Hockey fans, we have officially reached the ultimate month of the 2025-26 NHL campaign. With exactly 31 days left within the regular-season, the perfect tournament in skilled sports is now just across the corner. It has been just over every week because the trade deadline, and if we didn’t know already, it’s becoming crystal clear who the Stanley Cup contenders are this spring.
For those who’ve watched the Stars recently, who’re within the midst of a ridiculous 14-0-1 stretch — without Mikko Rantanen or Roope Hintz within the lineup — you may know that Dallas is one in every of them. So are the resurgent Buffalo Sabres, who’ve lost only once since league play resumed after the Winter Olympics. As superstar defenseman Rasmus Dahlin stated so eloquently, the club is so close this yr due to the players “drinking beers” together. What a culture.
After all, Nazem Kadri and the Colorado Avalanche remain the favorites, with a three-point cushion in what’s shaping as much as be a terrific President’s Trophy race down the stretch. And do not count out the Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes or Minnesota Wild, who round out the league’s elite.
Every squad now has between 14-17 games left, and the wildcard race in each conferences is getting insane. Within the East, nine teams are separated by just eight points. And within the West, the fight for the ultimate postseason slots has 4 clubs inside five points. And that is not even counting the surging Winnipeg Jets or St. Louis Blues — more on that shortly. It’ll be a ridiculous race to the finish on either side, and we’re here for it.
Things are only going to get well — and more heated — over the ultimate month of the campaign. We have already seen a playoff atmosphere in several games in March, and that is going to proceed in a giant way down the stretch. For those who don’t think me, just take a look at Connor McDavid and Connor Bedard, who each decided to drop the gloves last week. Definitely did not have that on our bingo cards.
All that said, each contest is totally critical for therefore many franchises, and even the teams which are out might be trying to play spoiler over the ultimate 4 weeks. After all, ClutchPoints’ NHL Power Rankings has recorded all the movement after one other frantic seven days of hockey — and we fully expect the jockeying to proceed in earnest ahead of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Read on for all the most recent.
Previous 2025-26 NHL Power Rankings: Week 20 | Week 19 | Week 18 | Week 17 | Week 16 | Week 15 | Week 14 | Week 13 | Week 12 | Week 11 | Week 10 | Week 9 | Week 8 | Week 7 | Week 6 | Week 5 | Week 4 | Week 3 | Week 2 | Week 1
1. Colorado Avalanche (no change)
The Avalanche are at the highest of the mountain for an additional week, however the hold is getting an increasing number of precarious by the day. They’ve greatly improved after a difficult month of January, but have watched what must have been an insurmountable President’s Trophy lead drop to mere points. Now, Colorado doesn’t care about that, but they do care about winning the Central Division and getting away from Minnesota in Round 1. And the way in which the Stars are playing, that is not any sure thing. Still, the Avs have won six of eight, and with Kadri back within the fold, all signs point to Jared Bednar’s group ending strong over their final 17 games of the regular-season.
It’s one thing to go on a 15-game point streak; it’s one other thing completely to do it without your best player and top center. The Stars are looking like an absolute wagon at the right time, and have gotten even higher and harder to play against with the additions of Tyler Myers and Michael Bunting. After losing in back-to-back-to-back Western Conference Finals, this roster is eager to advance to Round 4 for the primary time in six years. And this might be the perfect probability they’ll have, considering the Oilers have been much worse than in previous years. Dallas continues to have Colorado’s number within the playoffs, but will that proceed in 2026? We will not wait to potentially discover.
3. Buffalo Sabres (+1)
Tage Thompson, five one-timers in a row anyone? The Sabres are only having fun on the market, and it’s clear that this team is really having a blast in 2025-26. Buffalo has vaulted into first place within the Atlantic Division, and into the top-three within the NHL Power Rankings for the primary time in ClutchPoints history. We just love watching this club play, especially when the games end 8-7. Not only is there going to be playoff hockey in Western Latest York for the primary time in 15 years, this can be a legitimate contender to return out of a large open Eastern Conference, and the way in which they’re playing, Buffalo could beat any team within the NHL in a seven-game series.
