We’ve entered the final stretch of the NHL season, where playoff dreams come true and others come to a screeching halt. Several teams have already punched their tickets to the postseason, but the race for the Eastern and Western Conference wild-card spots is shaping up to be a photo finish.
Here are the picks for this week’s top 10 teams in the NHL.
Honorable Mention: Boston Bruins (43-26-10, 96 points)
The Bruins remain firmly in control of the Eastern Conference’s first wild-card spot in what has been a crowded, bruising race to the postseason.
Boston wasn’t expected to be here, but it has overdelivered all season. The question now is whether the depth scoring can hold up behind right wing David Pastrnak. Center Morgan Geekie has hit another cold stretch, and Boston’s playoff ceiling may hinge on whether he can snap out of it or if players like center Pavel Zacha and defenseman Charlie McAvoy can carry the load.
10. Philadelphia Flyers (41-27-12, 94 points)
The Flyers are the newest addition to the Metropolitan Division’s top three after a statement win over Boston on Easter Sunday.
Philadelphia is chasing its first playoff berth since 2020, powered by right wing Owen Tippett’s 28 goals and right wing Travis Konecny’s 66 points. The Flyers now turn their attention to a possible rivalry showdown with Pittsburgh, where state pride and bragging rights will be on the line.
9. Ottawa Senators (43-27-10, 96 points)
Ottawa has clawed its way into the Eastern Conference’s second wild-card spot, but the fight is far from over.
With teams like the Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets right on their heels, the Senators have no margin for error. Led by center Tim Stützle’s 79 points, Ottawa is looking to return to the postseason after last year’s early exit. Ottawa has all the makings of a dark horse.
8. Pittsburgh Penguins (41-24-16, 98 points)
Pittsburgh has entered the postseason and looks poised to make some noise.
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Right wing Anthony Mantha’s 31 goals and center Sidney Crosby’s 72 points continue to drive the offense, while a season full of roster moves has reshaped the team on the fly. The Penguins appear locked into second place in the Metropolitan Division and could be headed for a heated Battle of Pennsylvania with the Flyers.
7. Montréal Canadiens (48-23-10, 106 points)
Montreal has been the class of Canadian teams this season and is chasing something bigger. The goal is bringing the Stanley Cup back north of the border for the first time since 1993.
Right wing Cole Caufield’s 49 goals and captain Nick Suzuki’s 95 points headline a young, dangerous roster that is only getting better. The Canadiens are back in the playoffs for the second straight year and are building toward something sustainable.
With the Atlantic Division still within reach, Montreal will be pushing hard for home ice down the stretch.
6. Dallas Stars (48-20-12, 108 points)
The Stars have had a season worthy of a top seed, but the Central Division has been a gauntlet.
Dallas boasts one of the league’s best power plays, fueled by center Wyatt Johnston and left wing Jason Robertson, both north of 40 goals. The key will be goaltender Jake Oettinger rediscovering his elite form after a late-season dip.
With Mikko Rantanen back and Roope Hintz nearing a return, Dallas is gearing up for a deep run, but it will need to hold off Minnesota to secure home ice.
5. Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo has snapped its 14-year playoff absence and is now battling for the Atlantic Division crown. Center Tage Thompson’s 38 goals and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin’s 51 assists have powered a breakout season that few saw coming.
With just a handful of games left, the Sabres are right in the thick of a three-team race, and every point matters.
4. Minnesota Wild
Minnesota came into the season with sky-high expectations and has lived up to the hype.
Left wing Kirill Kaprizov’s 43 goals and left wing Matt Boldy’s 41 have turned the Wild into one of the league’s most dangerous offenses. Add in the acquisition of defenseman Quinn Hughes and this team looks built for a deep playoff push.
A first-round matchup with Dallas feels inevitable, and if it happens, expect a physical, hard-fought series with home ice being the difference.
3. Tampa Bay Lightning
Right wing Nikita Kucherov’s 42 goals and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy’s dominant season in net have Tampa Bay sitting atop a loaded Atlantic Division. Vasilevskiy leads the league in wins and remains one of the most reliable playoff goaltenders in hockey.
Tampa Bay is not just chasing another Cup, it is looking to remind everyone it never really left.
2. Carolina Hurricanes
Carolina has been the model of consistency in the Eastern Conference, but this year feels different.
With multiple deep playoff runs in recent seasons, the Hurricanes are now focused on finally breaking through. Center Seth Jarvis leads the way offensively, while goaltender Brandon Bussi has emerged as one of the season’s biggest surprises.
Carolina enters the postseason as a legitimate favorite, but it still has something to prove.
1. Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche have been a buzzsaw all season.
Colorado was the first team to clinch a playoff spot and is closing in on clinching the Western Conference’s top seed. Center Nathan MacKinnon leads the league with 51 goals, while goaltender Scott Wedgewood has quietly anchored the net with elite numbers.
The Avalanche are not just the best team in the West, they look like the team to beat, period.
Simon Reseigh is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @simon_reseigh
