NHL playoff watch: How high will the Sharks finish?

The Pacific Division has been the NHL’s most difficult to figure out when it comes to projections for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.

As play begins Tuesday, the Anaheim Ducks are in first, with 77 points through 67 games, followed by the Vegas Golden Knights (76 through 67) and Edmonton Oilers (75 through 68). Those teams have been flipping positions all season, and it’s been a similar scenario for the three clubs behind them: The Seattle Kraken hold the second wild card, with 71 points in 66 games, with the Los Angeles Kings (71 through 67) and San Jose Sharks (70 through 65) battling for that spot.

The projections from Stathletes have the Golden Knights and Ducks both finishing with 96 points, followed by the Oilers at 91.6 and the Sharks at 87.9. Given that the Sharks haven’t qualified for the playoffs since 2018-19, any postseason opportunity is a welcome change.

Of course, earning the second wild card comes with a first-round matchup against the Colorado Avalanche or Dallas Stars — the Sharks have a win and two losses against both clubs. Could San Jose sneak into one of the higher positions in the Pacific?

That journey continues Tuesday with a game against the Oilers (9 p.m. ET, ESPN+). The Sharks have a win and an overtime loss to the Oilers so far, with an additional game on the books for April 8. These “four-point swing” games are critical, and they have two more such games left against the Ducks as well.

Aside from the games against the Oilers and Ducks, the Sharks play 13 more games this season, with just one current playoff team on the docket: the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

So while San Jose starts this final stretch of the season five to seven points behind its divisional competition, the opportunity is certainly there to eclipse all of those teams based on that strength of remaining schedule.

Every team has around 15 games remaining before the regular season concludes April 16, and we’ll help you keep track of it all here on the NHL playoff watch every day. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide details on all the playoff races — along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2026 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Last night’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Buffalo Sabres vs. WC1 Detroit Red Wings
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Montreal Canadiens

M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC2 Boston Bruins
M2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. M3 New York Islanders

Western Conference

C1 Colorado Avalanche vs. WC2 Seattle Kraken
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Minnesota Wild

P1 Anaheim Ducks vs. WC1 Utah Mammoth
P2 Vegas Golden Knights vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

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Tuesday’s games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

New York Islanders at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Carolina Hurricanes at Columbus Blue Jackets, 7 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
Nashville Predators at Winnipeg Jets, 8 p.m.
San Jose Sharks at Edmonton Oilers, 9 p.m.
Florida Panthers at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m. (TNT)

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Monday night’s scoreboard

Detroit Red Wings 5, Calgary Flames 2
New Jersey Devils 4, Boston Bruins 3 (OT)
Los Angeles Kings 4, New York Rangers 1
Utah Mammoth 6, Dallas Stars 3
Pittsburgh Penguins 7, Colorado Avalanche 2

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Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 15
Points pace: 107.7
Next game: @ VGK (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 17
Points pace: 106.0
Next game: @ SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 16
Points pace: 101.9
Next game: vs. BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 93.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 82
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 98.9
Next game: vs. MTL (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 27%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 15
Points pace: 99.1
Next game: @ MTL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 73.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 95.7
Next game: @ WSH (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 65.2%
Tragic number: 28

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 84.4
Next game: vs. NYI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 17

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 85.7
Next game: @ VAN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 20

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Metro Division

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 16
Points pace: 111.8
Next game: @ CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 15
Points pace: 101.6
Next game: @ CAR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 81.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 15
Points pace: 99.1
Next game: @ TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 68.8%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 98.2
Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 77.2%
Tragic number: 30

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 91.9
Next game: @ ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 7%
Tragic number: 25

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 89.2
Next game: vs. OTT (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 6.3%
Tragic number: 21

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 85.7
Next game: @ NYR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 1%
Tragic number: 19

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 78.3
Next game: vs. NJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 13

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Central Division

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 16
Points pace: 120.5
Next game: vs. DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 15
Points pace: 115.1
Next game: @ COL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 88
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 14
Points pace: 106.1
Next game: @ CHI (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 91.7
Next game: @ VGK (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 96.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 83.2
Next game: @ WPG (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 3.3%
Tragic number: 28

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 82
Next game: vs. NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 1.7%
Tragic number: 27

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 78.3
Next game: @ CGY (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0.8%
Tragic number: 23

Points: 61
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 75.8
Next game: vs. MIN (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.5%
Tragic number: 22

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Pacific Division

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 15
Points pace: 94.2
Next game: vs. PHI (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 99.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 15
Points pace: 93.0
Next game: vs. BUF (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 96.4%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 75
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 14
Points pace: 90.4
Next game: vs. SJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 86.1%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 16
Points pace: 88.2
Next game: vs. TB (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 32.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 86.9
Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 18.1%
Tragic number: 30

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 17
Points pace: 88.3
Next game: @ EDM (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 64.7%
Tragic number: 33

Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 15
Points pace: 72.2
Next game: vs. STL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 18

Points: 48
Regulation wins: 13
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 16
Points pace: 59.6
Next game: vs. FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 9

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Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the draw for the No. 1 pick. Full details on the process can be found here. Atop draft boards for this summer is Gavin McKenna, a forward for Penn State.

Points: 48
Regulation wins: 13

Points: 59
Regulation wins: 22

Points: 61
Regulation wins: 18

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 24

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 22

Points: 69
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 21

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 22

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 18

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 23

*Note: The Maple Leafs’ pick belongs to the Bruins, unless it lands in the top five.