NHL Wild Card Standings 2026-27
The playoff picture as it stands: the top three clubs in each division, then each conference's wild-card race with the line drawn after the second wild card, and each club's market price to make the playoffs.
2026-27 · Regular seasonUpdated Wednesday, Oct 7, 2026 · 1:17 PM ET
Where these numbers come from: Seeds come from the league's own division and conference ranks in the NHL team hub. Back is points behind the last wild card; a + is how far a wild-card club is clear of the first club out. Playoffs is Kalshi's KXNHLPLAYOFF price.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Eastern Conference playoff picture
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | P% | RW | ROW | GF | GA | DIFF | L10 | STRK | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLA Panthers | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | .750 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 2-0-2 | W1 | 71% |
| OTT Senators | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .667 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 2-1-0 | L1 | 54% |
| TB Lightning | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .667 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 2-1-0 | W2 | 84% |
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | P% | RW | ROW | GF | GA | DIFF | L10 | STRK | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NYR Rangers | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | .800 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 8 | +8 | 4-1-0 | W4 | 46% |
| CAR Hurricanes | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | .625 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 12 | −1 | 2-1-1 | W2 | 72% |
| PIT Penguins | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .667 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 8 | +7 | 2-1-0 | L1 | 44% |
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | P% | RW | ROW | GF | GA | DIFF | L10 | STRK | Back | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BUF Sabres | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .667 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 11 | −1 | 2-1-0 | W2 | 0 | 58% |
| TOR Maple Leafs | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | .500 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 2-2-0 | W1 | 0 | 50% |
| BOS Bruins | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | .500 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 11 | −2 | 2-2-0 | L2 | 0 | 34% |
| MTL Canadiens | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .500 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 14 | −2 | 1-1-1 | L2 | 1 | 70% |
| WSH Capitals | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .500 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 1-1-0 | L1 | 2 | 75% |
| CBJ Blue Jackets | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | .500 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 1-1-0 | L1 | 2 | 38% |
| NYI Islanders | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .333 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 1-2-0 | L1 | 2 | 27% |
| DET Red Wings | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .333 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 8 | −1 | 1-2-0 | W1 | 2 | 19% |
| NJ Devils | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .333 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 13 | −7 | 1-2-0 | L2 | 2 | 58% |
| PHI Flyers | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | .250 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 17 | −12 | 0-2-2 | L4 | 2 | 37% |
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Western Conference playoff picture
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | P% | RW | ROW | GF | GA | DIFF | L10 | STRK | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTA Mammoth | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | .750 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 8 | +9 | 3-1-0 | W1 | 75% |
| MIN Wild | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .833 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 2-0-1 | L1 | 85% |
| WPG Jets | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .833 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 2-0-1 | W2 | 40% |
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | P% | RW | ROW | GF | GA | DIFF | L10 | STRK | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VGK Golden Knights | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | .750 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 10 | +7 | 3-1-0 | W2 | 79% |
| EDM Oilers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .833 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 14 | +3 | 2-0-1 | W2 | 80% |
| ANA Ducks | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.000 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 2-0-0 | W2 | 54% |
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | P% | RW | ROW | GF | GA | DIFF | L10 | STRK | Back | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COL Avalanche | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.000 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 5 | +9 | 2-0-0 | W2 | 0 | 93% |
| SJ Sharks | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .667 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 12 | −3 | 2-1-0 | L1 | 0 | 60% |
| SEA Kraken | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | .500 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 11 | +4 | 2-2-0 | L1 | 0 | 39% |
| VAN Canucks | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | .500 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 18 | +1 | 2-2-0 | L1 | 0 | 9% |
| NSH Predators | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | .500 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 9 | −2 | 1-1-1 | L1 | 1 | 30% |
| DAL Stars | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .333 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 1-2-0 | W1 | 2 | 79% |
| STL Blues | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .333 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 10 | −3 | 1-2-0 | L2 | 2 | 40% |
| CHI Blackhawks | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | .250 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 17 | −8 | 1-3-0 | W1 | 2 | 10% |
| LA Kings | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | .167 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 15 | −6 | 0-2-1 | L3 | 3 | 55% |
| CGY Flames | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 16 | −13 | 0-3-0 | L3 | 4 | 9% |
FORMAT
How the wild card works
Eight clubs from each conference make the playoffs. The top three in each division are in on their division place (A1–A3, M1–M3, C1–C3, P1–P3).
The other two places go to the best remaining records in the conference, whichever division they play in: WC1 and WC2. The line under WC2 is the cut.
In the first round, the division winner with the better record plays WC2 and the other division winner plays WC1; the second and third places in each division meet.
FAQ
Questions
Who holds the Eastern Conference wild cards in 2026-27?
Buffalo Sabres (4 pts) and Toronto Maple Leafs (4 pts), with Boston Bruins first out on 4 points.
Who holds the Western Conference wild cards in 2026-27?
Colorado Avalanche (4 pts) and San Jose Sharks (4 pts), with Seattle Kraken first out on 4 points.
How does the NHL wild card work?
The top three clubs in each division qualify. The 2 best remaining records in each conference take the wild cards, regardless of division, for eight playoff clubs per conference.
TEAMS
Every NHL team
- Anaheim Ducks
- Boston Bruins
- Buffalo Sabres
- Calgary Flames
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Colorado Avalanche
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Dallas Stars
- Detroit Red Wings
- Edmonton Oilers
- Florida Panthers
- Los Angeles Kings
- Minnesota Wild
- Montreal Canadiens
- Nashville Predators
- New Jersey Devils
- New York Islanders
- New York Rangers
- Ottawa Senators
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- San Jose Sharks
- Seattle Kraken
- St. Louis Blues
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Utah Mammoth
- Vancouver Canucks
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Washington Capitals
- Winnipeg Jets