What a week of hockey! As the calendar flips and the pressure reaches a boiling point, the cream is starting to rise to the top while the desperate are fighting for their lives. We’ve seen a new leader take the throne and a few perennial powerhouses officially punch their tickets to the big dance. Let’s dive into the numbers and see where everyone stands in this week’s NHL Power Rankings.
The Top 5
- Tampa Bay (1, +2, 1589): The Bolts are back on top! With a massive week that included wins over Pittsburgh and Boston, Tampa has leapfrogged the competition to claim the #1 spot.
- Colorado (2, -1, 1584): A slightly rocky week for the Avs, including a surprising loss to Vancouver and a late-week stumble against St. Louis, sees them slip just one spot.
- Buffalo (3, -1, 1577): The Sabres remain a force to be reckoned with, though a loss to Ottawa kept them from holding onto that #2 rung.
- Carolina (4, +2, 1566): The Canes are surging at exactly the right time, looking every bit like a Cup contender as they solidify their dominance in the Metro.
- Montreal (4, 1566): Tied with Carolina in rating, the Canadiens have been remarkably consistent, holding steady in the top five without moving an inch in the rankings this week.
Biggest Risers
- New Jersey (21, +5, 1482): The Devils are playing spoiler and then some, jumping five spots after a statement 7-3 win over Washington and a shutout against Montreal.
- St. Louis (13, +4, 1513): The Blues are making a late-season statement, picking up four spots and proving they can still hang with the heavyweights like Colorado.
- Vegas (16, +4, 1502): A perfect week for the Golden Knights has them trending upward, highlighted by a dominant win over Edmonton.
Biggest Fallers
- Anaheim (27, -6, 1461): It was a week to forget for the Ducks, who suffered a freefall in the rankings after losing ground in every outing.
- Columbus (15, -5, 1506): The Blue Jackets hit a wall this week, dropping five spots as their playoff cushion begins to evaporate.
- Detroit (18, -5, 1494): The Wings are trending in the wrong direction at the worst possible time, losing five spots after some tough divisional losses.
Division Dogfights
Atlantic:
Tampa Bay has effectively taken control here, seeing their division-win odds skyrocket by 18% to a commanding 75%. Buffalo and Montreal are still mathematically alive for the crown, but the Bolts have the hammer.
Central:
It’s the Colorado show. The Avalanche have a lock on the division with win odds at 99%. Dallas and Minnesota are safely in the playoffs, but the division title is effectively staying in Denver.
Metropolitan:
Carolina has slammed the door shut. With 99% odds to win the division, the Hurricanes are just waiting for the seeding to be finalized while the rest of the Metro battles for wildcard scraps.
Pacific:
Total Bedlam! The Pacific saw the biggest shakeup of the week. Edmonton saw their division-win odds jump by 29% to take the lead at 48%, while Anaheim’s chances cratered, dropping 49% down to a 29% chance. Vegas is the dark horse here, jumping 18% to put themselves back in the conversation at 21%.
Playoff Picture
The Clinch Club
A huge congratulations are in order for the following teams who have officially clinched their berths in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
- Carolina
- Buffalo
- Montreal
- Tampa Bay
- Colorado
- Dallas
- Minnesota
End of the Road
The dream ends here for these squads, as they have been officially eliminated from playoff contention. It’s time to start looking toward the draft:
- NY Rangers
- Florida
- Toronto
- Chicago
- Vancouver
Bubble Watch
The intensity is off the charts for the teams sitting between 10% and 90% playoff probability. Here are the biggest swings from the past seven days:
- Philadelphia (56%): The Flyers are the week’s big winners on the bubble, seeing a massive 24% increase in their playoff odds.
- Ottawa (70%): A strong week has the Sens feeling much more comfortable, with their odds jumping 21%.
- Columbus (23%): A disastrous week for the Jackets, who saw their postseason hopes take a 27% hit.
