Much of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoff bracket remains to be determined. But it’s appearing more likely that we have our cast of final characters for the Metropolitan Division.

The Metro is guaranteed three playoff slots, and a fourth team can get in as a wild card (provided it finishes with enough standings points to do so). As play begins Sunday, here is where things stand:

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Winnipeg Jets at New York Rangers, 12 p.m.
Colorado Avalanche at Washington Capitals, 12:30 p.m. (NHLN)
Carolina Hurricanes at Pittsburgh Penguins, 3 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Chicago Blackhawks, 3 p.m.
Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Islanders, 7 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Dallas Stars, 7 p.m. (NHLN)
Tampa Bay Lightning at Calgary Flames, 8 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres at Anaheim Ducks, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles Kings at Utah Mammoth, 9 p.m.

Last night’s scoreboard

Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Winnipeg Jets 4 (SO)
Nashville Predators 4, Vegas Golden Knights 1
Minnesota Wild 2, Dallas Stars 1 (OT)
Buffalo Sabres 4, Los Angeles Kings 1
Philadelphia Flyers 4, San Jose Sharks 1
Columbus Blue Jackets 5, Seattle Kraken 2
Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Edmonton Oilers 2
Montreal Canadiens 7, New York Islanders 3
Ottawa Senators 5, Toronto Maple Leafs 2
St. Louis Blues 3, Vancouver Canucks 1
Boston Bruins 4, Detroit Red Wings 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 110.1
Next game: @ ANA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 14
Points pace: 108.5
Next game: @ CGY (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 86
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 13
Points pace: 102.2
Next game: vs. CAR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 79.5%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 86
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 100.7
Next game: vs. TOR (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 60.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 84
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 12
Points pace: 98.4
Next game: vs. OTT (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 53%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 96.3
Next game: @ NYR (Monday)
Playoff chances: 61%
Tragic number: 23

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 84.4
Next game: vs. SEA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 13

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 11
Points pace: 82
Next game: @ BOS (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 9

Metro Division

Points: 94
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 111.7
Next game: @ PIT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 86
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 102.2
Next game: vs. CAR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 82.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 13
Points pace: 101.0
Next game: @ NYI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 89.2%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 97.2
Next game: vs. CBJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 59.1%
Tragic number: 23

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 95.1
Next game: vs. CBJ (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 6.4%
Tragic number: 22

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 12
Points pace: 91.4
Next game: vs. COL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 8.3%
Tragic number: 18

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 85.6
Next game: @ DAL (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 0.2%
Tragic number: 14

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 76.1
Next game: vs. WPG (Sunday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 6

Central Division

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 14
Points pace: 120.6
Next game: @ WSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 115.3
Next game: s. VGK (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 11
Points pace: 106.3
Next game: @ TB (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 12
Points pace: 91.4
Next game: vs. LA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 98.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 13
Points pace: 86.8
Next game: @ CHI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 14.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 80.8
Next game: @ NYR (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 1.9%
Tragic number: 21

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 79.6
Next game: s. WSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 3.5%
Tragic number: 20

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 76.1
Next game: vs. NSH (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.3%
Tragic number: 17

Pacific Division

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 13
Points pace: 95.1
Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 77
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 11
Points pace: 88.9
Next game: @ UTA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 84.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 12
Points pace: 89.0
Next game: @ DAL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 98.6%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 18
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 85.6
Next game: @ UTA (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 47.9%
Tragic number: 25

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 84.4
Next game: @ FLA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 8.5%
Tragic number: 24

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 14
Points pace: 84.4
Next game: @ NSH (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: 42.1%
Tragic number: 25

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 74.9
Next game: vs. TB (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 16

Points: 50
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 13
Points pace: 59.4
Next game: vs. ANA (Tuesday)
Playoff chances: ~0%
Tragic number: 3

Note: An “x” with a team’s name means the club has clinched a playoff spot.

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: 50
Regulation wins: 14

Points: 63
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19

Points: 64
Regulation wins: 19

Points: 67
Regulation wins: 25

Points: 68
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 70
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 21

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 25

Points: 71
Regulation wins: 27

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 18

Points: 72
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 30

Points: 80
Regulation wins: 21

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 30

Points: 83
Regulation wins: 25

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