The Eastern Conference is leading the charge towards the playoffs, with several teams on a hot streak. The Ottawa Senators, who hold the first wild card from the East, are six games into a winning streak and just six points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for third in the Atlantic Division. Captain Brady Tkachuk has been particularly potent, scoring seven goals in his nine-game point streak.
The Montreal Canadiens, on the other hand, have been impressive in their last 10 games, going 7-1-2 to close the gap with the Rangers for the second wild card. In Western Conference action, the Calgary Flames and New York Rangers are battling for second place, while the Penguins are winning behind goalie Tristan Jarry’s recall from the American Hockey League.
In other matchups, Jordan Kyrou has six points in his last two games for the Blues, who trail the Canucks for the second wild card. The Predators are 15 points behind Vancouver and have a tough road ahead. Meanwhile, Mikko Rantanen has four points since being acquired by the Stars, leading them to a strong homestand.
The Kraken are struggling in their latest stretch, but they’ll look to bounce back against the Blackhawks, who are last in the Central Division. The Oilers and Canucks are expected to battle for second place in the Pacific, while the Jets lead the Central Division with a 11-point cushion over the Stars.
Source: https://www.nhl.com/news/stanley-cup-playoffs-buzz-news-and-notes-march-18-2025