Stanley Cup Playoff Push 2026: Charge!!!
A look at the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff race as the month of March begins
It's here, folks! The month of March is here! You know the drill when it comes to the month of March. It's one of the most insane months of the year in sports. Baseball starts at the end of the month, as does the United Football League. College basketball takes over with conference tournaments, followed by the big dance, and in the NHL and NBA, it's the last full month of the regular season. In both leagues, March plays the same role as September in MLB and December in the NFL: it's the beginning of the end.
The first of the month begins the final 47 days of the season, with the final day of the season occurring on Thursday, April 16. Regarding the playoff format, it's the 12th year of the format that sends the top 3 teams in each division to the postseason, while the remaining spots are determined via a Wild Card format. So with that, here's how things stand as the home stretch gets serious:
Atlantic Division
Would you look at this picture? I'm not talking about the Tampa Bay Lightning; the Lightning being in the Atlantic's Top 3 is expected. Granted, them being in first place when it seemed like they'd be out of gas is a little surprising, but the Bolts are a juggernaut even now. That's not the surprising thing. It's the team that's behind them. Do my eyes deceive me? Is that the Buffalo Sabres in second place in the Atlantic on the first day of March?! The same Sabres who haven't been in the playoffs since the NHL left Atlanta 15 years ago?! And these Sabres just blew out the Bolts to end February. And there's the Montréal Canadiens in third place in the Atlantic, looking to prove that last year wasn't just some happy accident. Five points separate these three teams; the Bolts lead with 80 points, the Sabres are just four points behind at 76, and Les Habitants is in third with 75 points.
Metropolitan Division
In the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes lead the way with 82 points, which currently serves as the top total in the entire Eastern Conference. The Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders round out the Metro's top 3, with both teams tied at 73 points, though the Pens have two games in hand. Even so, this is a big boost for the Penguins; they have a new coach, and they look like they are on their way to ending their abbreviated playoff drought. As for the Islanders, they look like they are on their way to rebounding after a disappointing campaign last year.
Wild Cards
Regarding the Eastern Conference's Wild Card race, the two positions are currently being held by a pair of Original Six teams: the Detroit Red Wings and the Boston Bruins. The Wings currently hold the WC1 spot with 74 points, one poing behind the Habs for third place in the Atlantic. They've been in the thick of things for most of the year; not only having been in the Atlantic's Top 3, but also having some days in first place. Even so, it does look like we could see another long playoff drought come to an end, as the Wings could be in the playoffs for the first time in a decade. As for the Bruins, they back in the hunt a year after dealing away Brad Marchand to the Panthers, holding the WC2 position by two points over the Washington Capitals (the same Caps who were #1 in the East last year).
Central Division
The NFL has the NFC West. MLB has the American League East. I don't know what the NBA has, but I know this: the Central Division is definitely the Group of Death in the NHL. It's the only division where each Top 3 team has at least 80 points. The Colorado Avalanche are #1 overall right now with 87 points, but in second place: the Dallas Stars at 81, while the Minnesota Wild sit in 3rd place with 80 points. Minnesota holds that third position by a lot--14 points over the Utah Mammoth. So it definitely looks like this will be the top 3 in the Central for the rest of the season, but what will the order be? Despite our amazing record, the Avs don't have the largest division lead in the league right now. Even so, I will jump for joy if we get a Stars/Wild first round series, that will be amazing as hell!
Pacific Division
The Pacific Division is quite a mess this season. 70 points leads the division, and it's the Vegas Golden Knights who have that total. In second place, three points behind Vegas: the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks, who last reached the playoffs in Vegas' debut season (2017-18), are in second place in the Pacific, with the Oilers (back-to-back West champs) in third place with 66 points. Part of that mess include Vegas' record--they've lost fourteen times past regulation this year (so has LA).
Wild Cards
Regarding the Western Conference's Wild Card standings, we have some interesting contenders this year. As it stands, the Utah Mammoth and the Seattle Kraken are currently in the Wild Card positions, with Utah (66 points) sitting in the WC1 spot. The Kraken sit at the WC2 spot with 65 points, actually sitting one point behind Edmonton. It's a close race, as the Kings, Predators, and Sharks all have good chances to move above the playoff line with over a month to go in the season.
* * *
It's a completely different look from last year's picture at this point. A lot of playoff teams from last year are behind the playoff line, and quite a few have little to no chance of making it. The back-to-back defending champion Florida Panthers look like they'll be missing out due to their top two players being out for a good bit. The Toronto Maple Leafs are paying a hefty price for stupidly trading Mitch Marner. The St. Louis Blues are a shell of the team who streaked their way into the playoffs last year, and the Winnipeg Jets are completely shot this year. As a result, we have new and exciting contenders in this dance. Some long playoff droughts could end, and Salt Lake City could see playoff hockey for the first time ever. This will be an unforgettable home stretch, and I'm here for all of it!
About the Creator
Clyde E. Dawkins
I'm a big sports fan, especially hockey, and I've been a fan of villainesses since I was eight! My favorite shows are The Simpsons and Family Guy, etc.
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