4. Carolina Hurricanes (-2)
Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour was behind the bench for the 600th time in Saturday night’s 4-2 win over the Lightning, and he made history by recording his 367th victory. That is probably the most of any bench boss in NHL history through the primary 600 games of a profession, which is incredibly impressive for the superstar-turned-coach. After captaining Carolina to its first and only Stanley Cup championship in 2006, he’s come extremely near taking this club back to the Finals. In 2025-26, the Canes are again a wagon at 42-18-6. Will this be the yr they finally break through and return to hockey’s ultimate series for the primary time in 20 years? Only time will tell.
5. Minnesota Wild (no change)
It doesn’t really matter how the Wild play over their last 14 games; not mathematically, in any case. There is not any way they’re catching a Stars team that simply cannot lose without delay, and there is also no way the Mammoth, who’re 14 points back, are catching them. Barring an absolute miracle, it’ll be Minnesota ending third place within the Central Division. Which means it’ll be either Colorado or Dallas in Round 1, which goes to be incredibly difficult to say the least. It might be nice to complete strong, though, and this team is doing the other. The Wild have lost 4 of 5, and actually need to right the ship and begin creating some positive momentum before the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
6. Tampa Bay Lightning (no change)
Where is the Lightning team that only lost two games between Dec. 20 and Feb. 25? This has looked like a very different club because the Olympic break, and the 2-7 record since then is telling. Andrei Vasilevskiy, among the finest goalies in NHL history, has been terrible. He needs to seek out his game, and fast, while the Bolts need to seek out a strategy to start scoring more goals. They will still win the Atlantic Division in the event that they turn things around, but that is looking less and fewer likely with every defeat. This continues to be a Stanley Cup contender, but for a squad that hasn’t been past Round 1 since 2022, we’re rather a lot less confident than we were a few weeks ago.
7. Latest York Islanders (+1)
With every game that goes by, the Islanders look an increasing number of playoff ready. Brayden Schenn was a key addition at 2C, while Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal proceed to play inspired hockey on the highest line. Add in strong goaltending and continued excellence from future franchise defenseman Matthew Schaefer, and it isn’t hard to see why Latest York continues to climb up the NHL Power Rankings in 2026. They will not catch Carolina, who’re nine points ahead, but they appear just like the favorites to complete second within the division. That is obviously not a sure thing, but with no other Metro teams looking competitive besides Pittsburgh and Columbus, it will take a serious fall from grace to fail to advance to the postseason this spring. This can be a team built to make some noise, and that is very true with Schenn and Ondrej Palat — guys who know what it takes to win — within the fold.
For the primary time in his 13-year NHL profession, Brendan Gallagher served as a healthy scratch in a 4-2 loss to Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks on Saturday evening. He was back within the lineup the subsequent day, but was a non-factor as Montreal fell 4-3 to Anaheim to finish what was a poor weekend on the Bell Centre. It was a disappointing couple of tilts for the Canadiens, but considering it got here on the heels of three consecutive victories, they’re only taking a minor hit within the NHL Power Rankings on this Monday. The Habs remain in third within the Atlantic Division, and just six points out of first, but they will have to be a lot better to carry onto that spot with the Bruins, Red Wings and Senators lurking. The postseason is not at all a sure thing, and the subsequent two games — against Boston and Detroit — are absolutely crucial.
9. Pittsburgh Penguins (no change)
The Penguins have, understandably, struggled within the absences of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but they will not should play too many more games without the long run Hall of Famers. Malkin will return on Monday night in Colorado after his five-game suspension for slashing Rasmus Dahlin within the face ends, while Crosby was working with the extras and might be an option as soon as Wednesday night in Carolina. A gauntlet of a strategy to start the week, and Pittsburgh has lost five of seven because it is. We expect those results will improve with the veterans back within the fold, although they’re in jeopardy of falling behind the Islanders and Blue Jackets, who each have been a lot better as of late.
