NHL Playoff Standings and Bracket Updates for 2026 Season As of March 25, 2026, the NHL playoff race has seen several teams make significant moves in the standings. A busy 15-game schedule on March 24 resulted in three teams advancing in their respective playoff races. The Buffalo Sabres, in particular, are positioned to challenge for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. With a strong performance since December 9, the Sabres have gone 33-6-5 under their new general manager, Jarmo Kekalainen, who took over two games into their winning streak. This change comes as the team aims to end a 14-game playoff drought. The Sabres currently lead the Atlantic Division by two points over the Tampa Bay Lightning and are set to play two more games by the end of the day. Their upcoming match against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night could see them move into the top seed if they secure a win. Meanwhile, the idle Carolina Hurricanes would be overtaken by the Sabres in the standings if the latter triumphs. Other notable developments include the Ottawa Senators securing a second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and the Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets moving into second place in their divisions. If these teams maintain their positions, they would hold home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The New York Rangers remain in contention but face elimination if they lose their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The NHL schedule for March 25 features two key matchups: the Bruins vs. Sabres game, which ended in overtime with a 4-3 Bruins victory, and the Maple Leafs vs. Sabres game, which also concluded in a 4-3 Maple Leafs win.#tampa_bay_lightning #boston_bruins #buffalo_sabres #carolina_hurricanes #jarmo_kekalainen
