The final stretch of the 2025-26 NHL regular season has arrived, and the race for postseason positioning is reaching a fever pitch. With the regular season set to conclude on April 16, hockey fans are watching the NHL Pacific Division playoff standings closely as all eight teams in the division are in action this Thursday, March 26. Every point earned tonight could be the difference between a division title, a guaranteed playoff spot, or falling into the volatile wild card mix.
Breaking Down the NHL Pacific Division Playoff Standings
As it stands entering Thursday’s slate of games, the Anaheim Ducks hold a commanding lead at the top of the division. With 84 points, the Ducks have carved out a five-point cushion over their nearest pursuer. However, the battle for the remaining guaranteed seeds is incredibly tight, featuring a one-point gap between the second and third-place teams.
The Battle for the Top Three Spots
The Edmonton Oilers currently occupy the second-place spot in the Pacific Division with 79 points. Right on their heels are the Vegas Golden Knights, who sit in third place with 78 points. This narrow margin means that tonight’s results could see a swap in the standings, which is critical for determining home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Under the current bracket, the Oilers and Golden Knights are projected to face each other in the opening round, making every head-to-head point and tiebreaker vital.
Wild Card Implications and the Utah Mammoth
While the top three teams in the Pacific look to secure their seeds, the rest of the division remains focused on the wild card race. Currently, the Utah Mammoth hold the first wild card spot in the Western Conference. Because the Central Division features powerhouse teams like the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars—the only two teams in the conference to have officially clinched playoff berths—the wild card race is the only lifeline for teams outside the Pacific’s top three.
Schedule Analysis: The Road to April 16
With roughly 11 to 12 games remaining for most teams, the schedule will play a massive role in how the NHL Pacific Division playoff standings finalize. Unlike earlier in the season, there is no room for error, as the Stanley Cup playoffs are scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 18.
Anaheim’s Path to the Finish Line
The Anaheim Ducks are in a strong position to secure the division title, but their upcoming schedule will test their consistency. On Sunday, March 29, the Ducks will face a high-stakes matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. This game represents a major opportunity for Anaheim to extend their lead or for Edmonton to close the gap significantly. Following that, the Ducks will host the St. Louis Blues on April 3. With only a handful of games remaining against teams currently in a playoff position, the Ducks control their own destiny.
The Battle Between Edmonton and Vegas
The race for second place between the Oilers and the Golden Knights is perhaps the most intriguing storyline in the division. Both teams have approximately 11 games left to play after tonight. Vegas faces a particularly grueling stretch, with nearly half of their remaining games coming against current playoff contenders, including multiple matchups against the elite Dallas Stars. Edmonton’s path is similarly difficult, as they must navigate two games against the Colorado Avalanche and a cross-conference clash with the Atlantic Division-leading Tampa Bay Lightning.
Key Matchups to Watch on Thursday
With all eight Pacific teams active tonight, the scoreboard will be changing constantly. Here are the primary storylines to follow:
- Anaheim Ducks: Looking to maintain their five-point lead and inch closer to a division title.
- Edmonton vs. Vegas: While they aren't playing each other tonight, their respective results will determine who holds the second-place seed heading into the weekend.
- The Bubble Teams: The Los Angeles Kings, Seattle Kraken, and Vancouver Canucks are all fighting to keep their slim playoff hopes alive or improve their wild card positioning.
The Pacific Division has often been criticized for its lack of top-end point totals compared to the Eastern Conference, where nine teams currently have more points than Anaheim. However, the parity within the division has created one of the most competitive playoff races in recent memory. As the puck drops across the league tonight, the landscape of the Western Conference postseason is set for another major shift.
Sources & Original Reporting
