Edmonton's 5-2 win over Utah is the headline: a timing punch in the West's clustered picture, and Colorado's 6-2 rout of Pittsburgh underlines how seeding is starting to separate the locks from the chasers. Below: scores, what changed for the playoff math, and the next games that matter for the bubble teams.
March 25
- EDM (88.4%) def. UTA (94.9%) 5-2. Edmonton's road victory narrows the momentum gap; Edmonton stands at 88.4% while Utah remains the safer bet at 94.9%. The result makes the Oilers' push toward a top-three West finish more palpable and forces Utah to protect margin in remaining games.
- ANA (100.0%) def. VAN (0.0%) 5-3. Anaheim's win seals nothing new in Anaheim's projections — they're locked at 100.0% — while Vancouver sits at 0.0% and effectively exits contention after another loss.
March 24
- OTT (69.8%) def. DET (45.3%) 3-2. Ottawa's close victory leans the balance toward the Sens at 69.8% and pushes Detroit deeper into must-win territory at 45.3%. Tight, late-game finishes like this swing practical control of the Atlantic bubble to Ottawa.
- MTL (93.1%) def. CAR (100.0%) 5-2. Montreal's 5-2 win is a statement against a locked-in Carolina; MTL sits at 93.1% and gains separation in projected points, while Carolina's 100.0% status keeps its seeding safe for now.
- FLA (0.1%) def. SEA (21.6%) 5-4. Florida's win is a one-off lifeline — FLA remains at 0.1% despite the victory — while Seattle stays a distant 21.6% and can't afford many more slip-ups.
- CHI (0.1%) def. NYI (43.9%) 4-3. Chicago's upset keeps their tiny hope alive at 0.1%; the Islanders fall to 43.9% and now face pressure to convert chances into points to climb out of the mid-40s.
- CBJ (86.0%) def. PHI (13.4%) 3-2. Columbus's win boosts confidence for a team at 86.0% while Philadelphia at 13.4% is slipping toward elimination if this level of inconsistency continues.
- COL (100.0%) def. PIT (78.6%) 6-2. Colorado's 6-2 blowout is seed-protecting surgery: COL is locked at 100.0% and project points are rising, while Pittsburgh sits at 78.6% and needs steadier results to keep pace with the top West clubs.
Playoff implications — straight to the point
- Locks: Colorado (100.0%), Carolina (100.0%), Anaheim (100.0%) — their recent wins simply reinforce their positions.
- Bubble movers: Montreal (93.1%) and Columbus (86.0%) strengthened their cases; Edmonton (88.4%) gained tangible ground on Utah (94.9%) with a signature win.
- On thin ice: Detroit (45.3%) and New York Islanders (43.9%) are running out of margin for error; Ottawa (69.8%) now holds clearer control of its climb.
- Longshots and out: Florida (0.1%), Chicago (0.1%) remain longshots despite wins, and Vancouver (0.0%) is out of the race.
What's next
- Edmonton (88.4%) vs. Utah (94.9%) rematch implications — head-to-head swing potential for seeding.
- Pittsburgh (78.6%) needs steadiness to keep pace with locked Colorado (100.0%) in remaining divisional games.
- Detroit (45.3%) faces must-win opportunities against playoff-adjacent clubs like Ottawa (69.8%) to survive the bubble.
- Islanders (43.9%) and Philadelphia (13.4%) must string wins before the calendar runs out; every point matters.