- NY Islanders (27%): The Isles are in trouble, dropping 24% in the odds table as they struggle to find late-season points.
Here’s the rankings and ratings. Changes shown are from last week’s report.
The top 5
1. Tampa Bay Lightning ▲2 (1589, ▲3)
Record: 48-22-6, 1st in Atlantic Division
Chances of:
- Making the playoffs: 100%
- Winning the President’s Trophy: <1%
- Winning the Stanley Cup: 14% (▲2)
Last week: 2-1-0
- March 31: Lost 4-1 vs. Montreal Canadiens (4th, 1566)
- April 2: Won 6-3 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (8th, 1540)
- April 4: Won 3-1 vs. Boston Bruins (10th, 1526)
Next week:
- April 6: @ Buffalo Sabres (3rd, 1577)
- April 7: @ Ottawa Senators (6th, 1553)
- April 9: @ Montreal Canadiens (4th, 1566)
- April 11: @ Boston Bruins (10th, 1526)
2. Colorado Avalanche ▼1 (1584, ▼10)
Record: 50-16-10, 1st in Central Division
Chances of:
- Making the playoffs: 100%
- Winning the President’s Trophy: 99%
- Winning the Stanley Cup: 16% (▼3)
Last week: 2-2-0
- March 30: Won 9-2 vs. Calgary Flames (26th, 1465)
- April 1: Lost 8-6 vs. Vancouver Canucks (32nd, 1361)
- April 4: Won 2-0 @ Dallas Stars (7th, 1544)
- April 5: Lost 3-2 vs. St. Louis Blues (13th, 1513)
Next week:
- April 7: @ St. Louis Blues (13th, 1513)
- April 9: vs. Calgary Flames (26th, 1465)
- April 11: vs. Vegas Golden Knights (16th, 1502)
3. Buffalo Sabres ▼1 (1577, ▼11)
Record: 46-23-8, 3rd in Atlantic Division
Chances of:
- Making the playoffs: 100%
- Winning the President’s Trophy: <1%
- Winning the Stanley Cup: 10% (▼2)
Last week: 1-2-0
- March 31: Won 4-3 vs. New York Islanders (24th, 1474)
- April 2: Lost 4-1 @ Ottawa Senators (6th, 1553)
- April 4: Lost 6-2 @ Washington Capitals (11th, 1516)
Next week:
- April 6: vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (1st, 1589)
- April 8: @ New York Rangers (28th, 1456)
- April 9: vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (15th, 1506)
4 (tie). Carolina Hurricanes ▲2 (1566, ▲12)
Record: 49-22-6, 1st in Metropolitan Division
Chances of:
- Making the playoffs: 100%
- Winning the President’s Trophy: <1%
- Winning the Stanley Cup: 10% (▲2)
Last week: 3-1-0
- March 31: Won 5-2 @ Columbus Blue Jackets (15th, 1506)
- April 2: Won 5-1 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (15th, 1506)
- April 4: Won 4-3 vs. New York Islanders (24th, 1474)
- April 5: Lost 6-3 @ Ottawa Senators (6th, 1553)
Next week:
- April 7: vs. Boston Bruins (10th, 1526)
- April 9: @ Chicago Blackhawks (31st, 1434)
- April 11: @ Utah Mammoth (12th, 1515)
4 (tie). Montreal Canadiens (1566, ▲4)
Record: 45-22-10, 2nd in Atlantic Division
