While three Canadian NHL teams watch from home, four others are battling for position as the playoff picture takes shape heading into the final weekend of the regular season.
The Montreal Canadiens have already secured their spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second consecutive year, clinching last weekend. But for hockey fans in Alberta, the news is mixed: the Edmonton Oilers are on the verge of locking down a Pacific Division title, while the Calgary Flames will miss the post-season entirely.
The Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs join Calgary on the outside looking in, making it a bittersweet spring for Canadian hockey markets.
Oilers Eye Seventh Straight Playoff Appearance
Edmonton leads the Pacific Division with 90 points, holding a slim one-point advantage over both the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks. Each team has three games remaining, but the Oilers hold the crucial tiebreaker with 31 regulation victories.
According to playoff probability models, Edmonton's chances of making the post-season sit at 99.98 per cent. A division title would likely set up a first-round matchup against the Utah Mammoth.
The Oilers are aiming for their seventh consecutive playoff appearance, a run that includes back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances against the Florida Panthers in 2024 and 2025. Captain Connor McDavid famously called the Pacific Division race a "pillow fight" last month, referring to the tight, grinding competition down the stretch.
Senators Surging at the Right Time
The Ottawa Senators have won four of their last five games in regulation, pushing their playoff probability to 92.1 per cent. They currently occupy the Eastern Conference's second wild-card berth with 94 points and three games left to play.
Ottawa sits two points behind the Boston Bruins for the first wild-card spot, while the Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders trail the Senators by three points. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Washington Capitals remain in mathematical contention but face steeper climbs.
The Senators made the playoffs last season for the first time since their 2017 conference final run, only to fall to the Maple Leafs in the opening round. This year, they could face the Carolina Hurricanes, or potentially the Buffalo Sabres, Canadiens or Tampa Bay Lightning depending on final seeding.
Canadiens Jockeying for Atlantic Position
Montreal has locked up a playoff spot but is still battling for Atlantic Division position alongside Buffalo and Tampa Bay. The Sabres lead with 106 points, followed by the Canadiens at 104 and Lightning at 102.
Buffalo holds the first tiebreaker with 41 regulation victories and has two games remaining. Montreal and Tampa Bay each have three games left on their schedules.
The Canadiens fell to the Washington Capitals in last year's first round and could face Washington again, along with other potential opponents including Ottawa and the Boston Bruins.
Jets Need Help, Three Canadian Teams Out
The Winnipeg Jets remain in the playoff conversation but need significant help and must win their remaining games to have any chance of extending their season.
For Calgary Flames fans, the disappointment is official. The team will miss the playoffs alongside Vancouver and Toronto, ending any Alberta playoff rivalry hopes for this spring.
With only days remaining in the regular season, the final seeding battles will determine which Canadian teams advance and who they'll face when the puck drops on the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Source: Global Calgary