The NHL playoff odds remain volatile with only 11 of 84 games played, but Saturday’s clearest result was the Carolina Hurricanes’ 4-0 shutout of the St. Louis Blues. Carolina is 9-4 with a 90–100% playoff band; St. Louis, at 5-6, sits at 40–50%. The result reinforces the gap in their early outlook, without making a 13-game sample a verdict.
Carolina shuts out St. Louis; Toronto routs Edmonton
Toronto’s 7-2 win over Edmonton was the night’s most lopsided score. The Toronto Maple Leafs (7-6, 50–60%) took down the Edmonton Oilers (8-3, 70–80%), whose playoff band remains stronger despite the defeat. The result gives Toronto a notable win, but its record and projection still place it below Edmonton.
The Boston Bruins (9-3, 80–90%) beat the San Jose Sharks 6-4. San Jose is 6-6 with a 20–30% playoff band; the close, high-scoring loss does little to erase the distance between the teams’ early positions.
Close finishes for Utah, Washington and Pittsburgh
The Utah Mammoth edged the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4. Utah (8-4, 60–70%) earned a close win over a team with a higher band: Tampa Bay is 7-4 at 80–90%. One result does not outweigh the early projections, but Utah has a stronger record through 12 games.
The Washington Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3. Washington (6-4, 60–70%) has a firmer early outlook than Buffalo (4-7, 20–30%). The Pittsburgh Penguins also won by one, defeating the Nashville Predators 3-2. Pittsburgh is 5-7 with a 20–30% band; Nashville, at 3-7, is 30–40%.
Columbus and Ottawa deliver road wins
The Columbus Blue Jackets upset the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1. Columbus (4-5, 20–30%) beat a Vegas team (8-5, 70–80%) with a much stronger projected position. The one-goal result makes it a meaningful early surprise, not yet a change in the broader outlook.
The Ottawa Senators beat the New York Rangers 7-4. Ottawa (8-4, 50–60%) and New York (7-6, 50–60%) share the same playoff band, so the win gives Ottawa the better result in a direct comparison, though the model bands are unchanged categories.
Carolina Hurricanes and St. Louis Blues meet again?
No upcoming schedule was supplied, so a next-game matchup cannot be verified. If Carolina and St. Louis meet again, their 4-0 result and contrasting early records make that the clearest rematch to watch from Saturday’s slate.
Research sources
Additional reporting checked 2026-10-25T14:01:54.345Z.