Chances of:
- Making the playoffs: 100%
- Winning the President’s Trophy: <1%
- Winning the Stanley Cup: 8% (▲1)
Last week: 3-1-0
- March 31: Won 4-1 @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1st, 1589)
- April 2: Won 3-2 @ New York Rangers (28th, 1456)
- April 4: Won in SO 4-3 @ New Jersey Devils (21st, 1482)
- April 5: Lost 3-0 vs. New Jersey Devils (21st, 1482)
Next week:
- April 7: vs. Florida Panthers (29th, 1455)
- April 9: vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (1st, 1589)
- April 11: vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (15th, 1506)
- April 12: @ New York Islanders (24th, 1474)
Overall Ratings
1 Tampa Bay Lightning (▲2) 1589 (▲3) 2 Colorado Avalanche (▼1) 1584 (▼10) 3 Buffalo Sabres (▼1) 1577 (▼11) 4 (tie) Carolina Hurricanes (▲2) 1566 (▲12) 4 (tie) Montreal Canadiens 1566 (▲4) 6 Ottawa Senators (▼1) 1553 (▼3) 7 Dallas Stars 1544 (▼9) 8 Pittsburgh Penguins (▲2) 1540 (▲18) 9 Minnesota Wild (▲3) 1535 (▲21) 10 Boston Bruins (▼2) 1526 (▼7) 11 Washington Capitals 1516 (▼2) 12 Utah Mammoth (▲4) 1515 (▲13) 13 St. Louis Blues (▲2) 1513 (▲10) 14 Edmonton Oilers (▼1) 1510 (▲2) 15 Columbus Blue Jackets (▼6) 1506 (▼23) 16 Vegas Golden Knights (▲6) 1502 (▲19) 17 Winnipeg Jets (▲2) 1497 (▲2) 18 Detroit Red Wings (▼5) 1494 (▼14) 19 Philadelphia Flyers (▼1) 1491 (▼5) 20 Nashville Predators (▲3) 1490 (▲9) 21 New Jersey Devils (▲5) 1482 (▲13) 22 Toronto Maple Leafs (▼1) 1479 (▼5) 23 Los Angeles Kings (▲1) 1475 (▼2) 24 New York Islanders (▼7) 1474 (▼27) 25 San Jose Sharks (▲3) 1471 (▲14) 26 Calgary Flames (▲1) 1465 (▼1) 27 Anaheim Ducks (▼7) 1461 (▼25) 28 New York Rangers (▲2) 1456 (▲17) 29 Florida Panthers 1455 (▲7) 30 Seattle Kraken (▼5) 1452 (▼23) 31 Chicago Blackhawks 1434 (▲5) 32 Vancouver Canucks 1361 (▼1)
Chances of Winning Division
Metropolitan Division
1 Carolina Hurricanes >99% (▲1) 2 Pittsburgh Penguins (▲1) <1% 3 (tie) Columbus Blue Jackets — 3 (tie) New York Islanders (▼1) — (▼1) 3 (tie) New York Rangers — 3 (tie) New Jersey Devils — 3 (tie) Philadelphia Flyers — 3 (tie) Washington Capitals —
Atlantic Division
1 Tampa Bay Lightning 75% (▲17) 2 Montreal Canadiens (▲1) 13% (▲4) 3 Buffalo Sabres (▼1) 12% (▼21) 4 Boston Bruins <1% 5 (tie) Detroit Red Wings (▼1) — 5 (tie) Florida Panthers (▼1) — 5 (tie) Ottawa Senators (▼1) — 5 (tie) Toronto Maple Leafs (▼1) —
Central Division
1 Colorado Avalanche >99% (▲1) 2 (tie) Dallas Stars <1% (▼1) 2 (tie) Minnesota Wild (▲1) <1% 4 (tie) Chicago Blackhawks (▼1) — 4 (tie) Nashville Predators (▼1) — 4 (tie) St. Louis Blues (▼1) — 4 (tie) Utah Mammoth (▼1) — 4 (tie) Winnipeg Jets (▼1) —
