The Oilers play Vegas and San Jose twice and Anaheim, Seattle and Los Angeles once. They have seven games against divisional foes in the race, while Los Angeles has two, Anaheim and Seattle three and Vegas and San Jose have four. The Oilers control their destiny within the division more than any team, but they need to take advantage of that by winning most of those head-to-head matchups. They also play Utah twice, both in Utah, which could have a big impact on who Edmonton plays in the opening round. The Winnipeg Jet are five points back of Seattle for the second wildcard. I didn’t include them in the race yet, but by next Monday if they are within three points I will include them. They host Nashville tomorrow, then have road games in Boston, Pittsburgh and New York (Rangers). They have a very slim chance, but they have been playing well lately, so I can’t completely rule them out yet.

Who finishes 1, 2, 3 and in the Pacific and which two teams do you think fill the Wildcard spots?

Out East, the playoff race is equally exciting.

Buffalo has gained 12 points on Tampa Bay in their last 10 games to move into first place in the Atlantic. Tampa Bay is suddenly battling for second place with Montreal as well, although Tampa has one game in hand. Carolina has unofficially wrapped up first place in the Metro, but the surging Sabres are pushing them for the #1 seed in the Conference.

The races for seeding in the divisions and the Wildcard are incredibly tight. Ottawa is finally getting solid goaltending, and they’ve moved within three points of a playoff spot, while Columbus has points in their last nine games (5-0-4) and are one back of the slumping, and injured, Red Wings.

Could Detroit have their third consecutive March slump and slide out of a playoff spot? In 2024, the Red Wings lost seven in a row in March and ended up finishing ninth due to losing a tiebreaker with Washington. Last year, they lost six in a row and fell from seventh to 10th in the conference and missed the playoffs by five points. The Red Wings were first in the Atlantic on January 1st, were second on February 1st and 4th (first Wildcard spot) on March 1st and are now in the final playoff spot in the Conference and both Columbus and Ottawa have a game in hand. There will be a lot of pressure on the Wings not to self-destruct again. They have to stay in the race until Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp return from injury.

While they are sliding, the Red Wings do have the most favourable schedule remaining.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the races in the Atlantic, Metro and Wildcard

The Penguins have nine of their next 10 games against teams in the playoff hunt, and three against teams they are battling against in Detroit, Ottawa and New York.

The Bruins have five sets of back-to-back games, while Montreal faces Columbus and New York twice and Detroit and Boston once.

The Red Wings host Montreal, Boston and Ottawa in the next eight days. Those games could decide their playoff possibilities.

Columbus has the hardest schedule as they face Carolina (3x), Boston (2x), Montreal (2x) and Buffalo, Detroit and New York once.

If Ottawa continues to get just average to above average goaltending they could complete the miracle comeback. Goaltending sabotaged them for much of the season, until recently.

Who do you like to make it in the East?

— Leon Draisaitl didn’t skate today and visited the doctor to get his opinion on his lower-body injury. Draisaitl won’t play tomorrow, and there is no timetable on how long he could be out. It doesn’t sound long-term, but he could miss a few games.

— Matt Savoie will remain on Connor McDavid’s wing. Savoie adds a lot of speed to that line, and he has the ability to make plays at high speed. He’s made many deft touch passes to get McDavid the puck in flight. Savoie’s speed allowed him to beat his man up the ice and finish off the two-on-one from McDavid that made it 2-0 Sunday night. Savoie’s emergence gives the Oilers some scoring punch throughout the lineup.

— It looks like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will remain on a line with Jason Dickinson and Jack Roslovic. Dickinson scored 22 goals in 2024, Roslovic scored 22 twice including last year and is three shy of another 20-goal season, while RNH is three goals shy of his seventh 20-goal campaign. That line is responsible defensively, but they should be able to contribute offensively as well.

— The Oilers are playing much better defensively lately, and one of the most noticeable improvements is on the their backchecking/tracking. McDavid had three excellent backtracks to thwart Nashville rushes on Sunday and when your best player does it, it filters down. The entire team has been more engaged on backtracks, but also in the defensive zone. It has led to fewer high danger chances and in Connor Ingram’s last four starts the Oilers are 3-0-1 and have only allowed nine goals. That is progress.