10. Anaheim Geese (+1)
The Geese were plastered across NHL headlines last week after Radko Gudas’ knee-on-knee hit that ended Auston Matthews’ season. A five-game suspension just doesn’t feel right, and considering it got here just weeks after the bruising Czech defenseman took out Sidney Crosby within the Olympics, it probably left a foul taste within the mouths of many hockey fans — this author included. On a more positive note, John Carlson made his Anaheim debut on Sunday, and played over 22 minutes in an exciting 4-3 victory over Montreal on the Bell Centre. It was a needed victory, because the Geese had lost three of 4, all in regulation, before that. It’s one other busy week for the club, as Trevor Zegras returns to the Honda Center as a visitor on Wednesday night. We’re very curious to see what the reception might be for the previous ninth overall pick within the 2019 NHL Draft.
11. Boston Bruins (+2)
The Bruins proceed to rotate wins and losses, a reality that hasn’t modified since before the Olympic break. They continue to be within the Eastern Conference’s top wildcard slot, and are only two points away from the Habs within the Atlantic. At the identical time, they seem to be a point away from being out of a playoff spot altogether. That is how tight things are with 31 days left. It’s looking like a coin flip as as to whether Boston will remain within the position they’re in, although the play actually needs to enhance. They’ve banked a few key points past regulation, which has helped them make up some ground within the NHL Power Rankings, but there’s an extended strategy to go together with 16 games left. After beating the Capitals on the road on Saturday, they’ll look to do the identical against the Devils and Canadiens on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
12. Ottawa Senators (+4)
It has been an outstanding week for the Senators, each on and off the ice. On it, they’ve won five of six games, with Linus Ullmark, for probably the most part, dialling in. Off it, they got their first-round pick in 2026 restored, which was originally rescinded after the Sens did not tell the Golden Knights back in 2021 that Evgenii Dadonov had a 10-team no trade list in his contract. That became a difficulty when, after trading the Russian to the strip, Vegas tried to trade Dadonov to Anaheim, who were on that list, midway through the 2021-22 season. Ottawa was viewed because the guilty party for that mishap, but with latest management taking on, they’ll again have a range within the first-round of June’s draft. That is big for the franchise, which is surging and now just three points out of a playoff spot. Still a lot of work to do, but this roster is looking potent without delay, and that is without the services of top defenseman Jake Sanderson.
13. Utah Mammoth (-1)
Nick Schmaltz got the bag from Utah last week, signing a Mammoth eight-year, $64 million contract extension that may keep him in Salt Lake City for, probably, the remainder of his profession. That pact has the potential to age quite badly, however it looks great without delay, especially because the 30-year-old is within the midst of his best ever campaign. Him and Clayton Keller are leading the charge, and the club has a four-point cushion at the highest of the wildcard race. But things are tightening up, because the Mammoth have lost 4 in a row, two in regulation and two in additional time. They should bust the slump quickly, as a foul final month won’t be enough to maintain them within the top-eight. And that will be devastating for an energized fanbase that is prepared for postseason puck on the Delta Center.
14. Detroit Red Wings (-4)
The wheels are completely falling off for the Red Wings, who’re still in a playoff spot but will not be providing any style of confidence that they still might be in a month from now. Not only has Detroit lost three in a row and 6 of eight, but they’re now playing without two of their most significant players in Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp. The pair might be re-evaluated in around every week and a half, however the depth down the center in Motown without delay is, well, not good. It’s just brutal for fans of the Wings, as they looked like a shoo-in to advance to the dance not too way back. The best way things are going, they might be out of postseason positioning by this time next week.
The Panthers proceed to be battered by injuries, with Sam Reinhart the most recent victim. The star Canadian, who has played more hockey than almost anyone else during the last three seasons — three Stanley Cup runs, 4 Nations Face-Off, Olympics — won’t travel with the team on its four-game road trip. The playoff chances are high mainly dashed in any case after a stretch of nine losses in 11 games, although Florida was capable of come out on top in three straight before an uncharacteristic 6-2 beatdown by the hands of Seattle to finish the week. The dream is essentially over for the back-to-back defending champions, although the NHL Power Rankings continues to rate them higher than they deserve. At this point, they’re playing spoiler, they usually’d like to proceed that on Thursday against the team whose hearts they broke in each the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup Final. The Oilers won the primary matchup between the 2 teams in November, but this time around, there’s rather a lot less to play for from a Panthers perspective.
