The Last 14 Days of the 2025-26 NHL Regular Season Are About to Get Brutal

We're down to crunch time, folks. Fewer than 14 days left in the 2025-26 NHL regular season, and every single team has fewer than 10 games to play. This isn't the time to coast. This is the time when every matchup matters, and some games are about to decide who's dancing in the playoffs and who's going home.

ESPN's updated power rankings break down all 32 teams and identify the single most important game left on each team's schedule. Here's what jumps out: the West is still wide open in spots, the Atlantic Division is a dogfight, and the next week is going to tell us everything we need to know about who's ready for playoff hockey.

The Top of the League Isn't Messing Around

Colorado locked it down early. The Avalanche were the first team to clinch a playoff spot and are positioned to grab the No. 1 overall seed. They're sitting at 73.0 percent points percentage and their biggest remaining game is April 4 at Dallas. The Stars are the closest threat in the West at 67.1 percent, so if Colorado takes care of business against them, it's a message sent loud and clear.

Carolina has climbed to No. 2 in the rankings after jumping four spots from their March 27 position. The Hurricanes and Bruins could square off in the first round, and they get them at home on April 7. That 2022 Stanley Cup playoff battle between these two is fresh enough that another playoff series feels inevitable if seeding shakes out that way.

Buffalo is holding the No. 3 spot with a 65.8 points percentage, and the Atlantic Division is still anyone's to win. The Sabres beat the Lightning 8-7 back on March 8 to take first place, and they get another crack at Tampa Bay on April 6. Expect that rematch to be just as chippy.

The Back End of the Race Is Wide Open

Dallas is fighting to stay ahead of Minnesota for seeding purposes. The Stars host the Wild on April 9 in a game that could include some serious "message sending." Tampa Bay sits at 66.7 points percentage and faces Montreal on April 9, which could be a preview of a 2021 Stanley Cup Final rematch in the first round.

Montreal rounds out the top six at 65.3 percent. The Habs finish their Atlantic Division schedule between April 5-9, then close with three Metro Division teams. Depending on how those games go, those final matchups could be absolutely critical for staying in.

The final stretch of the regular season starts now. Every game matters. Every win or loss ripples through the playoff picture. We'll find out who's actually ready when the stakes get real.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.