Pacific Division
1 Edmonton Oilers (▲1) 48% (▲30) 2 Anaheim Ducks (▼1) 29% (▼50) 3 Vegas Golden Knights 21% (▲19) 4 (tie) Los Angeles Kings 1% (▲1) 4 (tie) San Jose Sharks 1% (▲1) 6 Seattle Kraken (▼2) <1% 7 (tie) Calgary Flames (▼3) — 7 (tie) Vancouver Canucks (▼3) —
Making the Playoffs
Metropolitan Division
1 Carolina Hurricanes ✓ 2 Pittsburgh Penguins >99% (▲28) 3 Philadelphia Flyers (▲2) 56% (▲26) 4 New York Islanders (▼1) 27% (▼41) 5 Columbus Blue Jackets (▼1) 23% (▼25) 6 Washington Capitals 6% (▼1) 7 New Jersey Devils <1% 8 New York Rangers (▼1) —
Atlantic Division
1 (tie) Buffalo Sabres ✓ 1 (tie) Montreal Canadiens ✓ 1 (tie) Tampa Bay Lightning ✓ 4 Boston Bruins 98% (▲8) 5 Ottawa Senators 70% (▲22) 6 Detroit Red Wings 19% (▼18) 7 (tie) Florida Panthers — 7 (tie) Toronto Maple Leafs —
Central Division
1 (tie) Colorado Avalanche ✓ 1 (tie) Dallas Stars ✓ 1 (tie) Minnesota Wild ✓ 4 Utah Mammoth 98% (▲4) 5 Nashville Predators 36% (▲12) 6 (tie) St. Louis Blues 5% (▼7) 6 (tie) Winnipeg Jets (▲1) 5% (▼5) 8 Chicago Blackhawks —
Pacific Division
1 Edmonton Oilers (▲1) 98% (▲1) 2 (tie) Anaheim Ducks (▼1) 95% (▼5) 2 (tie) Vegas Golden Knights (▲1) 95% (▲22) 4 Los Angeles Kings 36% (▲3) 5 San Jose Sharks (▲1) 30% (▲3) 6 Seattle Kraken (▼1) 1% (▼30) 7 Calgary Flames <1% 8 Vancouver Canucks (▼1) —
Winning the President’s Trophy
1 Colorado Avalanche 99%
Everyone else has less than a 1% chance of winning the President’s Trophy.
Winning the Stanley Cup
1 Colorado Avalanche 16% (▼3) 2 Tampa Bay Lightning 14% (▲2) 3 (tie) Buffalo Sabres (▼1) 10% (▼2) 3 (tie) Carolina Hurricanes (▲1) 10% (▲2) 5 Montreal Canadiens (▲1) 8% (▲1) 6 Dallas Stars (▼2) 7% (▼1) 7 Pittsburgh Penguins (▲2) 6% (▲3) 8 Minnesota Wild (▲1) 5% (▲2) 9 (tie) Edmonton Oilers (▼2) 4% 9 (tie) Ottawa Senators 4% (▲1) 9 (tie) Utah Mammoth 4% (▲1) 12 (tie) Boston Bruins (▼5) 3% (▼1) 12 (tie) Vegas Golden Knights (▲2) 3% (▲1) 14 (tie) Anaheim Ducks 1% (▼1) 14 (tie) Columbus Blue Jackets (▼5) 1% (▼2) 14 (tie) Los Angeles Kings (▲3) 1% 14 (tie) Nashville Predators (▲3) 1% 14 (tie) Philadelphia Flyers (▲3) 1% 14 (tie) San Jose Sharks (▲9) 1% (▲1) 20 (tie) Calgary Flames (▲3) <1% 20 (tie) Detroit Red Wings (▼3) <1% (▼1) 20 (tie) New York Islanders (▼6) <1% (▼2) 20 (tie) New Jersey Devils (▲3) <1% 20 (tie) Seattle Kraken (▼3) <1% (▼1) 20 (tie) St. Louis Blues (▼3) <1% (▼1) 20 (tie) Washington Capitals (▲3) <1% 20 (tie) Winnipeg Jets (▲3) <1% 28 (tie) Chicago Blackhawks (▼5) — 28 (tie) Florida Panthers (▼5) — 28 (tie) New York Rangers (▼5) — 28 (tie) Toronto Maple Leafs (▼5) — 28 (tie) Vancouver Canucks (▼5) —