16. Vegas Golden Knights (+2)
The Golden Knights are lucky that the Pacific is the worst division within the National Hockey League, as they continue to be second despite slumping because the middle of January. Vegas has finally gotten back heading in the right direction, following up a brutal stretch of six regulation losses in seven games by winning two straight to conclude Week 20. Those were each Adin Hill masterclasses; he allowed just two goals in a 6-2 win over the Penguins before shutting out the Blackhawks in a 4-0 final two nights later. He’s began 4 straight games and brought back the web from Akira Schmid, and it’s encouraging to see him finally find his game after an abysmal month and a half. Each of those contests were at T-Mobile Arena, and the homestand continues against the Sabres and Mammoth on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.
17. Columbus Blue Jackets (+2)
The Blue Jackets proceed to surge under Rick Bowness, they usually’re now only a single win away from leapfrogging each the Bruins and Red Wings and taking on top spot within the wildcard race. They’re also just two points back of each the Penguins and Islanders, who’re second and third within the Metropolitan Division, respectfully. All that to say, Columbus goes to manage its destiny down the stretch. Conor Garland has been a magical slot in Ohio; he recorded consecutive multi-goal games for the primary time in his profession shortly after being traded from Vancouver, and he adds one other weapon to a really deep offensive core. The Jackets have lost in regulation only once because the end of the Olympics, but they’ve lost a ridiculous 4 times in additional time in that span. It is time to turn around that 3-on-3 fortune down the stretch, or higher yet, start winning in regulation.
18. San Jose Sharks (-1)
The Sharks proceed to be oh-so-close to breaking an extended postseason drought, but losing 4 of six games will not be how they wanted the true stretch run to start. The highest line of Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and Collin Graf is great, but there’s just not enough help from lower down the roster without delay. The silver lining is that San Jose has games readily available on each other team within the Western Conference playoff race; they’re one in every of just three teams with 17 contests remaining. That is a small bonus, however it won’t matter if they cannot bank some points. Things won’t get any easier with Edmonton and Buffalo on the docket to begin the week. Hopefully they will get Ty Dellandrea back within the lineup soon; he hasn’t played since January as a consequence of injury, but signed a two-year extension on Friday.
19. Washington Capitals (-4)
The Capitals are taking a major hit within the NHL Power Rankings in Week 21, mainly because that is just not the identical roster without legendary defensemen John Carlson. Oh, they usually’ve lost five of seven games because the already fading playoff hopes take one other hit. Could Cole Hutson be the Carlson substitute? The younger brother of Lane Hutson signed his entry-level contract late last week after racking up 80 points in 74 games for Boston University during the last two seasons. He could join the lineup straight away, but things will not be looking good within the nation’s capital. Now six points back of the playoffs with only 14 games left, it should take a miracle to get Washington in. And the invisibility of Tom Wilson and Alex Ovechkin as of late will not be helping matters in any respect.
You recognize things are getting bad in Alberta when Connor McDavid is dropping the gloves. That’s just not something you see fairly often from the NHL’s leading scorer. But frustrations have boiled over, and it’s hard guilty No. 97, who has 114 points in 68 games. The captain is doing every thing he can, and you have got to respect his willingness to play the hard game, especially when getting destroyed by the Stars on Thursday night (final rating: 7-2). The Oilers are still third place within the Pacific Division and really more likely to make the playoffs, however the Kraken, Sharks and Kings are hot on the trail. Essentially the most concerning a part of all of it’s Leon Draisaitl getting injured in Sunday’s win over Nashville, and head coach Kris Knoblauch not having an update on the German superstar afterwards. It goes without saying that this team cannot afford to lose him for any length of time. The marquee game this week comes on Thursday night, a two-time Stanley Cup Final rematch against a struggling Panthers squad in a rivalry contest which will have already run its course.
