playoffs.
Three Eastern Conference slots are all but locked by the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Minnesota Wild. The top three teams in the Pacific Division, Anaheim Ducks, Vegas Golden Knights, and Edmonton Oilers, are also well-positioned. But who are the wild card contenders?
The Utah Mammoth currently hold the first wild-card spot with 73 points through 64 games. They've gone 4-2-1 since the Olympic break, including three straight wins before a loss on Monday. On Tuesday, they face the Minnesota Wild, a team they've beaten in both matchups this season.
The Mammoth have 17 games remaining, with eight against playoff-bound teams. Their performance against these teams will be crucial. The Seattle Kraken, in second place, have 67 points through 62 games and 20 remaining games, including 10 against playoff teams.
The San Jose Sharks, with 66 points through 61 games, have just eight of their remaining 21 games against playoff teams. The Los Angeles Kings, also with 66 points but through 63 games, have seven playoff matchups in their remaining 19 games.
The Nashville Predators, on the bubble with 64 points in 63 games, will face playoff teams in 10 of their 19 remaining games. Stathletes projections give the Mammoth the best playoff chances at 98.9%, followed by the Sharks at 71.9%, then the Kraken at 23.3%, Kings at 8.4%, and Predators at 6.9%.
With 20 games left before the season concludes on April 16, the NHL playoff watch will provide daily updates on the races and the draft lottery. It's a thrilling time for hockey fans, with many teams still in the hunt and the possibility of upsets and surprises.
As the season nears its climax, the competition is fierce, and the wild card spots are up for grabs. The Mammoth, Sharks, and other contenders will need to keep performing at their best to secure their playoff spots. The Western Conference is wide open, and the race to the playoffs is far from over.
