Welcome to the Stanley Cup Playoff Buzz, where you watch the 2025 NHL postseason races every day. There are 29 days left in the regular season, with each race in the four divisions tight. The top three teams in each of the four divisions and the next two best finishers in each meeting will reach the playoffs.
Let’s take a look at the NHL rankings and everything else that could affect playoff photos.
Here’s the Stanley Cup Playoffs Clinching scenario for March 20th:
Eastern Conference
The Washington Capitals win the playoff berth:
If they defeat the Philadelphia Flyers in regulation and defeat the results of the Montreal Canadians Game of the New York Islands other than the Islander Regulation victory.
or
If they defeat flyers in overtime or in a firefight, and the islanders lose to the Canadians in any way.
or
They lose to the Flyers in overtime and shootouts, Columbus Blue jackets lose to the Florida Panthers in any way, and the Islanders lose to the Canadians in regulations.
When tapping
There are 14 games on the NHL schedule on Thursday, each affecting the playoffs.
Washington Capitals’ Philadelphia Flyers (7pm, Mnmt, nbcsp, sne)
Alex Ovechkin has eight goals, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record 894, and Capitals (45-15-8) is the first team to score 100 points this season, earning a berth for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Washington is 7-1-0 in the last eight games, leading the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference, moving the Carolina Hurricanes 12 points ahead. The Flyers (28-33-8) are 1-7-0 in the last eight innings, locking out for two straight times, with the second wildcard behind nine points towards the playoffs from the East.
Ottawa Senator Colorado Avalanche (7pm, RDS2, TSN5, ALT)
The third-place Avalanche in the Central Division (41-24-3) will play their second consecutive game after finishing the nine-game streak (8-0-1) with a 2-1 loss at the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. Colorado is two points ahead of the second-placed Dallas Star, who has two games in hand, and the fourth-placed Minnesota Wild, who holds the first wildcard in the Western Conference. The Senator (36-26-5), who finished his six-game winning streak with the Canadiens on Tuesday, placed his first wildcard in the East, with four points ahead of Montreal and six points from the Tampa Bay Lightning in third place in the Atlantic Division.
Calgary Flames of the New Jersey Devils (7pm, MSGSN2, SN1)
Jesper Bratt has 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) in four-game streaks (37-26-6) in the last five innings, 4-1-0 and third in the Metropolitan. They’re six points behind the Hurricane, who has two games in their hands. The Flames (31-25-11) are two points behind the Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues, the second wildcard in the West, with a game at Canuck, winning 2-1 with the New York Rangers on Tuesday, finishing a three-game skid (0-2-1).
Toronto Maple Leafs of the New York Rangers (7pm, MSG 2, SNO)
The Maple Leafs (41-24-3) first won the Panthers and tie in the Atlantic after a 2-1 victory against the first avalanche of the back-to-back game on Wednesday, but Florida had two more regulatory victories. The Rangers (33-30-6) bid to regain the second wildcard in the East after a 2-1 loss to the Flame on Tuesday. Artemi Panarin is trying to extend New York’s season-high 10-game streaks (14 points, 7 goals, 7 assists).
Florida Panthers in Columbus Blue Jacket (7pm); fdsnoh, scripts)
The Panthers (41-24-3) are 1-3-0 in the last four games, tied with the Atlantic Maple Leaf with 85 points, but they have two more regulatory victories. The Blue Jacket (31-28-8) loses four consecutive (0-4-0) and kicks out 15-4, 3 points behind the Canadiens in the second wildcard in the East.
Montreal Canadian of New York Islanders (7:30pm, MSGSN, TSN2, RDS)
The Canadiens (33-27-7), who have been 3-0-1 in the last four years, can solidify their playoff positions after jumping over the second wildcard ranger in the East after a 6-3 victory over the Senators on Tuesday. Montreal leads the Rangers one point ahead, grabbing two games and scores four points on Ottawa, the first wild card in the East. The islanders (31-28-8) are 4-2-1 with the past 7 points and the Canadians.
Vancouver Canucks of St. Louis Blues (7:30pm, Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, SNP)
It’s the second wildcard battle in the West between the Canucks (32-25-11), three of the past four (3-1-0) winners, and the Blues (34-28-7), who has been 5-1-1 in the past seven times and has the NHL’s best 20 points (9-2-2) since play resumed following 4 Nations’ face-to-face. Vancouver and St. Louis each score 75 points, while the Canucks occupies a wildcard slot because they played one game.
Nashville Predators Anaheim Duck (8pm); fdsnso, victory+)
Ducks (29-31-8), who is 1-3-1 in the last five innings, is nine points behind the second wildcard Canucks in the West. The predator (25-34-8) lost 17 points on 3 straights (0-2-1) and trail Vancouver.
Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars (8pm, fdsnsun, victory+)
Central’s second star (43-21-3) will attempt his ninth home victory since the franchise moved to Dallas in 1993. Forward Wyatt Johnston is about to extend his home point streak to 16 games. Dallas has two games in hand, four points ahead of Colorado and four points ahead of Central. The Atlantic third-placed Lightning (39-23-5) can seek a third consecutive victory and create a division lead three-way tie with points in victory and loss of regulation by the Panthers and Maple Leafs.
Chicago Blackhawks’ Los Angeles Kings (8:30pm, FDSNW, CHSN)
The Kings (36-21-9), who won a five-game winning streak in a 3-1 loss at the Wild on Monday, are third in the Pacific Division and three points behind the second-placed Edmonton Oilers who played two more games. The Blackhawks (20-39-9) lost five straight wins (0-4-1), 26 points behind the Western second wildcard Canucks, who could be eliminated from playoff competition with all sorts of losses on Thursday.
Edmonton Oilers’ Winnipegjet (9pm, SNW, TSN3)
The Oilers (40-24-4) scored three straights, surpassing the opposition 12-3, and were able to move to tie at points of the Pacific lead with victory and regulatory losses by the Vegas Golden Knights playing games. The Jets (47-18-4) are 5-1-1 in their last seven games, leading the Western Conference and are trying to keep pace with the capital in the presidential trophy race.
Utah Hockey Club’s Buffalo Sabres (9pm, Utah16, MSG-B)
Utah (30-27-11) is 2-2-2 in the last six innings, four points behind Vancouver and St. Louis on the second wildcard in the West. The Sabres (27-33-6) are 3-1-0 in the last four innings, 13 points behind the Canadiens on the second wildcard in the East.
Boston Bruins of the Vegas Golden Knights (10pm); Scripps, NESN, SNO, SNE, SN360, TVAS)
The Bruins (30-30-9) began a five-game road trip that lost six points out of the last eight (2-5-1) and scored four points for the Canadiens, who played two games with the Eastern second wildcard. The Golden Knights (39-20-8) are 1-2-2 in the last five times and will try to maintain their sole ownership, number one in the Pacific.
San Jose Sharks’ Carolina Hurricane (10:30pm, FDSNO, NBCSCA)
The Hurricanes (41-22-4) can bolster their hold in second place at the Metropolitan this season, seeking an eighth consecutive win that tied their longest winning streak together. They’re six points ahead of the third-placed demon who has two games in hand. Sharks (18-41-9) were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoff competition.