21. Philadelphia Flyers (+1)
The Flyers have actually been relatively good because the Olympic break, winning six of their last nine games and getting inside six points of a playoff spot. We still aren’t in any respect convinced that Philly has the juice to complete the job, but we’ll wait to see what the subsequent couple of games bring. This club is on the road for all three this week, playing in Anaheim on Wednesday, LA on Thursday and San Jose on Saturday. The massive one is clearly the previous, as Zegras — who has been outstanding within the City of Brotherly Love — returns to the team that drafted him. The primary time the Geese and Flyers played this season, in Philly, he scored twice. How will he be received in his first game back as a visitor on the Honda Center? Given how poor he was to finish his profession there, we will not imagine the reception might be overly positive.
22. Winnipeg Jets (+2)
Don’t look now, but there is a latest Captain America on the town. Move aside Jack Hughes, because Connor Hellebuyck has his eyes on the playoffs, and the reigning league MVP goes to do every thing he can to get his club there. The Jets have won six of 10, picked up some extent in eight of those, and have decreased the magic number for a postseason berth within the West to only five points. They’re in a really similar boat to the surging Blues, which we’ll discuss shortly, but with two more points and a game in hand. Unfortunately for Winnipeg, they’ve a really difficult schedule the remainder of the way in which, with Colorado and Vegas twice, together with Dallas, as a few the opponents. This team has been great recently, and can have to be even higher to avoid being one in every of the few teams which have followed up a President’s Trophy win by missing the dance altogether the subsequent season.
23. Latest Jersey Devils (-2)
The Devils have played slightly below .500 hockey because the end of January, and that pace will not be going to be anywhere ok to take them on a miracle run into playoff positioning. Actually, they’re now just 4 points up on the surging Rangers, and there is a very real probability they finish dead last within the Eastern Conference. Only a brutal season in Newark, NJ, and considering nine of their final 16 games are on the road, we’ve no confidence left on this roster. We’ll see what the subsequent couple of games bring, but a difficult five-game road trip that begins on Wednesday might be curtains on the near-zero postseason probabilities.
24. Seattle Kraken (-1)
As has been the case for weeks, the Kraken proceed to carry onto the ultimate wildcard berth within the West for dear life. They’ve won back-to-back games after dropping 4 straight, and currently have a one-point cushion on the Sharks, and are two up on the Kings. It goes without saying that each point will matter over their final 16 contests. How about Bobby McMann, who has fit like a glove within the Emerald City to the tune of three goals and five points in his first two games? Seattle badly needs him to maintain up that type of production, and a 6-2 victory over the defending champion Panthers on Sunday is encouraging. Next up is a visit from the Lightning on Tuesday before a gruelling six-game road trip that may surely make or break the campaign.
25. St. Louis Blues (+3)
There is not any probability the Blues are going to go from last place within the Central Division to a playoff spot. Surely not after trading captain Brayden Schenn and top defenseman Justin Faulk. What’s within the water in Missouri in March?! St. Louis went on a tear at this exact time last yr, and with Robby Thomas back within the lineup, they’ve won seven of 10. It might be an incredible story, but there continues to be an extended strategy to go. The Blues are seven points back, they usually only have 15 games left. Crazier things have happened, however it would take probably 12 or 13 wins. It isn’t inconceivable, it’s just very improbable. Nonetheless, a particularly impressive run for a roster that might have folded without Schenn and Faulk, but has as an alternative done the exact opposite. Wednesday (in Calgary) and Saturday (in Vancouver) against the 2 worst teams within the league are absolute must-wins.
26. Los Angeles Kings (no change)
Anze Kopitar became the Kings’ all-time leading scorer last week, and he’ll go down as probably the best player to ever wear an LA jersey not named Wayne Gretzky. The Slovenian star, in his final NHL season, recorded his 1,308th profession regular-season point on Saturday night, passing fellow legend Marcel Dionne. It’s an incredible accomplishment for one in every of the sport’s most respected players, and he’ll be a primary ballot Hall of Famer when the time comes. But without delay, you already know he’d like to go on yet another playoff run, and the Kings are only two points out of a wildcard berth. The hunt continues in Artemi Panarin’s return to Latest York on Monday night — more on that in about two seconds.
