The bubble is where a promising start can still turn into a season-long scramble. But on November 3, the supplied odds show a clear NHL group to watch and no NBA or MLB team in the stated 20–70% range.
NHL: Four teams sit between 50% and 70%
The NHL playoff odds put the Montréal Canadiens closest to the edge among the listed teams: 9-5 with a 50–60% playoff band and a 98-point projection. At just 14 games played, that outlook is still early-season and vulnerable to a short run of losses; Montréal needs to keep banking wins to strengthen its position.
The New Jersey Devils are 9-5 with a 60–70% band and a 100-point projection. The Washington Capitals are 8-5, also at 60–70%, with 99 projected points. Both have started well, but neither has separated from this band; continuing to win consistently is the clearest route to a firmer outlook.
The Utah Mammoth are 9-6 with a 60–70% band and 96 projected points. Their record matches Colorado’s 9-6, but Colorado is in the 90–100% band with 107 projected points. That contrast shows how much early-season standing can diverge from the model’s longer projection; Utah needs to sustain its results to close the gap.
NBA: No listed team falls in the 20–70% range
The NBA playoff odds supplied here have no team in the requested bubble band. The closest listed case is the San Antonio Spurs, 5-2 with a 70–80% playoff band and 46 projected wins—just above the stated range.
Seven games into an 82-game season, that is not a secure verdict. San Antonio’s immediate task is to keep its winning record intact; the available data does not identify a lower-odds NBA team to analyze as a bubble case.
MLB: No playoff-odds data supplied
The MLB odds table is empty, so there is no supported way to identify bubble teams or assess who is in or out.
Montréal Canadiens have the least secure position
Among the teams that can be assessed, Montréal has the lowest playoff band at 50–60%, below New Jersey, Washington and Utah, all at 60–70%. Its 9-5 record is a solid start, but with only 14 games played and a 98-point projection, the Canadiens have less modeled separation than the other listed NHL bubble teams. Keeping this start going is the priority.
Research sources
Additional reporting checked 2026-11-03T14:01:03.372Z.
