NHL 2025 wildcard and playoff watch

Photo courtesy All-Pro Reels / Wikimedia Commons

Washington became the first team to clinch a postseason spot, keeping pace in the race for the President’s Trophy. As the battle for wildcard spots heats up, the Caps are poised to make a deep playoff run in what promises to be a thrilling 2025 NHL postseason.

As the 2025 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season comes to an end, the race for playoff positioning is reaching a fervent pitch. With less than a month remaining, teams scramble for every possible point to secure a playoff spot or climb into a wildcard position. With the postseason on the horizon, every game carries added intensity, as even a single win or loss could be the difference between extending their season or falling just short of the playoffs.

The first team in the league to secure a playoff spot was the Washington Capitals, followed by the Winnipeg Jets and the Dallas Stars. The Jets hold a slim three-point advantage over the Capitals in the race for the President’s Trophy, an annual award given to the team that finishes the regular season with the best overall record.

On the flip side, four teams in the Western Conference have already been eliminated from playoff contention: the Seattle Kraken, Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks, and San Jose Sharks. While these teams will finish out their remaining games, their focus needs to shift toward player development, draft positioning, and building for the future. 

Looking towards the Eastern Conference wildcard spots, the Montreal Canadiens ended their losing streak in their game against the Florida Panthers last Sunday, putting them over the New York Rangers and into the second wildcard spot. That spot remains up for grabs, however, as the Canadiens, Rangers, New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Detroit Red Wings are all within a few points of each other and could trade places multiple times in the coming week.

Predicting which team will gain the upper hand is difficult, as none have been able to build consistent momentum. All five teams competing for the second wildcard spot have managed no more than four wins in their last 10 games.

Moving towards the Western Conference wildcard spots, the Minnesota Wild and the St. Louis Blues each have 87 points, putting them both a six-point cushion above the Vancouver Canucks. The St. Louis Blues have cemented their place in the wildcard with their nine-game win streak.

Minnesota faces one of the toughest remaining schedules in the NHL, kicking off a three-game road trip through the New York market against the New Jersey Devils on Monday. The Wild will then return home to take on the Dallas Stars on Sunday before closing the season with four games against teams lower in the standings. The Wild would need to go on their worst losing streak of the season to lose their wildcard berth to either the Calgary Flames or the Canucks.

The Florida Panthers have earned a reputation as one of the best teams in the league. As defending Stanley Cup Champions, they sit tenth in the league with 91 points. This regular season has been far from perfect for the Panthers, and how things shape out over the rest of the season could either make or break Florida’s playoff berth. Securing a spot in the postseason is crucial for the team’s championship defense.

As the final stretch of the season unfolds, every point becomes invaluable in the tightly contested race to the playoffs. The Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets, and Dallas Stars have already punched their tickets, while the battle for wildcard spots intensifies. With teams like the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers clawing for that second wildcard spot, and the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues are holding steady in the West, it is clear that the margin for error is razor-thin.

As teams make their final push for the postseason, fans can expect plenty of drama and excitement. The 2025 NHL playoffs are shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable and thrilling in recent times. With everything on the line, no team can afford to let up now.