27. Latest York Rangers (+4)
The Rangers probably picked absolutely the worst time to go on their best run of the season. Leave it to Latest York to mainly wave the white flag on the season after trading Panarin, simply to win 4 games in a row and 7 of eight. Management cannot be all too pleased with that, especially considering this team continues to be last place within the Eastern Conference despite the new streak, with virtually no probability of advancing to the dance. Speaking of Panarin, he’ll make his highly-anticipated return to Madison Square Garden on Monday, with the Kings on the town. He should receive a heroes welcome, as he never wanted to go away Broadway and stays among the finest players in franchise history. Besides that, we would be remiss not to say the scorching top line of Alexis Lafreniere, Mika Zibanejad and Gabriel Perreault, which has been on an absolute tear over the previous couple of games.
28. Nashville Predators (-3)
After moving on from a few effective depth players ahead of the trade deadline, the Predators are fading away within the Western Conference playoff race. Every point counts down the stretch, and Nashville is just not banking enough of them — not by an extended shot. After Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the Oilers, the Preds have lost eight of 11 and fallen to 4 points back of the ultimate wildcard berth. It isn’t an inconceivable hill to climb, but there are a good few teams to leapfrog, and the play as of late has not been in any respect encouraging. A critical four-game week awaits, and contests against two of the teams they’re chasing — the Jets and Kraken on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively — are virtual must-wins.
29. Toronto Maple Leafs (-2)
The Maple Leafs finally snapped an extended eight-game losing streak against the Geese on Thursday night, however it still looks like they lost. As everyone knows by now, Gudas injured superstar and captain Auston Matthews with a unclean knee-on-knee hit within the second period. Gudas was given a five-minute major and eventually given a controversial — to say the least — five-game suspension. But nobody on the ice stepped up for Matthews, who has an MCL tear and can miss the remainder of the season. Just brutal. What else are you able to say, it’s truly embarrassing throughout, and you have got to feel for the American gold medalist. It was a brand new low in a 2025-26 season that has been chalk stuffed with them in Leafland, and it would not be in any respect surprising if neither Craig Berube nor Brad Treliving had a job next yr.
30. Chicago Blackhawks (-1)
Connor Bedard fighting?! It’s surprising but not shocking considering it’s turning into one other lost campaign within the Windy City. And you already know the long run captain desires to win. The Blackhawks look destined to complete last place within the Central Division after dropping 12 of 16, and their fading postseason hopes appear to be all but dashed with 16 games left. It’s nice to see guys like Frank Nazar and Teuvo Teravainen heating up down the stretch, but what this franchise would love is one other high draft pick. After being shut out by the Golden Knights on Saturday, they’ll play a home-and-home with the Wild this week, starting on the United Center on Tuesday and concluding on the Grand Casino Arena two nights later.
31. Calgary Flames (-1)
Although you possibly can probably make the argument that the Flames are currently the worst roster within the NHL, lacking a single star player, they continue to be a full 11 points ahead of the Canucks with 16 games left in each Pacific Division basement dwellers’ seasons. For that reason, Calgary is staying out of last place — for at the least yet another week. Still, this team is terrible, having lost seven of 10 games because the Olympics. But general manager Craig Conroy is rebuilding beautifully, and no franchise has even near as much draft capital because the Flames do over the subsequent couple of NHL Drafts. In a number of years, this club projects to be very, superb. But without delay, they’re very, very bad, and certain cannot wait to get on the golf course.
32. Vancouver Canucks (no change)
It’s hard to fathom that any team could have a goal differential of minus-75 in the best hockey league on the planet. Enter the 2025-26 Canucks, who appear to sink to latest lows on a weekly basis. Make that 13 losses in 16 games for Vancouver, who don’t have anything in any respect to play for except lottery odds, which has been the case for months now. Really, it has been the case since Quinn Hughes was traded to Minnesota. The silver lining is that, after a decade and a half of attempting to retool on the fly, management has finally decided to tear it all the way down to the studs. It’ll be a brutal couple of seasons in British Columbia, however the hope is that, sometime around 2030, this franchise can again start competing for Stanley Cups again. That’ll be rather a lot easier in the event that they earn the No. 1 overall pick in Buffalo come the top of June.